International Research Experiences for Students

Applications Due: October 27, 2025
Federal
National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation)

This program provides funding for U.S. colleges and nonprofits to offer students valuable international research experiences that enhance their skills and cultural awareness in STEM fields.

Description

The International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program supports international research and research-related activities for U.S. science and engineering students. The IRES program contributes to development of a diverse, globally engaged workforce with world-class skills. IRES focuses on active research participation by undergraduate and/or graduate students in high quality international research, education and professional development experiences in NSF-funded research areas. The overarching, long-term goals of the IRES program are to enhance U.S. leadership in science and engineering research and education and to strengthen economic competitiveness through training the next generation of science research leaders. IRES focuses on the development of a world-class U.S. STEM workforce through international research experiences for cohorts of U.S. students. Student participants supported by IRES funds must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. Students do not apply directly to NSF to participate in IRES activities. Students apply to NSF-funded investigators who receive IRES awards. To identify appropriate IRES projects, students should consult the directory of active IRES awards. All PIs, co-PIs and Senior Personnel on IRES proposals must be from U.S. based organizations. Personnel from international partners should be listed as "non-NSF funded collaborators." Guidance on information to provide for "non-NSF funded collaborators" is found in Section V.A. IRES projects engage a group of undergraduate and/or graduate students in active high-quality collaborative research, in principle at an international site with mentorship from international researchers. IRES projects must be organized around a coherent overarching intellectual theme that may involve a single discipline or multiple disciplines funded by NSF. For all IRES proposals, PIs are strongly encouraged to outline a variety of virtual, hybrid or other alternative approaches to strengthen and maintain international collaboration in addition to travel. It is expected that these approaches will extend collaboration beyond the actual international trip and strengthen IRES proposals overall.

Eligibility

States
All
Regions
All
Eligible Entities
Nonprofits, State governments

Funding

Program Funding
$12,000,000
Award Ceiling
Award Floor
Award Count
25

Timing

Posted Date
February 13, 2024
App Status
Accepting Applications
Pre-app Deadline
Application Deadline
October 27, 2025

Funder

Funding Source
Source Type
Federal
Contact Name
Contact Email
Contact Phone
--

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