Research on Innovative Technologies for Enhanced Learning (RITEL)

Overview:

The purpose of the Research on Innovative Technologies for Enhanced Learning (RITEL) program is to support early-stage research in emerging technologies for teaching and learning that respond to pressing needs in authentic (real-world) educational environments. RITEL supports future-oriented exploratory and synergistic research in emerging technologies (including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and immersive or augmenting technologies) for teaching and learning. The program accepts proposals that focus on learning, teaching, or a combination of both. The scope of the program is broad and includes teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and in foundational areas that enable STEM (e.g., self-regulation, literacy, communication, collaboration, creativity, and socio-emotional skills). RITEL supports research in all learning contexts (e.g., formal, informal, workplace) and for all learner populations. RITEL has a special interest in diverse learner/educator populations and in developing new educational technologies that are cost-effective for budget-limited school districts, colleges and universities. 

Research in this program should be informed by the convergence (synthesis) of multiple disciplines: e.g., learning sciences; discipline-based education research; computer and information science and engineering; design; and cognitive, behavioral, and social sciences. RITEL is unique in its requirement that projects must advance research in both learning (and/or teaching) and technology.

RITEL is an exploratory research program that serves as an incubator to support cutting-edge research in advanced learning and teaching 4 technologies. Research should be theory-driven and apply human-centered design methods to explore proof-of-concept or feasibility of innovative learning technologies in support of new learning and/or teaching experiences. Emerging and innovative technologies have the potential to reshape teaching and learning processes, which in turn can influence new technology designs. RITEL encourages projects that explore new ideas and involve risk.

RITEL is unique in its requirement that projects must advance fundamental research in both learning (and/or teaching) and technology.

Projects that broaden participation, expand STEM pathways, ensure educational equity, or otherwise promote diversity, inclusion, and access in STEM education and careers are strongly encouraged. RITEL encourages proposals from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

All projects must be framed in terms of a pressing need in an authentic educational environment. The research should address a meaningful and practical teaching and/or learning problem identified by educators and/or other stakeholders who have expertise in the specific context.

This program supports a broad range of projects across: 
-Content areas: STEM and other foundational areas supported by NSF that enable STEM learning and teaching (e.g., self-regulation, literacy, communication, collaboration, creativity, curiosity, and social skills). 
-Populations and contexts: learners, teachers, mentors, educators, and other workers in formal (e.g., K12, higher education) or informal settings; and individual, collective, and collaborative learning and teaching across the lifespan.

The primary goal should be investigating a new technology in the context of advancing teaching and/or learning. RITEL will not fund projects that are primarily about development of a technology.

All projects must have clear research objectives that integrate teaching and/or learning and technology research to advance the respective fields (e.g., learning sciences, discipline-based education research, computer and information sciences, engineering, and/or social, cognitive, and behavioral sciences) as described below:

Teaching and/or learning research 
-For teaching, this includes researching new teaching processes and approaches (e.g., andragogy and pedagogy). 
-For learning, this includes researching new learning processes, principles, and theories (e.g., cognitive, behavioral, affective, socio-cultural, social, epistemological, problem-based, project-based, developmental, and other perspectives).

Technology research 
-Examples of emerging technology research include (but are not limited to): AI-driven technologies; virtual, immersive, embodied, interactive, or augmented environments; multimodal modeling/sensing of cognitive or affective states; language and speech processing; learning analytics and dashboards; and robotics. 
-The technology research must advance fields involving computer science, information science, and/or engineering. 
-It is insufficient to simply implement or test an existing technology, even if innovative. Incremental advances in existing technologies or deployment/implementation of existing technologies in novel learning contexts will not be funded through this program.

Solicitation limitations:

 An individual may participate as PI, co-PI, or other Senior Personnel in no more than one (1) proposal in response to this solicitation for each submission date. In the event that an individual exceeds the limit, the first proposal received (based on the date and time stamp of proposal submission) will be accepted and the remainder will be returned without review. No exceptions will be made.

Other information:

Each project will be funded for a duration of 3 years and up to $900,000.

Equitable Transformation in STEM Education (ETSE)

Overview:

The HSI program is guided by student-centered frameworks that build an intentional and supportive environment for students and reinforce cultural and mindset shifts that support the success of all students at HSIs. Proposals should discuss project designs that are based on data-informed decision-making processes to operationalize an institution’s student-centered approach. This competition is designed to leverage existing institutional strengths for advancing efforts toward student-centered environments. Proposals to ETSE should impact the STEM learning landscape, result in equitable undergraduate STEM degree attainment for all students, and position students for successful transition and retention into the STEM workforce or graduate education.

Institutional Transformation Track (ITT). Proposals to the Institutional Transformation track should articulate a vision for unifying academic equity research, practice, and policy to strengthen an institutional understanding of student learning outcomes from the context of the diverse community it serves. All institution types are encouraged to apply, especially PUIs (including community colleges). Proposals are encouraged to consider moving efforts from enrollment driven strategies to student-centered principles. These projects seek to support the planning and implementation of institutional research infrastructure efforts which results in institutional-wide efforts toward broadening participation in STEM while engaging students in STEM undergraduate best practices to effectively guide students toward careers in STEM and/or graduate programs.

Project Descriptions for successful proposals to the Institutional Transformation Track (ITT) are strongly encouraged to:

• Discuss the proposal’s alignment with the institutional strategic plan to improve the enrollment, retention, and graduation of STEM associates and baccalaureate degrees.
• Discuss how the proposed ITT project will leverage and/or complement existing programs and initiatives to help the institution move towards a more student-centered undergraduate STEM ecosystem.
• Articulate the creation of institution-wide strategies to transform their policies or practices to foster inclusive STEM learning environments that promote equitable student learning and engagement in all STEM disciplines at the proposing HSI.
• Comprise a multidisciplinary team with the expertise and experience needed to implement the proposed project. The PI team may have members from other institutions or non-profit organizations to augment the team's expertise, which should be explained in the project description and management plan.

Solicitation limitations:

Other information:

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

Estimated Number of Awards: 11 to 17

Anticipated Funding Amount: $20,000,000 (The number of new awards is subject to the availability of funds.)

This Program anticipates making:
•    3-6 Departmental/Division Transformation Track (DDTT)
o    Award Size: Up to $1,000,000
o    Award Length: For up to five-year-long projects
•    2-3 Institutional Transformation Track (ITT)
o    Award Size: Up to $3,000,000
o    Award Length: For five-year-long projects
•    5-7 Emerging Faculty Research Tracks (EFRT)
o    Award Size: Up to $200,000
o    Award Length: For up to three-year-long projects
•    1 HSI Program Resource Hubs (Hubs)
o    Award Size: Up to $3,000,000
o    Award Length: For up to five-year-long projects

Due Dates: Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization’s local time):  September 11, 2024 and August 27, 2025 (and the last Wednesday in August, Annually Thereafter)

The NSF website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged.

Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS)

Overview:

The Launching of Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) supports the launch of the careers of pre-tenure faculty whose research is in Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) fields at institutions that do not traditionally receive significant amounts of MPS funding, such as Carnegie Research 2 (R2) universities, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs).

The LEAPS awards enable PIs from these institutions to initiate productive research programs and generate results useful for preparing subsequent competitive proposals to "traditional" NSF funding opportunities, such as a core program or a CAREER solicitation. A critical goal of the LEAPS-MPS Program is to develop the 21st-century STEM workforce representative of society's full spectrum of talent by increasing the participation in STEM research of members of communities underrepresented and/or under-served in STEM and the number of members of these communities who can serve as role models.

Awards are for 24 months with budgets of up to $250,000 total costs (direct plus indirect).

Proposals in response to this solicitation must be submitted for consideration to the appropriate program in one of the five MPS Divisions.

Program Description
LEAPS-MPS awards support projects led by beginning investigators and focused on advances within or across research areas supported by the
•    Divisions of Astronomical Sciences (AST), 
•    Chemistry (CHE), 
•    Materials Research (DMR), 
•    Mathematical Sciences (DMS), and 
•    Physics (PHY) in the MPS Directorate.

The projects should form a sound basis for a compelling research program. The results of activities supported by LEAPS awards should increase the competitiveness of future proposals to NSF programs by the PIs; these could be, for example, data that can be used in the design of a future project and the formation of productive research collaborations or partnerships to support or increase the impact of educational efforts. Projects should also serve to increase the participation in STEM research of underrepresented and/or under-served communities in STEM and the number of members of these communities who can serve as role models to ensure that the 21st-century STEM workforce encompasses society's full spectrum of talent.
The LEAPS-MPS program does not support proposals more appropriate for consideration by NSF programs outside MPS or other federal agencies and will be returned without review. Potential proposers who are uncertain about the fit of a research project to an MPS division are strongly encouraged to contact the program officers identified below to discuss the fit.
 

Other information:

Program Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 24 months. LEAPS-MPS awards are for up to $250,000 in total (direct and indirect costs) for a period of up to 24 months. The budget should include funds for the PI's travel to a one-and-a-half-day meeting of LEAPS award recipients in the Washington, DC, area

Principal Investigator Requirements: The Principal Investigator must fulfill these three conditions at the time of proposal submission:

• hold a doctoral degree in a discipline in which the Divisions of the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences support fundamental research
• be in the pre-tenure period of a tenure-track or tenure-track equivalent faculty appointment

• have not previously served as Principal or co-Principal Investigator on an NSF research award. For this solicitation, Fellowship, Conference/Workshop, Equipment, Travel, Instrumentation Infrastructure, and Research Opportunity Award (ROA) awards are not included in the research grant category

   

Tenure-track equivalency - For a position to be considered tenure-track-equivalent, it must simultaneously meet these three requirements: (1) the continuing appointment is expected to last at least three years from the start date of the LEAPS award; (2) the appointment comes with substantial research and educational responsibilities; and (3) the employee's career goals and job responsibilities as well as the mission of the department or organization will be served by the proposed LEAPS project.

Co-Principal Investigators are not permitted on LEAPS-MPS proposals.

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):

     April 17, 2025

     January 22, 2026

     Fourth Thursday in January, Annually Thereafter

U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Bahrain Annual Program Statement

Overview:

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Manama is pleased to announce its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.  This is an annual program statement, outlining our funding priorities, our strategic themes of focus, and the procedure for submitting requests for funding for fiscal year 2025 (October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025).  

Purpose of Small Grants:
PAS invites proposals from individuals, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, government institutions, and academic institutions for projects that strengthen bilateral ties between the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain.  All programs must include a connection with U.S. culture, experts, organizations, or institutions.  Grants should address and advance the mutual strategic priorities of the United States and Bahrain

Goals and Objectives:
PDS invites proposals for programs that support OSA goals in Sudan. Successful proposals must include a reference to American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of the United States and/or U.S. policy or perspectives. Successful proposals will clearly describe the U.S. component of the program, the program’s anticipated results, when results will be expected, and how the OSA can measure them. Successful grantees will proactively show progress towards results through regular reporting to the OSA. U.S. government officials will visit the program, if possible, to monitor progress.

Examples of Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program activities include but are not limited to: 
•    Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; 
•    Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions;
•    Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs; 
•    Professional and academic exchanges and programs; and 
•    Conferences, workshops, or training opportunities. 

Priority Program Areas
In Fiscal Year 2025, priority programming areas include:
•    Promoting scientific and technological cooperation, particularly in emerging technologies;
•    Building supply chain resilience and trusted telecommunications networks;
•    Building digital literacy and combating disinformation;
•    Enhancing economic opportunities, entrepreneurship, and skills for youth;
•    Fostering regional security, economic integration, and mutual cooperation;
•    Cultural heritage conservation and preservation projects;
•    Professional and academic exchanges and projects;
•    Space cooperation, research, and education.

Applications outside of these priority areas are welcome, but may not be ranked as highly when making funding decisions. The proposal must address one of the following priority program areas: 
•    Promoting women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and STEM;
•    Promoting societal inclusion; 
•    Promoting peace through the arts; or 
•    Promoting any of the themes above through the arts. 
•    Promoting humanitarian assistance and civilian protection; 
•    Promoting civic education and engagement; 
•    Promoting media capacity building; 
•    Promoting human rights awareness and advocacy;

Participants and Audiences
•    Youth aged 18-35 years; 
•    Young professionals; and 
•    Above priority audiences with a focus on women, underprivileged or culturally/ethnically diverse communities, or those from marginalized groups. 

Cost Sharing or Matching:
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of funds stipulated in their proposal.  PAS strongly encourages, but does not mandate, that applicants include cost-sharing elements from additional sources in their proposals.
 

Other information:

Length of performance period:  1 to 12 months.

Number of awards anticipated: 3 to 30 awards.

Award amounts:  Awards may range from a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of $25,000, subject to availability of funding.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. 

Deadlines: Grants applications will be accepted three times annually.  Grants must be submitted before the program start date.  Applicants are recommended to submit grant applications at least three months before the program start date.

December 15, 2025, 16:00 – First application submission deadline.

 April 15, 2025, 16:00 – Second application submission deadline.

July 15, 2025, 16:00 – Third application submission deadline.

US Embassy Abidjan Cross Border University Partnership Initiatives

Overview:

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan aims to increase partnership and collaboration between American and Ivoirian universities. This is an open competition for higher education institutions to submit applications that will create sustainable linkages between American and Ivoirian universities. These programs will provide organizational and logistical support to foster academic collaboration, research partnerships, and student exchanges between universities in both countries. 

All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Priority Region: Côte d’Ivoire

Goals and Objectives
The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan aims to increase partnership and collaboration between American and Ivoirian universities. These partnerships can take different forms but will facilitate academic exchanges, collaborative research, and professional development opportunities, ultimately supporting the exchange of ideas and expertise and contributing to the capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Côte d’Ivoire. 

Proposed projects should have the institutional support necessary so that the relationship built between universities is sustainable beyond the duration of the grant.

Projects may include, but not be limited to, the following goals:
 

• Foster partnerships between U.S. and Ivoirian universities to promote academic exchange and collaborative research. 
• Strengthen the institutional capacity of universities through joint programs, faculty exchanges, and shared resources. 
• Develop and implement new curricula that address global challenges and incorporate diverse perspectives. 
• Promote joint research initiatives that address pressing global issues and encourages innovation. 
• Provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to improve teaching and administrative practices. 
• Support the development of policies that facilitate international collaboration and academic freedom.  
• Enhance the use of technology in education through collaborative projects and shared digital resources. 
• Promote sustainable practices and environmental stewardship through joint university initiatives. 

Other information:

Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is not required but those applications that demonstrate institutional sustainability will be prioritized.
Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 12 months or less.
Number of awards anticipated: multiple awards (dependent on amounts)
Award amounts: Up to $250,000 per award pending availability of funds
Total available funding: Up to $250k per award pending availability of funds 
Anticipated project start date: September 2025
 

U.S. Embassy Abidjan PDS Annual Program Statement

Overview:

The U.S. Embassy Abidjan Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

PDS Abidjan invites proposals for programs that strengthen ties between the U.S. and Côte d’Ivoire through programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American element, connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field or promote shared policy objectives.

Public Diplomacy Priority Program Areas:

• Trade and Investment: Projects that promote the development of the digital economy, creative industries, tourism sector, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and innovation as the basis for strong, sustainable, inclusive economic growth;
• Media & Information: Projects that promote an understanding of freedom of the press, ethical journalism practices, increased access to information, improved media and digital literacy, and combat mis- and disinformation.

• Empowering Youth, Women & Populations experiencing marginalization: Projects that support the engagement or empowerment of marginalized or underserved communities in the digital economy, gender equity, minority rights, and persons with disabilities.

   

Priority Region: Côte d’Ivoire
PDS Abidjan will prioritize proposals with grant activities occurring outside of metropolitan Abidjan, including programs taking place in Northern Côte d’Ivoire.
 

Solicitation limitations:

Applicants are only allowed to submit only one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

Other information:

Award Information
Length of performance period: 1 to 12 months
Anticipated program start date:  On a rolling basis; awards must be executed prior to 9/30/25
Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. PDS will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is encouraged, but not required. Applicants who plan to include a cost share component to their proposal should clearly outline it in their budget breakdown and budget narrative. The Cost share will not be considered as a criteria in the proposal’s review.
 

2025 Innovations in Graduate Education Program

Overview:

The Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Program is designed to encourage development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM graduate education training. The program seeks proposals that a) explore ways for graduate students in STEM master's and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers, or b) support research on the graduate education system and outcomes of systemic interventions and policies.

IGE projects are intended to generate the knowledge required for the customization, implementation, and broader adoption of potentially transformative approaches to graduate education. The program supports piloting, testing, and validating novel models or activities and examining systemic innovations with high potential to enrich and extend the knowledge base on effective graduate education approaches.

The program addresses both workforce development, emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity-building needs in graduate education. Strategic collaborations with the private sector, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, eld stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science organizations, and academic partners are encouraged.

Solicitation limitations:

ASU may submit only two (2) application to the sponsoring organization.

• Participation includes serving as a lead organization on a non-collaborative proposal or as a lead organization, non-lead organization, or sub-awardee on a collaborative proposal.
• An individual may serve as Lead Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on only one proposal submitted to the IGE program per annual competition.

Other information:

Estimated Number of Awards: 16 to 20 
IGE Track 1 Awards (6 to 10 anticipated in FY 2024) are expected to be up to three (3) years in duration with a total budget between $300,000 and $500,000. 

IGE Track 2 Awards (6 to 12 anticipated in FY 2024) are expected to be up to ve (5) years in duration with a total budget up to $1,000,000. 

The estimated number of awards and the anticipated funding amounts listed above for both Track 1 and Track 2 are for FY 2024. The number of awards and funding amounts in FY 2025 and FY 2026 are subject to the availability of funds.

2025 Climate + Health Excellence Centers (CHEX) Award

Overview:

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has announced Climate and Health Excellence Centers awards of up to $10M to stimulate development of strong research, education, and public communications connections between fields that aim to understand and mitigate the impact of climate change on human health. The awards will provide up to $2M a year for five years.

This award will support institutions or consortia that are already moving toward establishing themselves as centers of excellence for understanding climate change’s impact on human health and for leadership in climate education OR public communication.

Applications to CHEX must make clear the core problems on which the proposed Center will focus. Supported centers are expected to both launch what will become long-lasting research partnerships and to have well-planned training and post-graduate training components. This grant will support new discovery toward the following areas of Climate and Health:

Defining the health impacts of climate change

Developing potential interventions

Translating discovery science into practical application

Outward-facing work that can help public understanding of Climate + Health or strengthen connections between research and communities whose health has been harmed by climate change

Either education or communication should be a substantial element of the proposal. Proposals that sacrifice depth to include elements of both may be weakened by the effort: it is better to go deep into one area than to lightly “tag both bases.”

Potential Additional Components:

Activities including policy development and implementation.

Economic modeling of climate change activities.

Convening activities for related stakeholders.

In-house pilot grant programs to stimulate new initiatives in Climate + Health.

Solicitation limitations:

 ASU may submit only one (1) application to the sponsoring organization.

Other information:

An information session will be held 1/30/2025.

Thursday January 30, 9:00 - 10:00 AM (EASTERN)-- 8AM MST
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fj%2F86820077571%3Fpwd%3Db2zsXQNn9vdusq1o5ob2TVk4cS9QnL.1&data=05%7C02%7Carianna.beverly%40asufoundation.org%7C4778a2762683465fefc408dd3b20e2f8%7C7fb37a809ae74bba8b52ca0f0d521ba2%7C0%7C0%7C638731734630686849%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ag48DFqn9GyD3v11miB8aEWPVODfQ5dNvqLQOBPNhXo%3D&reserved=0

Meeting ID: 868 2007 7571
Passcode: 608064

Link to the full announcement can be found here: https://www.bwfund.org/funding-opportunities/climate-change-and-human-health/climate-change-and-human-health-seed-grants/ 

2025 National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program

Overview:

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, as described in section II.D below.

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. 

A. Focus and Goals
The NRT Program is dedicated to shaping and supporting highly effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through the use of comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. The goals of the program are to:

• Catalyze and advance cutting-edge interdisciplinary or convergent research in high priority areas;
• Increase the capacity of U.S. graduate programs to produce diverse cohorts of interdisciplinary STEM professionals with technical and transferable professional skills for a range of research and research-related careers within and outside academia; and
• Develop innovative approaches and knowledge that will promote transformative improvements in graduate education.

Creation of sustainable programmatic capacity at institutions is an expected outcome. Consequently, all proposals should describe mechanisms to
institutionalize effective training elements after award expiration and provide appropriate documentation of institutional support for such efforts (see Full Proposal
Content, section 8).

B. NRT Traineeship and Trainees
NRT traineeships are dedicated to the comprehensive development of graduate students as versatile STEM professionals for a range of research and research related careers within and outside academia. Accordingly, proposals should focus on and demonstrate strong commitment to technical and professional training of STEM graduate students that emphasizes research training and extends beyond into other aspects of students’ professional development. Specifically, NRT projects are expected to develop trainees’ technical skills broadly, including facility and/or familiarity with the techniques, languages, and cultures of fields integral to the interdisciplinary or convergent research theme; foster the development of transferable professional skills; and provide trainees with mentoring and vocational counseling from professionals who have the backgrounds, experience, and skills to advise trainees on how to prepare for a variety of STEM career pathways. NRT is intended to benefit a population of STEM graduate students beyond those who receive an NRT stipend. An NRT trainee is thus defined as a STEM graduate student, irrespective of funding source, who is accepted into an institution’s NRT program and completes the required NRT elements (e.g., courses, workshops, projects, and other training activities specific to the NRT experience) set by the program. To further maximize the number of students benefiting from NRT activities, proposers are expected to make available (within the capacity and budget limitations of the award) NRT program elements to other STEM graduate students who are not NRT trainees.

NRT trainees must be master’s and/or doctoral STEM students in a research-based degree program that requires a thesis or dissertation. If an NRT proposal from an institution includes both master’s and doctoral students, the proposal should identify any differences in NRT program requirements, as well as mechanisms to foster the development of a collective NRT graduate student community. NRT stipends and support for customary costs of education (tuition and required fees) are limited to U.S. citizens, nationals and permanent residents. However, international students can participate as non-stipend-supported NRT trainees or as non-trainees.

C. Key Features of NRT Projects
NRT projects demonstrate comprehensive approaches to graduate training and should include the following key features that are central to the NRT Program:

• Development of innovative and potentially transformative interdisciplinary approaches to STEM graduate education;
• Extension of NRT program elements to non-stipend-supported NRT trainees and to non-trainees to benefit a larger population of STEM graduate students across an institution;
• Dissemination of insights gained and results from NRT training approaches;
• Facilitation and advancement of novel, potentially transformative interdisciplinary or convergent research in areas of high priority to the nation;
• Comprehensive training of STEM graduate students, including the development of technical and professional skills for both research and research-related careers within and outside academia;
• Incorporation of evidence-based strategies to broaden participation of students from diverse backgrounds; and
• Implementation of robust program assessment and evaluation that is central to the traineeship and routinely informs and improves practice.

D. Priority Research Areas
The NRT Program accepts proposals in any interdisciplinary or convergent research theme of national importance, and encourages specific priority research areas that change periodically. All interdisciplinary or convergent research themes should align with NSF or other national STEM research priority areas and have high potential to develop novel, innovative practices in graduate education. Proposers should describe the importance of the NRT project’s thematic focus to the nation and the particular need to train students for a variety of careers in that thematic area.

For FY2021 and FY2022, proposals are encouraged in the research areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) and the six research areas in NSF's 10 Big Ideas. The NSF research Big Ideas are Harnessing the Data Revolution (HDR), The Future of Work at the Human- Technology Frontier (FW-HTF), Navigating the New Arctic (NNA), Windows on the Universe: The Era of Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (WoU), The Quantum
Leap: Leading the Next Quantum Revolution (QL), and Understanding the Rules of Life: Predicting Phenotype (URoL). The FY2021 Budget Request to
Congress includes an additional $15 million to include a special focus on artificial intelligence and artificial intelligence engineering.

All proposals, regardless of research area, must clearly describe an overarching interdisciplinary or convergent research focus and outline how the research
theme will foster high-return, interdisciplinary synergies. Proposals should also describe how the training and research elements will be integrated and justify the need for bold and innovative approaches to train graduate students in the thematic area. In keeping with the broader goals of the NRT program, proposals should demonstrate significant impact on the design and testing of new curricula and career-focused training approaches specific to the research focus area.

Proposals should also discuss the project's potential to have impact beyond the institution, including the possible broad adoption of approaches, curricula, and
instructional material within the relevant disciplines.

E. Program Tracks
Proposals may be submitted under two tracks (i.e., Track 1 and Track 2).
Track 1 proposals may request a total budget (up to five years in duration) up to $3 million for projects with a focus on STEM graduate students in research-based PhD and/or master’s degree programs. All Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members and that award a research-based master’s degree and/or a doctoral degree in STEM disciplines supported by the National Science Foundation are eligible to apply to Track 1.

Track 2 proposals may request a total budget (up to five years in duration) of up to $2 million. Eligibility to apply to Track 2 is limited to non-R1 Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members, that award a research-based master’s degree and/or a research-based doctoral degree in STEM disciplines supported by the National Science Foundation. Such institutions include Master’s Colleges and Universities that award fewer than 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees per year, Doctoral/Professional Universities (D/PU ) that award fewer than 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees per year, and Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity (R2, as defined in the Carnegie classification of higher education institutions). Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity (R1) are not eligible for Track 2 consideration.

Other requirements for Track 1 and Track 2 are identical.

Solicitation limitations:

ASU may submit only two (2) applications to the sponsoring organization. 

An eligible IHE 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 institution.

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.

Other information:

Estimated Number of Awards: 8 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.

NRT Track 2 Planning Grants (3-4 awards per year), are expected to be up to $100,000 per year (including indirect costs)and for up to two years in duration.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $53,000,000

U.S. Embassy Santiago Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement

Overview:

The U.S. Embassy Santiago Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities and strategic themes, as well as the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Submission of a statement of interest (SOI) is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must complete an online form, clearly and concisely communicating the proposed program ideas and objectives. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to move to the second step which is to submit a full proposal. These will undergo another merit review before final funding decisions.

Purpose of Grants Program:

The U.S. Department of State provides funding for well-conceived projects that support U.S. Embassy Santiago’s strategic priorities in Chile. All proposed projects should strengthen bilateral ties between the United States and Chile and include a clear U.S. element that will promote increased understanding of the United States among the Chilean public. They may include U.S. expert(s), organization(s), technology, methods or institution(s) in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Proposals should address one or more of the following priority program objectives:

Bolster resilience against disinformation: Chilean audiences including but not limited to journalists and students acquire skills and tools to enhance free speech, and/or media literacy to make informed decisions and build resilience against disinformation. 
Foster mutual economic prosperity: promote more stable and sustainable social and economic conditions and encourage economic participation by under-represented or under-served Chileans, particularly through entrepreneurship, English language learning, and other economic empowerment efforts.  
Enhance bilateral institutional cooperation in science, engineering, technology and advanced education: programs that support academic or institutional collaboration and educational exchange, promote joint U.S.-Chile research and/or cultivate public-private partnerships for higher education in advanced fields (Note that Grants cannot fund specific scientific, technology, engineering or health-care research projects, even if collaborative – see page 8 for Funding Restrictions). 
Cultivate security, democracy and democratic institutions, human rights, and rule of law shared values: programs that support the propagation of democracy and democratic institutions, civil liberties, human rights, security and rule of law.

Other information:

Following the SOI review, successful SOI applicants will be contacted and instructed to submit full applications. These applicants will have one month from the date of this notification to submit a full proposal.

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 
Length of Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed by December 31, 2026, with limited exceptions.

Number of Awards Anticipated: Up to 10 awards (dependent on approved amounts)