Program Information
ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) promotes scientific progress in states that have traditionally received lesser amounts of NSF research and development funding. The primary mechanism the NSF uses to achieve this goal is the Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) program. NSF RII awards enable states like Kansas to enhance their competitiveness for research funding. RII proposals are submitted by Kansas NSF EPSCoR on behalf of the program partners in the state. Other NSF EPSCoR mechanisms include Co-funding, Workshops, and Outreach.
Archived Past Projects
Microbiomes of Aquatic, Plants, and Soils Systems across Kansas
(MAPS)
Kansas NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Award OIA-1656006
MAPS research is addressing the challenge of simultaneously feeding a growing population, sustaining agriculture, maintaining soil quality, and minimizing greenhouse gases and water contaminants using new data-driven solutions.
MAPS Funding Opportunities
The MAPS First Award Program helps early-career faculty become competitive for funding from the research directorates at the National Science Foundation.
Current solicitation is closed.
The MAPS Research and Education Innovative (REI) Award Program funds small projects that will either allow for networking and planning or for the immediate pursuit of larger projects for developing new transformational concepts.
MAPS Museum Projects Award Program provides funds for developing museum outreach programs that intersect the natural science and engineering aspects of MAPS research with fine art or visual and graphic design elements.
Learn more about our current program: Microbes on the Move
a mobile pop-up exhibit
National Science Foundation
EPSCoR Investment Strategies
NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Program:
RII Track-1 Awards provide up to 20 million dollars over 5 years to support and improve the jurisdiction’s research and development competitiveness. The jurisdiction’s EPSCoR steering committee selects the project and the research activities associated with it must align with the specific research priorities identified in the approved Science and Technology (S&T) Plan of the jurisdiction.
RII Track-2 Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (FEC) Awards build inter-jurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in scientific focus areas consistent with NSF priorities.
RII Track-4 EPSCoR Research Fellows Awards provide support to non-tenured investigators to enhance their individual research potential and their jurisdictions’ research capacity through extended collaborative visits to the nation’s premier private, governmental, or academic research centers.
RII Bridging EPSCoR Communities Awards seek to help undergraduate and graduate students from target groups overcome barriers along their training path.
NSF EPSCoR Events
MAPS Annual Science Meeting, Oct. 28
10AM – 3 PM | Virtual Meeting
27th NSF EPSCoR National Conference
November 13-16, 2022, Portland, Maine
Kansas NSF EPSCoR News
In honor of Hispanic and Latinx Month, soil science societies recognize Lígia Souza
This month the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is featuring Dr. Lígia Souza as one of 10 Hispanic and Latinx Month Honorees. “The Societies are honoring several of our recent award winners – looking to the future of our sciences,” says the SSSA website. Lígia...
Haskell Indian Nations University Launches Indigenous Science Hub
Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, recently received the largest National Science Foundation award ever granted to a tribal college. The $20 Million, five-year award is creating a new hub for Indigenous science to tackle coastal hazards from...