The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), specifically through its Office of Integrative Activities. The program supports NSF’s mission of promoting scientific progress nationwide and aims to strengthen the research infrastructure and capacity of jurisdictions eligible under the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Through collaborations with premier research institutions, this fellowship is intended to transform the research career trajectories of faculty and enhance the research competitiveness of their institutions.

This program offers two distinct tracks: EPSCoR Research Fellows: NSF and EPSCoR Research Fellows: @NASA. The NSF track is broadly available to early and mid-career faculty from eligible EPSCoR jurisdictions, while the NASA track specifically targets faculty from institutions serving underrepresented populations in STEM. The fellowship enables recipients to spend up to six months at premier research institutions in the U.S. or its territories, developing new techniques, accessing unique facilities, and engaging in potentially transformative research. Each fellowship can include one trainee such as a student, postdoc, or technician.

Eligible applicants must be faculty at the assistant or associate professor level or equivalent at accredited institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions. Organizations eligible to submit proposals include U.S.-based institutions of higher education and certain nonprofit organizations. Applicants must propose single-PI projects with no co-PIs, and previous or current EPSCoR Research Fellows are ineligible. Proposals must include specific letters from institutional administrators and research collaborators affirming support and collaboration plans.

Proposals should clearly define research objectives, activities at the host site, expected outcomes, and broader impacts. Submissions must adhere to NSF’s merit review criteria, focusing on intellectual merit and broader impacts, and should convincingly demonstrate how the fellowship will enhance the PI’s research and contribute to institutional research capacity. Each application must also include a detailed project timeline and budget, not exceeding $300,000. An additional $60,000 may be awarded by NASA for fellows in the NASA track.

Applications may be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Full proposals are due by 5 p.m. local time on April 22, 2024, and April 8, 2025, and on the second Tuesday of April annually thereafter. The program anticipates awarding approximately 50 grants annually, with 40 under the NSF track and 10 under the NASA track, supported by a total of $15 million in available funding. All proposals must align with the applicable NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide.

For inquiries, applicants may contact program officers such as Chinonye Whitley (cwhitley@nsf.gov, 703-292-8458) and others listed in the solicitation. NASA-related questions can be directed to Kathleen Loftin (Agency-EPSCoR-RII-Track-4@mail.nasa.gov, 321-603-9973). Comprehensive proposal guidelines, submission instructions, and evaluation criteria are detailed in NSF Solicitation NSF 24-528.