EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows

The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Fellows (ERF) is administered by the National Science Foundation to strengthen research capacity and competitiveness in jurisdictions that are historically underrepresented in federal research funding. The program operates under NSF’s broader mission to promote scientific progress across the United States by supporting research and education in science and engineering fields. EPSCoR specifically focuses on building sustainable research ecosystems through partnerships among academic institutions, government entities, industry, and nonprofit organizations. The ERF opportunity is designed to advance professional development pathways in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while enhancing workforce development and fostering long-term research collaboration. The primary purpose of the ERF program is to support early-career and mid-career investigators in expanding their research capabilities through structured fellowships. These fellowships enable principal investigators to collaborate with leading research institutions, including academic, governmental, and private research centers, and in some cases NASA facilities. Through extended or periodic visits to a host institution, fellows gain access to specialized equipment, methodologies, and expertise that are not available at their home institutions. The program emphasizes transformative research experiences that can shift research directions, foster new collaborations, and strengthen existing partnerships, ultimately improving both individual career trajectories and institutional research capacity. Funding under this program supports a range of allowable costs associated with the fellowship. Awards may include salary support for the principal investigator for up to six months, travel and living expenses during visits to host institutions, and support for one trainee such as a student or postdoctoral researcher. Additional allowable costs include research supplies, equipment usage, publication fees, and conference participation directly related to the fellowship project. Awards are capped at $300,000 for a period of up to 24 months, with additional funding available for the NASA track. Cost sharing is explicitly prohibited, and budget requests must align closely with the fellowship’s duration and research activities. Eligibility is limited to organizations located in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions, including accredited institutions of higher education and certain nonprofit research organizations. Principal investigators must be in early- or mid-career positions, typically holding roles such as assistant or associate professor, or equivalent research positions. Only single-PI proposals are permitted, and applicants must demonstrate the ability to build sustainable research capacity at their home institution. Additional eligibility requirements apply for the NASA track, including institutional type and potential citizenship considerations for participation at NASA facilities. The application process requires submission of a full proposal through Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. Proposals must include a project summary, detailed project description, budget and justification, and supplementary documentation such as letters of support from the home institution and host collaborators. The project description must clearly articulate research objectives, expected outcomes, and the long-term impact on the investigator’s career and institutional capacity. Proposals are evaluated through NSF’s merit review process, which considers intellectual merit and broader impacts, along with program-specific criteria related to transformative potential and institutional benefit. The program follows a recurring annual submission cycle, with deadlines typically occurring in April each year. The solicitation specifies deadlines such as April 22, 2024, and April 8, 2025, with future deadlines occurring on the second Tuesday in April annually thereafter. NSF aims to provide funding decisions within approximately six months of the submission deadline, with award start dates anticipated around nine months after submission. Fellows are expected to complete their research activities within a 24-month period, with reporting requirements including annual and final reports submitted through NSF’s electronic systems. For inquiries, applicants may contact the EPSCoR Research Fellows program via email at EPSCoR-ERF@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-8867. Additional support is available through NSF’s Research.gov help desk for technical submission questions. The program represents a strategic investment in expanding the national research enterprise by empowering investigators in EPSCoR jurisdictions to engage in high-impact collaborative research experiences.

Focus on clearly demonstrating transformative impact on PI career and institutional capacity; articulate strong collaboration with host site and justify why fellowship is necessary for research advancement