External NSF EPSCoR
Funding Opportunities

NSF EPSCoR Funding Opportunities

E-CORE RII

NOTE: The following institutions are ineligible to be funded by this program as a lead or partner until after June 1, 2026 because they are funded by the RII Track-1 ARISE project.

  • University of Kansas (KU)
  • Kansas State University (KSU)
  • Wichita State University (WSU)
  • Baker University
  • Donnelly College (DC)
  • Butler Community College
  • Johnson County Community College (JCCC)
  • Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC)

E-CORE RII stands for EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement Program (E-CORE RII).

The E-CORE RII program supports jurisdictions in building capacity in one or more targeted research infrastructure cores that underlie the jurisdiction’s research ecosystem. Based on the evidence-based and self-identified need of the jurisdiction, capacity building supported by E-CORE RII may include (but is not limited to) development, enhancement, and/or sustainability of: jurisdiction-wide research administration; research facilities; higher education pathways; STEM education (K-16) pathways; broadening participation; workforce development; national and global partnerships; community engagement and outreach; economic development and use-inspired research; and/or early career research trainee pathways.  E-CORE RII projects must be designed to support the sustainability of the infrastructure core(s) beyond the award period. In E-CORE RII’s support of one or more research infrastructure cores in an EPSCoR-eligible jurisdiction, the program will also support the development and growth of new jurisdictional networks, and the leveraging of existing jurisdictional networks, that can drive demonstrable and sustainable impact to advance the jurisdiction-wide research ecosystem.

Full Proposal Deadline: December 6, 2023

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E-RISE RII

NOTE: The following institutions are ineligible to be funded by this program as a lead or partner until after June 1, 2026 because they are funded by the RII Track-1 ARISE project.

  • University of Kansas (KU)
  • Kansas State University (KSU)
  • Wichita State University (WSU)
  • Baker University
  • Donnelly College (DC)
  • Butler Community College
  • Johnson County Community College (JCCC)
  • Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC)

E-RISE RII stands for EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement.

The E-RISE RII program supports the incubation of research teams and products in a scientific topical area that links to research priorities identified in the submitting jurisdiction’s approved Science and Technology (S&T) Plan. E-RISE RII invites innovative proposals that will lead to development and implementation of sustainable broad networks of individuals, institutions, and organizations that will transform the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research capacity and competitiveness in a jurisdiction within the chosen field of research. E-RISE RII projects must be designed to incubate (i) areas of research capacity building within a chosen research topic; (ii) development of a skilled workforce that is relevant to the project and its outcomes; (iii) promotion of diversity, equity, access, and a culture of inclusion of different types of academic institutions (see below) and non-academic sectors (e.g., industry and government); (iv) integration of the research with societal impacts in a timebound manner; and (v) sustainability of a clear pathway towards preserving the resulting research incubator’s team and products beyond E-RISE RII funding.

Full Proposal Deadline: January 16, 2024

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RII Track-1

NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1 (RII Track-1) awards support improvements in research, physical and cyberinfrastructure, and human capital development in scientific endeavors that have the best potential to improve future Research and Development (R&D) competitiveness of the jurisdiction. The focus of the research project is selected by the jurisdiction’s EPSCoR steering committee and must align with the specific STEM research priorities identified in the jurisdiction’s Science and Technology (S&T) Plan.

Active Track-1 awards in Kansas: ARISE 

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RII Track-2 FEC

NSF Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-2 Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (RII Track-2 FEC) awards provide opportunities to build inter-jurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in scientific interest areas consistent with NSF priorities. Projects must include researchers from at least two EPSCoR RII eligible jurisdictions. The collaborative research must demonstrate an integrated and comprehensive vision focused on the discovery and include opportunities to build sustainable STEM capacity that embodies diversity.    

NOTE: Topic focus for current solicitation is: “Advancing climate change research and resilience capacity to expand opportunities for disproportionately affected communities.”

Letter of Intent Deadline: December 17, 2024 

Full Proposal Deadline: January 28, 2025 (Fourth Tuesday in January, Annually; due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time)

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RII Research Fellows

NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Research Fellows awards (formerly called Track-4) are designed for early career, non-tenured faculty with the purpose of enhancing the fellow’s research capacity through site visits and collaborations with premier private, government or academic research centers across the nation. Through these partnerships, the NSF EPSCoR Research Fellows learn new techniques using specialized equipment and facilities. These experiences are expected to transform the fellow’s research career path beyond the award period as well as enhance the research capacity of their institutions.

Full Proposal Deadline: 2nd Tuesday in April

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FAQs

 

RII Bridging EPSCoR Communitities

NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Bridging EPSCoR Communities (RII-BEC)

This initiative seeks to set up bridge programs to help undergraduate and graduate students from target groups overcome barriers along their training path. Programs should particularly assist those individuals from groups underrepresented in STEM and those students going to or from minority-serving institutions within EPSCoR jurisdictions. Funding for this program is made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319, sec. 7502).

These awards are designed for 2- and 4-year institutions of higher education and not-for-profit organizations like museums, observatories, professional societies, etc. who are advancing the Nation’s research or education.

RII-BEC Solicitation

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