Deadline: NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program

The NSF Research Traineeship program supports training graduate students in interdisciplinary or convergent research areas of high priority to the nation through a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.

The deadline for this solicitation is Sept. 6 (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time).

With support from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the U.S. National Science Foundation announced 22 new 2022 awards through its NSF Research Traineeship program. The research funded by NSF will support graduate students and educate the next generation of STEM professionals that focus on research and development in topics like artificial intelligence and quantum information science and engineering.

Updates and Announcements

• NRT Frequently Asked Questions
• NRT Outreach Webinar (yet unavailable for 2023)

Program Title:

National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program

Synopsis of Program:
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas, through a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.

Proposals are requested that address any interdisciplinary or convergent research theme of national priority. The NRT program addresses workforce development, emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity building needs in graduate education. The program encourages proposals that involve strategic collaborations with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science centers, and academic partners. NRT especially welcomes proposals that include partnership with NSF Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) and leverage INCLUDES project efforts to develop STEM talent from all sectors and groups in our society. Collaborations between NRT proposals and existing NSF INCLUDES projects should strengthen both NRT and INCLUDES projects.

Program Officer(s):

See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

• Daniel Denecke, ddenecke@nsf.gov; (703) 292-8072; EHR/DGE
• Vinod K. Lohani, vlohani@nsf.gov; (703) 292-2330; EHR/DGE

Award Information

Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 18 to 20

• NRT Track-1 Awards (14-16 awards each year) are expected to be up to five (5) years in duration with a total budget up to $3,000,000.
• NRT Track-2 Awards (4-6 awards each year) are expected to be up to five (5) years in duration with a total budget up to $2,000,000.

Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) — Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus.

Limit on number of proposals per organization: 2

An eligible organization may participate in only two (2) proposals per NRT competition as lead or collaborative non-lead. All Track 1 and/or Track 2 NRT proposals will be counted toward this total limit of two proposals per organization.

Participation includes serving as a lead organization or non-lead organization on any proposal. Organizations participating only as evaluators on projects are excluded from this limitation. Proposals that exceed the organizational eligibility limit will be returned without review regardless of whether the organization on such a proposal serves as lead or non-lead collaborative organization. Only US IHEs are eligible to submit as a lead or non-lead organization. Potential PIs are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission.

Limit on number of proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1
An individual may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI on only one (1) proposal submitted to the NRT program per annual competition. Proposals that exceed the PI/co-PI eligibility limit (beyond the first submission based on timestamp), will be returned without review regardless of the individual’s role (PI or co-PI) in the returned proposal.

Read the full solicitation.