Growing Convergence Research (GCR)

Overview:

Convergence research is a means for solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs or deep scientific challenges. It entails integrating knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines and developing novel paradigms that catalyze scientific discovery and innovation.

GCR identifies Convergence Research as having two primary characteristics:

• Research driven by a specific and compelling problem. Convergence research is generally inspired by the need to address a specific challenge or opportunity, whether it arises from deep scientific questions or pressing societal needs.
• Deep integration across disciplines. As experts from different disciplines pursue common research challenges, their knowledge, theories, methods, data, research communities and languages become increasingly intermingled or integrated. New frameworks, paradigms or even disciplines can form sustained interactions across multiple communities.

A distinct characteristic of convergence research, in contrast to other forms of multidisciplinary research, is that from the inception, the convergence paradigm intentionally brings together intellectually diverse researchers and stakeholders to frame the research questions, adopt common frameworks for addressing them, and create and implement innovative scientific approaches for their solution. This includes, when appropriate, developing new integrated theories, methods, research tools, and ways of communicating across disciplines and sectors. Research teams practicing convergence aim to develop sustainable collaborations that may not only create solutions to the specific problem studied, but also develop novel ways of investigating related research questions and open new research vistas.

This GCR solicitation targets multidisciplinary teams who are embracing convergence research as a means of developing highly innovative solutions to complex research problems. GCR proposals are expected to be bold and address scientific or technical challenges and bottlenecks which if resolved have the potential to transform scientific understanding and solve vexing problems. Successful GCR projects are anticipated to lead to paradigm shifting approaches within disciplines, establishment of new scientific communities, or development of transformative technologies that have the potential for broad scientific or societal impact.

The aim of GCR is to cultivate and grow the earliest foundations of convergent approaches for addressing a specific and compelling problem. As such, proposals submitted to this solicitation are expected to explore novel avenues not previously investigated that are at the forefront of advancing science through deep integration. Proposers must make a convincing case that the research to be conducted is within NSF's purview, integrates across NSF directorate or division boundaries, and is currently not supported by other NSF programs or solicitations.

Proposals must include the following:

• A description of a long-term scientific vision motivated by a specific societal and/or scientific problem;
• A rationale explaining proposal suitability for this solicitation and why the stated problem requires growing a new convergence research approach;
• Clear description of scientific or technical challenges and bottlenecks which if resolved have the potential to transform our foundational scientific understanding;
• A five-year research plan, divided into two phases (years 1-2 and years 3-5), that employs a novel convergence paradigm comprising deep integration across disciplines;
• A convergence management plan that outlines strategies and procedures for growing convergent science during the project and beyond and that articulates how progress will be assessed.

Please refer to the proposal preparation instructions below for more detail on each of these items.

Solicitation limitations:

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1
A PI or a co-PI may participate in only one GCR project at a time. 

Other information:

The proposers must outline a five-year research plan delineated in two phases, Phase I: years 1-2, and Phase II: years 3-5. The total budget for Phase I may not exceed $1,200,000, and the total for Phase II may not exceed $2,400,000. Successful proposals will be funded initially for two years. Each team's progress will be evaluated at a reverse site visit near the end of year 2; this will involve preparing a progress report and making a team presentation to a panel of reviewers/site visitors. Only teams that show exceptional progress according to the merit review and solicitation specific criteria during the first two years and that articulate plans for furthering advancements at the forefront of convergence research will be eligible for additional funding for up to three years pending availability of funds.

2026 (February) APS Foundation

Overview:

The APS Foundation is committed to supporting programs that strengthen academic achievement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in Arizona. Our funding focus is projects and programs that enhance STEM education and attainment, with a signature emphasis on professional development for STEM teachers. These projects are prioritized in our grantmaking process, though we welcome applications for any initiatives that support Arizona educators and students and enhance STEM learning.

Building a workforce proficient in STEM skills is essential to Arizona’s future. A strong STEM workforce helps attract and retain high-quality businesses and industries, fueling long-term economic growth and innovation across the state. 

To be eligible, organizations must:

• Be a registered 501(c)(3) public charity in good financial and public standing for 3+ years.
• Deliver programming that is facilitated within the state of Arizona.
• Submit a program that demonstrates the ability to:
  • Improve educational outcomes in STEM,
  • Increase access to STEM learning, and/or
  • Provide an innovative approach to education.

STEM Focused- program and projects that support Arizona’s youth and educators at the K-12 and college/university level.

• Curriculum
• Equipment
• Scholarships
• Stipends/salaries/consultants
• Suppose
• Transportation
• Printing/publication costs

Solicitation limitations:

ASU may submit only two (2) applications to the sponsoring organization. Note: This opportunity and sponsor are managed by the ASU Foundation. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions regarding eligibility or the program.

Other information:

The Limited Submissions internal application has been updated to match the sponsor's requirements. Please note that the sponsor has other requirements that can be addressed after the LS review process.

Collaboratory to Advance Mathematics Education and Learning (CAMEL) for K-12

Overview:

The Collaboratory to Advance Mathematics Education and Learning (CAMEL) for K-12 initiative aims to advance mathematics learning and education through purposeful collaboration that draws on the interdisciplinary Science of Learning (including neuroscience; cognitive, developmental, and social sciences; computer science; machine learning; engineering; and education research), deep experiences in education practice and teaching, and innovations in the use of data science, AI and technology. 

Through an agreement with philanthropic partners, including the Walton Family Foundation (WFF), CAMEL consists of two phases. 

Phase I invites proposals for the creation of new research networks to support the generation of high value datasets that aim to advance math learning and education. These research networks must include researchers who study the basic science of learning, education practitioners, and data scientists. The high value dataset may come from either generating a new dataset or by increasing the value of an existing dataset. 

Phase II, open only to awardees of Phase I, establishes a “collaboratory,” which is a socio-technological platform that prioritizes community-building and capacity-building to sustain collaborative efforts to advance math learning and education in K-12. 

Expanding Participation in STEM, NSF Priorities and Gold Standard Science: NSF prioritizes cutting-edge discovery science and engineering research, advancing technology and innovation, and creating opportunities for all Americans. NSF has established priorities set forth by Congress, the administration and the NSF director to promote NSF's mission. Proposers should review the list of NSF prioritiesand are encouraged to align their proposals with them, where appropriate. NSF also expects the highest standards of scientific rigor, integrity and adherence to appropriate tenets of Gold Standard Science in proposals, as appropriate for the field of science and research modality.

Proposals should advance one or more of the following measures of success:

• Publications from research
• Datasets established or expanded
• New technologies or techniques established
• Improvements in student educational outcomes
• Undergraduates and graduate students trained in a specific critical area
• New infrastructure built

Solicitation limitations:

Who May Serve as PI: There are no restrictions or limits.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1 An individual may appear as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI in no more than one Phase I proposal submitted in response to this solicitation.

Other information:

Due Dates
LOI for Phase I proposals
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time): January 09, 2026
Deadline for Phase I proposals
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time): March 11, 2026
Deadline for Phase II proposals
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time): Proposals Accepted Anytime

Estimated Number of Awards: 6 to 7
Anticipated Funding Amount: 
$9,000,000Up to $9.0 million is expected to be available in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Contingent on the availability of funds and receipt of competitive proposals, NSF expects to make 6-7 awards under this solicitation. Awards are expected to be up to three years in duration with a maximum award size of $1,500,000 total costs over the full duration of the project.

Research Project and Existing Program Evaluation Proposals

Overview:

The Brady Education Foundation seeks to improve educational outcomes for children, including those living in low-income communities. The Foundation pursues its mission by promoting collaboration among researchers, educators, and other stakeholders via the funding of Research Projects and Program Evaluations.

Research Projects
The Foundation supports research projects that have the potential to inform how to improve educational outcomes for children from birth through age 18. The Foundation is particularly focused on supporting research that is consistent with a strength-based perspective and has the potential to inform future educational research, practice, major philanthropic giving, and/or public policy.

Aims for Research Project (RP) proposals:

• Primary and secondary aims:
  • The Primary and any secondary aims must focus on developmental or educational research that will inform future education research, practice, philanthropic funding, and/or public policy.
  • Examples of this type of grant include (but are not limited to): measurement development, studies investigating factors associated with achievement outcomes, studies investigating strength families bring to the learning environment and how those can be capitalized upon to promote children’s learning and achievement outcomes, and policy studies.

Existing Program Evaluations
The Foundation supports the evaluation of programs that are feasible and sustainable (i.e., can work and be maintained in the real world of educational settings and systems), accessible (i.e., are available to and attainable by the families that need them), and strength-based (i.e., recognize the strengths that children and families bring to the learning environment that can be capitalized upon to promote strong academic outcomes). The Foundation also supports cost-benefit analyses of existing programs whose goals are to promote improved educational outcomes.

The Foundation is currently accepting Research Project (RP) proposals and Existing Program Evaluation (EPE) proposals. The Foundation is particularly focused on supporting projects that are consistent with a strength-based perspective and have the potential to inform future educational research, practice, major philanthropic giving, and/or public policy.

The proposed project may span up to three years (this applies to both Existing Program Evaluations and to Research Project proposals). Projects that would only analyze existing data sets (i.e., secondary data analyses; no new data collected) are expected to be conducted within 1.5 years.

Aims for Existing Program Evaluation (EPE proposals):

• Primary aim:
  • What works: The primary aim must concern evaluating the effectiveness of programs designed to promote positive cognitive and/or achievement outcomes for children (birth through 18 years).
• Secondary aims may also focus on one or more of the following:
  • What works for whom, under what conditions: Investigate variations in program effects; that is, test for moderation effects that inform whether effects are stronger for certain groups and/or under certain conditions than other groups or conditions.
  • Reasons for effects: Investigate mechanisms through which effects occur; that is, test for mediation effects that inform why the program is effective.
  • Cost-benefit analyses: Compare the total costs of the program (start-up and ongoing operational costs) with its estimated monetary benefits to determine the net cost or benefit associated with the program.
• Primary and secondary aims:
  • The Primary and any secondary aims must focus on educational research that will inform future education research, practice, philanthropic funding, and/or public policy.

Solicitation limitations:

Funding must be through the Principal Investigator’s home institution (i.e., the university, college, or non-profit research organization).

Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations only. This applies to the sponsoring institution as well as subcontracts.

Other information:

The application process for all grants begins with the submission of an LOI. If the LOI is approved, the applicant will be invited to submit a Stage 1 application. Stage 1 applications are accepted by invitation only.

LOI Submission* deadlines (submission windows for LOIs):

• 1/15/26 – 2/15/26 
• 5/15/26 – 6/15/26 
• 9/15-26 – 10/15/26 
• 1/15/27 – 2/15/27 
• Factors that cause applications to be disqualified
• Review criteria for EPE applications
• Review criteria for RP applications
• FAQs

*LOIs are accepted during these dates. If invited to submit a Stage 1 application, applicant can submit for this cycle or any future cycle (i.e., an applicant can submit for this cycle or wait to submit their Stage 1 application in a later cycle). If they choose to wait and submit for a later cycle, they are NOT required to resubmit their LOI.

Prior to submitting an LOI, all applicants are strongly encouraged to read through the criteria used to disqualify and review Stage 1 proposals. Download the complete guidelines concerning:

Duration: The proposed project may span up to three years (this applies to both Existing Program Evaluations and to Research Project proposals).  

Applied Research Competition

Overview:

The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) invites letters of intent for its 2026 Applied Research Competition. Through this competition, OAR seeks to promote evidence-based practices based on research in the following areas: 

• The analysis, evaluation, or comparison of current models of assessment, intervention, or systems of service delivery, including policy analysis 
• Applied aspects of educational, behavioral, or social/communicative intervention 
• Effective intervention across the lifespan for individuals considered severely affected by ASD 
• Issues affecting adults with autism such as continuing education, employment, residential supports, sexuality instruction, quality-of-life determinants, and services and supports for older autistic individuals 
• Issues related to family support, social and community integration, assessment and intervention with challenging behavior, and the use of technology in support of learners with ASD 2. 
• Belonging and Interpersonal Skills 
• Communication and Language 
• Community-Based Assessment and Intervention 
• Community-Engaged Research 
• Community Living and Supports 
• Gender, Reproductive, and Sexual Health 
• Improving Access to and Effectiveness of Existing Systems and Services 
• Intersectionality, Equity, and Diversity 
• Mid-life and Older Adults 

OAR seeks to fund studies that expand the body of knowledge related to autism intervention and treatment, produce practical and clearly objective results, have the potential to positively affect public policy, and provide outcomes that offer to enhance quality of life for persons with autism and their families. While applicants are always free to submit on any relevant area of research or intervention, this year, OAR will prioritize funding for early career investigators and projects that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Generally, OAR places special emphasis on research addressing the following areas: 

Physical Health and Mental Health Study duration may range from one to two years.

Solicitation limitations:

Researchers may only submit one LOI.

At least one member of the research team must hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree and maintain a faculty position or equivalent at a college, university, medical school, or other research facility.

Other information:

OAR funds pilot studies that range from 1-2 years. The maximum grant amount is $50,000 regardless of study duration. With this year’s competition, OAR will consider awarding up to 9 grant awards of $50,000 each.

Read about the competition timeline and application process:

• Request for Applications (PDF)
• Application Overview

Global Call for Ideas

Overview:

Templeton World Charity Foundation (TWCF) is committed to promoting scientific and religious exploration that inspires new perspectives on life’s deepest questions. We are pleased to announce that we are currently looking for new ideas to catalyze discovery and accelerate progress in the spiritual search for meaning, purpose, and truth.

As part of TWCF’s strategic planning process, we are seeking to engage the global community in a search for the best ideas wherever they may be found. This is not a traditional request for project proposals. Rather, with this Request for Ideas (RFI) we seek submissions of emerging topics that will form the basis of new funding priorities. This opportunity is expected to result in programmatic priorities funded in the range of USD 5-20 million, over a 5-7 year period.

We are looking for ideas to form the basis of future funding priorities aligned with the foundation’s purpose. Ideas should be bold and innovative, with the potential to deepen or expand our understanding of ultimate reality and what it means to be human. We seek ideas for rigorous research programs that can impact how we each see the world and our place within it. Recognizing that these discoveries may come from diverse sources we seek ideas that might illuminate and point to discoveries in three of our core areas of interest: 

1. the fundamental processes, structures and constituents of the natural world 
2. what it is to be human, as well as the various ways human beings can progress spiritually through their understanding and pursuit of virtues such as love, creativity, gratitude, forgiveness, spirituality, connection, and other positive concepts. 
3. the nature of transcendent divinity and human responses to it. 

Central to TWCF’s mission is our commitment to meaning, purpose, and truth as realities that can be known and pursued. TWCF can fund curiosity-driven research on big questions that expand the horizons of humanity’s perspectives, without necessarily expecting definitive answers. We welcome bold ideas that have potential to generate new insights, even if those ideas may be seen as too risky or contrarian by other funders. 

As well as discovery focused research, we are also open to ideas for more applied programs in specific topics (see Core Funding Areas) that will lead to long-term future benefits for humanity. 

Our current priorities and funded projects exemplify, but do not limit, the range and types of topics that we are interested in. A full description of the scope of our work can also be found in the descriptions of our core funding areas (see Appendix). We invite ideas from a wide range of disciplines, spanning the natural and social sciences, as well as humanities like philosophy and theology. Interdisciplinary ideas that integrate insights from different perspectives through open-minded inquiry are strongly encouraged.

All of TWCF’s strategic priorities are designed to advance the foundation's mandate. Within each strategic priority, individual projects must also align with one of our core funding areas. The largest focus of our grantmaking is on ‘Big Questions in Science & Religion’ outlined above, with over two thirds of our resources directed to this funding area. 

We also fund research and education programs in several specific areas chosen by our founder: genetics, character virtue development, genius, individual freedoms & free markets and voluntary family planning. Ideas related to one of these areas are also welcome.
 

Solicitation limitations:

May submit more than one idea (see PDF)

Other information:

Link to RFI Guidance and FAQs (PDF)

This opportunity is expected to result in programmatic priorities funded in the range of USD 5-20 million, over a 5-7 year period.
Important Context (from RD): Templeton’s Global Call for Ideas is not a traditional grant competition. The USD 5–20M noted in the announcement reflects the expected total investment in the final priority area, not a single grant award. Individual submitters may receive smaller planning or concept awards depending on program development.

Research Grants on Education: Large

Overview:

Current application processes are described in the How to Apply section below. Please see the October 2025 Spencer news update from Dr. Nasir and Dr. Bricker for information about how we have changed our processes to respond to the large volume of applications we are currently receiving. Starting in 2026, we are moving to a single cycle of Large Grants per year, but as we have communicated to the field, we will fund more proposals than in past years.   

The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 up through $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We accept applications once a year.

This program is “field-initiated,” meaning that proposal submissions are not in response to a specific request for a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may have a lasting impact on educational discourse.

We recognize that learning occurs across the life course as well as across settings— from the classroom to the workplace, to family and community contexts and even onto the playing field—any of which may, in the right circumstance, provide the basis for rewarding study that makes significant contributions to the field. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education. To this end, this program supports proposals from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives, both domestically and internationally, from scholars at various stages in their career. We anticipate that proposals will span a wide range of topics and disciplines that innovatively investigate questions central to education, including for example education, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, law, economics, history, or neuroscience, amongst others.

Moreover, we expect and welcome methodological diversity in answering pressing questions; thus, we are open to projects that utilize a wide array of research methods including the diverse range of quantitative and qualitative methods, mixed-methods, ethnographies, design-based research, participatory methods, and historical research, to name a few. We are open to projects that might incorporate data from multiple and varied sources, span a sufficient length of time as to achieve a depth of understanding, or work closely with practitioners or community members over the life of the project. In addition, we welcome proposals submitted by multidisciplinary and multigenerational teams who are positioned to both contribute to the project as well as contribute to the teaching and learning of fellow team members.

Finally, we encourage teams to thoughtfully consider and describe plans regarding the trajectories of their project’s findings, implications, and potential effects, especially how the knowledge may be shared and utilized across the field in practice, policy making, or with broader publics.

Solicitation limitations:

Projects proposed may not be longer than 5 years in duration.

PIs and Co-PIs may only hold one active research grant from the Spencer Foundation at one time. PIs and Co-PIs may apply for a new grant while they have an active grant at the Spencer Foundation if the active grant will end before the anticipated start date of the new project. Note that this restriction does not apply to the administering organization; organizations may submit as many proposals as they like as long as they are for different projects and have different research teams.

PIs and Co-PIs may not submit more than one research proposal or preproposal to the Spencer Foundation at a time. This restriction applies to the Small Grants Program, Large Grants Program, Racial Equity Research Grants Program, and Research-Practice Partnership Program. If the PI or any of the Co-PIs currently have a research preproposal or proposal under consideration in any of these programs, they are required to wait until a final decision has been made before they can submit a new preproposal or proposal. Note that an exception to both of these restrictions is the Spencer Vision Grants program. PIs and Co-PIs may apply for a Vision Grant if they have another active research grant from the Spencer Foundation or if they have another Spencer grant proposal or preproposal in review. However, the projects proposed in a Vision Grant proposal and in another Spencer grant program proposal or preproposal must be distinct.

Other information:

Applications Open: December 10, 2025 
Intent to Apply: February 24, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America) 
Full Proposal Deadline: June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM Noon (Central Time/North America)

Awards: The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets ranging from $125,000 to $500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. We anticipate awarding grants with budgets across each of the following funding tiers: $125,000 to 250,000; $250,001 to $375,000; and $375,001 to $500,000. 

Computer and Information Science and Engineering : Future Computing Research (Future CoRe)

Overview:

The NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) supports transformative research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering through multiple research programs. These programs support research and education activities that advance: 

• mathematical, scientific and technological foundations of computing communication, hardware, software and emerging technologies; 
• understanding and development of computer and network systems, cyber-physical systems, and cybersecurity as well as their roles in solving complex scientific, engineering, and societal problems; and
• understanding of the inter-related roles of people, computers, and information.

The NSF CISE Directorate supports research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering through the following Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) programs: 

• Algorithmic Foundations (AF) program; 
• Communications and Information Foundations (CIF) program; 
• Computer Systems Research (CSR) program; 
• Computing Education Research (CER) program; 
• Cyber-Physical System Foundations and Connected Communities (CPS) program; 
• Foundations of Emerging Technologies (FET) program;  
• Human-Centered Computing (HCC) program; 
• Information Integration and Informatics (III) program; 
• Networking Technology and Systems (NeTS) program;  
• Robust Intelligence (RI) program; and 
• Software and Hardware Foundations (SHF) program;

Broadening Participation In STEM: NSF has a mandate to broaden participation in science and engineering, as articulated and reaffirmed in law since 1950. Congress has charged NSF to “develop intellectual capital, both people and ideas, with particular emphasis on groups and regions that traditionally have not participated fully in science, mathematics, and engineering."

Merit Review Criteria
All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria. (PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i). contains additional information for use by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the proposal). Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria, including PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.d(i), prior to the review of a proposal.

When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria:

• Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and
• Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

[Note: This RFP may be using outdated verbiage regarding Broader Impacts. Check with MLFC RD Office if you are interested in this call, and we will follow up with the sponsor for clarification.]

Solicitation limitations:

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 2

Other information:

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant
Estimated Number of Awards: 400 to 600
Anticipated Funding Amount: $280,000,000 
Dependent upon the availability of funds.
The CISE Future Computing Research program anticipates a portfolio of awards with a range of budgets and durations, including projects of smaller scope. Project durations and budgets must be commensurate with the scope of the proposed work up to the maximum limit of $1,000,000 with the duration up to 4 years.  Typical projects are approximately $150,000 to $250,000 per year and are 3 to 4 years in duration. Projects are discouraged from exceeding $300,000 in any single year.  Estimated program budget, number of awards, and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Full Proposal Target Date(s): 

• September 11, 2025
  Second Thursday in September, Annually Thereafter
• February 05, 2026
  First Thursday in February, Annually Thereafter

While proposals are accepted anytime, proposers are highly encouraged to submit by the target dates to ensure consideration during the corresponding panel review cycle.

Science and Technology Studies

Overview:

Science and Technology Studies (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the conceptual foundations, historical developments and social contexts of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including medical science. The STS program supports proposals across a broad spectrum of research that uses historical, philosophical and social scientific methods to investigate STEM theory and practice. STS research may be empirical or conceptual; specifically, it may focus on the intellectual, material or social facets of STEM.

STS research seeks to understand how scientific knowledge is produced and sanctioned, and how it is challenged and changes. It examines the theoretical foundations of science, brings to light underlying presuppositions and alternative interpretations, and assesses the reliability of research methods. It investigates how materials, devices and techniques are designed and developed; how and by whom they are diffused, used, adapted and rejected; how they are affected by social and cultural environments; and how they influence quality of life, culture and society. It also considers how socio-cultural values are embedded in science and technology, and how they evolve with the development and use of scientific knowledge and technological artifacts. In addition, it explores relationships between STEM and fundamental social categories.

Traditional STS Focus Areas -- The program encourages research that furthers STS as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field, including, but by no means limited to the following:

• Research on the social organization of scientific work and how this shapes the production of knowledge and its intellectual and social impacts.
• Research on the historical, conceptual and methodological foundations of any of the natural, social or engineering sciences including their foundations, origins or place in modern society.
• Mixed methods approaches and other approaches that integrate multiple STS perspectives with each other or with innovative approaches from the arts or humanities.
• Interdisciplinary projects on topics of broad societal concern that engage in integrative, collaborative research involving at least one STS expert and at least one expert in some other STEM field, with prospective outcomes that serve to advance both fields.
• STS projects that contribute to NSF's research-focused Big Ideas, or that contribute to other pertinent initiatives such as Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2), Science of Broadening Participation and ADVANCE.
• How can emerging technologies such as machine learning systems, gene drives or quantum computers be developed and implemented so that they can benefit everyone? How are people interacting with these emerging technologies and how will they affect culture, society and norms?
• What are the best approaches for maintaining and developing the built environment while respecting the natural environment as well as local cultures and values? What factors need to be considered to ensure that technologies work well within social and cultural contexts?
• How can major technological shifts in energy, algorithm usage, transportation or communication be accomplished in ways that are transparent and consistent with societal values, engage diverse perspectives in all phases of development and benefit broad sectors of society?

New Areas of Emphasis for STS
The STS program strongly encourages research that addresses complex socio-technical and techno-scientific problems from multiple perspectives that capture the different social facets of the problem. The goal is to bring different disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives to the problem and thereby make use of a variety of theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. Some examples of questions that address such problems may include, but are by no means limited to, the following:

Link to Guidelines for Developing Effective STS Proposals

GRANT TYPES SUPPORTED BY STS
STS program supports a variety of grant types [see full RFP for details] with associated guidelines. Funding caps on the grant types supported by the STS program are expressed in terms of the requested amount, which is the amount listed on the cover page of the proposal.

• The program mainly supports Standard Research Grants, Grants for Collaborative Research, Scholars Awards, Research Community Development Grants, Conference Grants and Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants.
• In addition, the program may support other NSF-wide grant mechanisms that are detailed in NSF's PAPPG, including Rapid Response Research (RAPID), Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) and Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE).

Solicitation limitations:

Who May Serve as PI: PI eligibility limit varies by the type of proposal. [See Section II. Program Description for detailed information about each type of proposal.] 

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: There are no restrictions or limits.

Other information:

Budget Guidelines [see full proposal announcement for complete details]

• Standard and Collaborative Research Grant Proposals -- Amount will rarely exceed $750,000 including indirect costs. 
• Scholars Award Proposals -- Amount will rarely exceed $350,000. The duration is usually one year. 
• Research Community Development Grant Proposals -- There is no award ceiling…typical research community development grant award in the STS Program is expected to be in the range of $75,000-$100,000 per year of the project (corresponding to line L of the yearly budget), for up to 36 months. 
• Conference Grant Proposals -- Expected to be under $50,000.
• Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant Proposals -- Should not exceed $25,000.
• Faculty Early Career Development Grant Proposals -- The minimum Requested Amount is $400,000 and the duration must be for five years. 
• Mid-Career Advancement Grant Proposals -- Funds may include up to a total of 6.5 months of salary (plus fringe benefits) over the course of the award, and up to $100,000 for other direct costs in support of the research advancement and training plan. 
• Research Coordination Network Grant Proposals -- The maximum Requested Amount is $500,000 and the maximum duration is five years. 
• EAGER Proposals -- The maximum Requested Amount is $300,000 and the maximum duration is two years.
• RAISE Proposals -- The maximum Requested Amount is $1 million and the maximum duration is five years.
• RAPID Proposals -- The maximum Requested Amount is $200,000 and the maximum duration is one year.
• REU Supplemental Funding Requests -- The maximum Requested Amount is $16,000 to support up to two STS undergraduate students at $8,000 per student to support the cost of the student's independent research activity.

Professional Education & Training Grants

Overview:

RRF funds professional education and training projects that will be broadly disseminated to achieve a national impact. RRF recognizes the importance of a well-trained work force to serve older persons.

Of particular interest are programs that:

• Increase the knowledge and skills of professionals and paraprofessionals who serve older people
• Expand the capacity and number of professionals and paraprofessionals prepared to meet the growing needs of an aging population

Professional Education and Training Grants are provided to nonprofit organizations that are:

• Proposing a project that has a significant focus on those working with persons, age 60 and older
• Proposing a project that will have national reach across the U.S. or regional reach within the state of Illinois

Priority Areas
RRF Foundation for Aging focuses on improving the quality of life for older people. In an effort to strengthen the Foundation’s impact, RRF has established Priority Areas. These Priority Areas are specific topics in aging that will be given higher priority within the Foundation’s grantmaking program.

• Caregiving: Ensuring that caregivers are informed, well-trained, and supported, while providing care to older people in community settings.
• Economic security in later life: Valuing the dignity of older people through efforts that ensure and protect their economic security and well-being.
• Housing: Promoting efforts that make housing more affordable and provide coordinated services that enable older people to live safely in community settings.
• Social and intergenerational connectedness: Strengthening social bonds through efforts that promote meaningful connections, including those that span generations.
• Organizational capacity building: Improve management and governance of organizations in Illinois.
• Other promising projects: While Priority Areas reflect RRF’s primary funding interests, we remain open to supporting other opportunistic aging projects (on a selective basis).

Solicitation limitations:

ASU may submit only one (1) letter of inquiry to the sponsoring organization per deadline. 

Other information:

Application Information & Tips: At RRF, we want you to have the resources you need to prepare successful grant applications. Here you’ll find general grant exclusions, frequently asked questions, and more.

Awards: 2025 awards ranged between $50,000 and $375,000. See 2025 funded projects here.