The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Individual Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (STEM Ed IPRF) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for STEM Education, supports postdoctoral fellows to advance their expertise in STEM education research. This program funds recent doctoral graduates to conduct fundamental research related to STEM learning and learning environments, broadening participation in STEM fields, and workforce development. The program aims to build a pool of early-career scholars who can produce innovative, high-quality research to improve STEM education outcomes nationwide. Principal investigators who are women, veterans, persons with disabilities, or from underrepresented groups, including those from minority-serving institutions, are especially encouraged to apply.

The fellowship provides funding for individuals, not institutions, and is designed to enable postdoctoral scholars to develop independent research and professional development plans under the mentorship of a sponsoring researcher at a United States-based host organization. Fellows must dedicate themselves full-time to the fellowship activities for up to 24 months. The annual budget includes seventy thousand dollars for salary and up to fifteen thousand dollars for professional development and research expenses, such as materials, travel, and publication fees. Successful applicants must propose projects aligned with their long-term career goals, demonstrate clear research plans, and explain how the fellowship will enhance their professional trajectory.

Eligibility requires applicants to be United States citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, holding a doctoral degree in STEM, STEM education, education, or related fields earned within twenty-four months of the proposal deadline or expected within ten months after submission. Applicants must not hold tenure-track positions and should aim to affiliate with a host organization different from their doctoral institution. Proposals must include a detailed individual development plan, a mentoring plan from the sponsoring researcher, and a rationale for the choice of the host organization.

Proposals are submitted directly by the applicant through Research.gov or Grants.gov and are due annually on the first Tuesday in December. The application consists of a project summary, project description, budget justification, a data management plan, and supplementary documents, including a letter from the sponsoring researcher and the host organization. Specific sections of the proposal must address the research plan, professional development goals, and broader impacts of the project.

The review process is competitive and based on NSF’s merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. Reviewers evaluate the quality of the proposed research, its potential contributions to STEM education, and the alignment of the professional development plan with the applicant’s career goals. Additional solicitation-specific review criteria include the suitability of the research plan for advancing the applicant’s expertise and the potential of the proposed activities to position the fellow as a self-directed STEM education scholar.

Awards are anticipated to support eight to ten fellows annually, contingent on the availability of funds, with a total funding amount of approximately two and a half million dollars for the fiscal year. Awardees will be notified by NSF, and funds will be transferred to the primary host organization, which administers the fellowship salary and research allowance. Fellows are expected to remain affiliated with the host organization for the entire award period and comply with NSF reporting requirements, including annual and final project reports.

This program advances NSF’s broader mission to support discovery and innovation in STEM education and to develop a diverse and competitive STEM workforce.