About


Kansas NSF EPSCoR seeks to boost our state's capacity for science and engineering research. We do this by developing, managing, and sustaining projects funded by the U. S. National Science Foundation's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

Despite the clunky acronym, EPSCoR is a clever strategy to ensure that NSF’s research dollars are geographically distributed nationwide instead of landing in just a handful of states. Only states receiving less than 0.75% of NSF’s overall budget are eligible to compete for these awards. Kansas is one of 25 states and three territories currently meeting these criteria for eligibility.

With NSF and the Kansas Board of Regents as our partners, we play an important role in strengthening the research infrastructure and the talent pipeline in Kansas. While our main office is at the University of Kansas, we have partnerships statewide with universities, colleges, businesses, nonprofits, city leaders, residents, and more.

Snapshot of accomplishments

We play a key role in shaping the state's research ecosystem. This includes developing, managing, and sustaining $73 million in NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 awards with partners statewide.

Major discoveries anchored to state priorities include:

  • Revealing the power of microbes to sustain crops in droughts, improve water quality, beef up carbon in soil, and solve other ecological challenges (MAPS project).
  • Learning how to safeguard Kansans from natural and man-made disasters (ARISE project).

We have jumpstarted productivity for more than 170 early-career faculty members with First Awards that support novel research and education activities.

Our past support for the Haskell Environmental Research Studies (HERS) summer institute has enabled professional development for 121 Native scholars with affiliations to 60 tribal communities. At least 45 of the interns have gone to graduate school. 

In 2022, the program was recognized with an Award of Excellence by the University Economic Development Association (UEDA).  Jay T. Johnson, professor and associate chair of geography and atmospheric sciences at the University of Kansas, accepted the award. 

The program started as the brainchild of Daniel Wildcat, Professor of Indigenous and American Indian Studies at Haskell Indian Nations University.  In 2009, Dr. Wildcat teamed up with Joane Nagel, KU distinguished professor of sociology, to establish HERS as an ongoing partnership between Haskell and Kansas NSF EPSCoR. 

Our partnerships have enhanced science teaching in 54 elementary classrooms, led to 7 ecological videos posted to YouTube in English and Spanish, and supported 55 secondary teachers' professional development. University of Kansas scientist and educator Peggy Schultz led this effort, winning a lifetime achievement award for the work in 2022. 

Moreover, our past work supported a mobile museum that trekked 700 miles to share bilingual science exhibits statewide. "Microbes on the Move,” a traveling program by the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, gave hundreds of Kansans a chance to peer into the hidden world of bacteria and other tiny life. Teresa MacDonald, associate director of informal science education, continues to lead hands-on learning as part of our ARISE project.

Through the launch of the Kansas Data Science Consortium (KDSC), we help organizations harness data while filling a workforce gap in Kansas. This educational pillar of the ARISE project includes learners and educators from universities and colleges across the state.

KDSC builds talent by incorporating data shared from businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations in courses, giving college students data science experiences. As they learn to wrangle and analyze data, students glean insights for their partner organization.

Return on Investment

Kansas scientists have become more competitive in acquiring federal funding because of EPSCoR. Our return on investment says it all. For every dollar pumped into research by NSF EPSCoR since 2006, Kansas scientists have secured more than double that in other research funding.

Anchored to State Priorities

All Kansas NSF EPSCoR projects are anchored to the Kansas Science and Technology Plan (PDF). Endorsed by the chief research officers of Kansas research universities and the Kansas Board of Regents EPSCoR committee, this S&T plan seeks to increase the impact of higher education and grow the Kansas economy.

Strong Track Record

The core of our work focuses on RII Track-1 awards. Kansas has successfully competed for these 'Research Improvement Investment' (RII) awards, garnering eight total since 1992.

Student explains his research poster to onlookers

Current Track-1 Award

Currently, we manage a Track-1 award called Adaptive & Resilient Infrastructures driven by Social Equity (ARISE). This $24M, five-year project launched in 2022 with partners at 18 higher education institutions.

Sunrise with Kansas City skyline

Past Track-1 Award

In 2023, Kansas NSF EPSCoR finished a major project titled Microbiomes of Aquatic, Plant, and Soil Systems across Kansas, or MAPS. This $20 million, six-year initiative enhance research and education in Kansas.

Researchers collect data outside in green field
Our organizational structure positions the office below its funders (i.e., the NSF and the Kansas Board of Regents) and above the projects it oversees with research and education teams and guidance from external advisors, evaluators, and interested parties.

Organization Structure

Kansas NSF EPSCoR plays a key role in shaping the state's research ecosystem. As shown in the graphic above, our organizational structure positions our office below the funding agencies (i.e., the NSF and the Kansas Board of Regents) and above the projects we oversee for research and education in Kansas. Guiding these efforts are external advisors, evaluators, interested parties, chief research officers, and postdocs and student leaders.