Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) program, under the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and its Division of Materials Research, supports transformative, interdisciplinary materials research and education. The MRSEC initiative is designed to fund academic research centers across the U.S. that are capable of addressing materials science questions of a scale and complexity not achievable by individual investigator projects. The solicitation NSF 26-500 represents the latest iteration of this prestigious program, with a focus on fostering fundamental advances in materials science, strengthening U.S. research infrastructure, and expanding participation in STEM. The purpose of the MRSEC program is to enable sustained, long-term research addressing key questions in materials science by supporting centers comprised of two to three Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs). Each IRG is composed of a team of 6–12 faculty-level investigators, working collaboratively on research topics aligned with the Division of Materials Research’s priority areas. These include semiconductors and microelectronics, biotechnology and biomanufacturing, architected materials, far-from-equilibrium materials, structural materials under extreme conditions, and domestic materials development. MRSECs are expected to be at the cutting edge of science and to align, where appropriate, with national initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act or the Materials Genome Initiative. MRSECs are required to integrate high-quality research with impactful education and outreach programs. Education efforts must include a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program with at least 50% off-campus participation. Additional education and outreach activities may target community college pathways, K–12 STEM performance, or partnerships with non-R1 institutions. Each center must develop and operate shared experimental and computational facilities accessible to the broader scientific community and contribute to the national Materials Research Facility Network. Funding will be provided through Cooperative Agreements ranging from approximately $3 million per year for centers with two IRGs to $4.5 million per year for those with three IRGs. Awards have an initial duration of up to six years. A total of 2 to 5 awards are anticipated, contingent on funding availability. Cost sharing is prohibited, and proposals should avoid voluntary committed cost sharing. Each institution may submit only one preliminary proposal as lead and may not submit separately submitted collaborative proposals. Full proposals will be accepted by invitation only, based on the evaluation of required preliminary proposals. Preliminary proposals are due by June 23, 2025, and full proposals, by invitation only, are due by January 27, 2026. All proposals must comply with NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide in effect at the time of submission. Review criteria include intellectual merit, broader impacts, and specific MRSEC criteria such as the quality and integration of IRGs, management structure, seed funding mechanisms, education plans, and collaborative outreach. The primary contact for this program is Serdar Ogut, reachable at MRSEC@nsf.gov or (703) 292-4429. The anticipated start date for funded MRSEC awards is September 1, 2026. The program encourages alignment with NSF priorities and emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in both research participation and outreach efforts. Applicants must follow detailed submission instructions for both preliminary and full proposals, including specific sections for IRG descriptions, management structures, and institutional support. Recurrence is approximately every three years, based on the solicitation history and standard NSF center program cycles.