The Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) program, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to support the careers of pre-tenure faculty in the fields of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS). The program is administered through the NSF’s Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, which includes the Divisions of Astronomical Sciences, Chemistry, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics. This grant particularly targets faculty at institutions that traditionally do not receive significant NSF MPS funding, such as Carnegie R2 institutions, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs).

The LEAPS-MPS initiative seeks to enable these faculty members to establish productive research programs that can serve as a foundation for future NSF funding proposals, including core programs and the CAREER solicitation. The broader goal is to increase representation and participation in STEM fields among historically underrepresented and underserved communities, thereby contributing to a diverse and inclusive scientific workforce. Institutions enrolling significant numbers of students from these communities are strongly encouraged to participate.

The program offers standard grants of up to $250,000 for a duration of 24 months, with an expected funding pool ranging from $11 million to $18.75 million per cycle, contingent on the availability of funds and the quality of proposals received. An estimated 45 to 75 awards will be distributed annually. Proposals must be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov and must adhere strictly to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Eligible applicants are accredited U.S.-based Institutions of Higher Education that are not classified as R1 institutions. The principal investigator must hold a doctoral degree in an MPS-supported discipline, be in a pre-tenure or tenure-track equivalent faculty position, and must not have previously received an NSF research award (excluding fellowships and certain other non-research grants). Proposals may not include co-principal investigators and must be submitted to the appropriate division within the MPS Directorate. Required submission documents include a project description, a LEAPS-MPS impact statement (2–3 pages), and a letter from the department chair or dean affirming the PI’s eligibility and support.

Key proposal deadlines are April 17, 2025, January 22, 2026, and subsequently the fourth Thursday in January each year. Submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m. local time of the submitting organization. Although letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required, the application must include specific components such as a plan for future research, a strategy to increase underrepresented participation in STEM, and institutional impact considerations.

Reviewers will assess proposals based on NSF’s standard merit review criteria—Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts—along with additional factors like the project's potential to affect the PI’s career trajectory and institutional research environment. Contact information for program officers across all relevant divisions is provided, and applicants are encouraged to consult with them to ensure appropriate program alignment.