Engineering Environmental Resiliency (EER)

The Engineering Environmental Resiliency (EER) program is offered by the National Science Foundation, a federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering in the United States. Within NSF, this program is administered under the Directorate for Engineering, specifically the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems. The program reflects NSF’s broader mission to advance national priorities through innovation and scientific discovery, particularly in areas that strengthen economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and public health. The EER program aligns with emerging priorities such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum science, nanoengineering, and advanced manufacturing systems. The primary purpose of the EER program is to support fundamental research that enhances environmental resiliency while promoting efficient use of resources and energy. The program emphasizes advancing technologies and processes that conserve materials, reduce environmental impact, and enable sustainable systems. Projects funded under this program are expected to contribute to improved domestic resource utilization, thereby strengthening U.S. manufacturing and energy infrastructure. Research areas include the development of engineered systems that reduce waste, enable recycling and reuse, and support circular economy models through lifecycle analysis and materials flow optimization. Funding under this opportunity supports a wide range of scientific and engineering investigations. These include research on biotechnology and manufacturing processes that create domestic energy sources, as well as innovations that reduce or eliminate harmful emissions to air, water, and soil. Projects may explore chemical, biological, and geophysical processes that improve environmental outcomes. The program also prioritizes technologies that close resource loops by minimizing waste and promoting reuse, including sustainable recycling methods for waste materials and critical minerals. Additionally, research involving artificial intelligence modeling to optimize environmental systems and resource flows is encouraged. The scope of eligible research extends to understanding the behavior and transformation of nutrients and contaminants in environmental systems. This includes the study of pollutants in air, water, soil, and sediments, as well as their biochemical interactions within built environments. The program also welcomes research on nanomaterials and nanosystems, particularly how they interact with biological and environmental media. Another key focus area is the development of engineered systems capable of detecting and responding rapidly to pathogens and toxins, thereby safeguarding human health and environmental quality. Eligibility for this program is broad but must align with NSF’s general eligibility requirements, which typically include U.S.-based academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other research entities. Proposals must adhere to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, and applicants may submit proposals through Research.gov or Grants.gov following the appropriate guidelines. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, making it accessible to a wide range of applicants engaged in fundamental research. The application process is continuous, as full proposals are accepted at any time without a fixed deadline. This rolling submission model allows applicants flexibility in preparing and submitting proposals. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers specified in the program description. Proposals are evaluated based on NSF’s standard merit review criteria, including intellectual merit and broader impacts, although specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed in the provided material. Applicants are encouraged to align their proposals with the program’s focus areas and national priorities. For additional information or inquiries, applicants can contact the EER Program Team via email at eer@nsf.gov. While specific award amounts, number of awards, and project timelines are not provided in the available information, NSF grants typically support multi-year research projects depending on scope and funding availability. The program was published on April 24, 2026, and remains open indefinitely, reflecting NSF’s ongoing commitment to advancing environmental resiliency through engineering research.