EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows
At a glance
EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows is an open federal grant opportunity from U.S. National Science Foundation. Applications are due April 13, 2027. Total estimated funding is $15M. Applicant types listed as eligible include others (see notice). Cost sharing is not required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 47.041 (Engineering) and 9 other listings.
Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.
Key facts
- Jan 23, 2024Posted
- Apr 13, 2027Application deadlinenext date
- May 13, 2027Archived
- Posted
- Jan 23, 2024
- Close date
- Apr 13, 2027
- Archive date
- May 13, 2027
- Award floor
- Not specified
- Award ceiling
- Not specified
- Est. total funding
- $15,000,000
- Original deadline (extended)
- Apr 22, 2024
- Expected awards
- Not specified
- Cost sharing
- Not required
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Opportunity category
- Discretionary
Typical awards for this program (SAM.gov listing for ALN 47.041, not this notice): Range Low $4,125 Range High $26,000,000 Average $184,060
Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - EPSCoR jurisdictions that are RII-eligible for the FY2024 competition are listed in the RII Eligibility table, which can be found<a href="https://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/epscor/epscor-criteria-eligibility">here</a>. Proposals may only be submitted by organizations located in RII-eligible jurisdictions, as follows: <ul> <li>Institutions of higher education (Ph.D.-granting and non-Ph.D.-granting), acting on behalf of their faculty members, that are accredited in and have a campus in the United States, its territories or possessions. Distinct academic campuses (e.g., that award their own degrees, have independent administrative structures, admissions policies, alumni associations, etc.) within multi-campus systems qualify as separate submission-eligible institutions.</li> <li>Not-for-profit, non-degree-granting domestic U.S. organizations, acting on behalf of their employees, that include (but are not limited to) independent museums and science centers, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizations that are directly associated with the Nation's research or educational activities. These organizations must have an independent, permanent administrative organization (e.g., an Office of Sponsored Projects) located in the United States, its territories, or possessions, and have 501(c)(3) tax status.</li> </ul> In addition, for the EPSCoR Research Fellows: @NASA opportunity, PIs must be employed by an institution that is from at least one of the following categories: <ul> <li>Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), including two-year colleges, that award associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and/or master's degrees in NSF-supported fields, but have awarded 20 or fewer Ph.D./D.Sci. degrees in all NSF-supported fields during the combined previous two academic years;</li> <li>Institutions of higher education that are dedicated to serve students with disabilities, as listed in Table 1, page 5, of NSF’s 2008 Broadening Participation report (<a title="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2022-03/nsf_frameworkforaction_0808.pdf" href="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2022-03/nsf_frameworkforaction_0808.pdf">https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2022-03/nsf_frameworkforaction_0808.pdf</a>); and</li> <li>Minority-serving institutions as in42 §USC 18901</li> </ul> *Who May Serve as PI: Principal Investigatorsmust either: <ul type="disc"> <li>Be in an early-career, or mid-career-track position at an eligible non-degree-granting organization or</li> <li>Hold a non-tenured or tenured faculty position at the Lecturer, Research Faculty, Assistant or Associate Professor rank (or in an equivalent position)at an institution of higher education.</li> </ul> Additional guidance on eligibility for both tracks: <ul type="disc"> <li>For the faculty category of the PI, the faculty ranking should be determined by the faculty rank at the proposal's deadline date.</li> <li>The PI must be positioned to build sustainable research capacity at the home institution during and beyond the fellowship, which generally takes three years or more.</li> <li>Non-tenured research assistant professors or lecturers are eligible to apply for this opportunity if they have a long-term appointment.</li> <li>A letter from an administrative manager at the home institution is required to verify PI eligibility.</li> <li>Only single-PI proposals will be considered. No co-PIs should be included in the proposal.</li> <li>Persons who hold transitional fixed-term postdoctoral appointments are not eligible to apply as PI, even if their organizations classify such appointments<a id="_anchor_1" name="_msoanchor_1" href="#_msocom_1"></a><a id="_anchor_2" name="_msoanchor_2" href="#_msocom_2"></a><a id="_anchor_3" name="_msoanchor_3" href="#_msocom_3"></a> as ‘faculty’ for administrative purposes.</li> <li>Prev
- Public colleges & universities
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status
- Private colleges & universities
- For-profit organizations (not small businesses)
A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.
Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.
What it funds
Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.
The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. NSF EPSCoR facilitates the establishment of partnerships among academic institutions, government, industry, and non-profit sectors that are designed to promote sustainable improvements in a jurisdiction's research infrastructure, Research and Development (R&D) capacity, and R&D competitiveness of EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions (i.e., states, territories, and commonwealths). Eligibility to participate in the EPSCoR funding opportunities, including the EPSCoR RII: EPSCoR Research Fellows program, is described on theNSF EPSCoR website.
EPSCoR RII: EPSCoR Research Fellows directly aligns with the NSF EPSCoR strategic goal of establishing sustainable Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professional development pathways that advance workforce development and effects engagement in STEM at national and global levels. EPSCoR RII: EPSCoR Research Fellows provides awards to build researchcapacityin institutions and transform the career trajectories of investigators and further develop their individual research potential through collaborations with investigators from the nation’s premier private, governmental, or academic research institutions and/or centers. The fellowship provides opportunities to establish strong collaborations through extended or periodic collaborative visits to a selected host site.Through collaborative research activities with the host site, Fellows will be able to learn new techniques, develop new collaborations, advance existing partnerships, benefit from access to unique equipment and facilities, and/or shift their research toward potentially transformative new directions. The experiences gained through the fellowships are intended to have lasting impacts that will enhance the Fellows’ research trajectories well beyond the award period. The benefits to the Fellows are also expected to improve the research capacity of their institutions and jurisdictions more broadly.
EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows offers the following two tracks:
1)EPSCoR Research Fellows: NSF; and
2) EPSCoR Research Fellows: @NASA
While the two tracks have similar goals, EPSCoR Research Fellows: NSF is open to a broad community and EPSCoR Research Fellows: @NASA supports faculty from eligible institutions (See Section"IV. Eligibility Information" for more details) to collaborate with researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) research centers. PIs who are eligible for both tracks may apply for only one track per competition cycle.
Proposals from both tracks are submitted to and merit reviewed by NSF. Awards in the EPSCoR Research Fellows: @NASA track are referred to NASA EPSCoR for distribution of additional NASA funds and other needed NASA coordination required for the award.
In both tracks, the EPSCoR RII: EPSCoR Research Fellows program provides opportunities for the participation of one trainee, who must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled full-time in an accredited degree program, or a postdoctoral researcher from an EPSCoR jurisdiction. Staff members, such as technicians or lab assistants could be considered as trainees when properly justified.
How to apply
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Assistance Listings
What is an ALN?- 47.041EngineeringProgram →
- 47.049Mathematical and Physical SciencesProgram →
- 47.050GeosciencesProgram →
- 47.070Computer and Information Science and EngineeringProgram →
- 47.074Biological SciencesProgram →
- 47.075Social, Behavioral, and Economic SciencesProgram →
- 47.076STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources)Program →
- 47.079International Science and EngineeringProgram →
- 47.083Integrative ActivitiesProgram →
- 47.084Technology, Innovation, and PartnershipsProgram →
Reported obligations under ALN 47.041
Historical data · not a predictionAgency contact (as published)
U.S. National Science Foundation
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
703-292-4203
Quick answers
When is the deadline for “EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows”?
According to the official notice, applications are due April 13, 2027. Confirm the deadline and submission time on Grants.gov before applying.
Who is eligible to apply for “EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows”?
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible: Others (see notice). Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.
How much funding is available through “EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows”?
Per the notice, total estimated program funding is $15,000,000.
How do I apply for “EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows”?
Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity 24-528), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.
Related open opportunities
Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.
EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (FEC)
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- $1M – $1.5M
- Closes
- Jan 26, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- $4M – $20M
- Closes
- Feb 8, 2027
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR): Workshop Opportunities
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- Up to $200K
- Closes
- See notice
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research (HBCU - EiR)
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Oct 20, 2026
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)
Cyberinfrastructure for Public Access and Open Science
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- $50K – $600K
- Closes
- See notice
- Who can apply
- Unrestricted (any entity type)
Facilitating Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions: (RUI and ROA-PUI)
U.S. National Science Foundation- Award range
- Amount not specified
- Closes
- Oct 8, 2076
- Who can apply
- Others (see notice)