What Are NSF Grants?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The NSF

funds research and education in science and engineering

, through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. The Foundation accounts for about 20 percent of federal support to academic institutions for basic research.

What does NSF grant stand for?

The

National Science Foundation

(NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” NSF is vital because we support basic research and people to create knowledge that …

How much is an NSF grant?

Currently, NSF provides a

stipend of $34,000 to the Fellow

and a cost-of- education allowance of $12,000 to the graduate degree-granting institution for each Fellow who uses the fellowship support in a fellowship year.

What is NSF program?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the

only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering

, except for medical sciences. NSF is tasked with keeping the United States at the leading edge of discovery in areas from astronomy to geology to zoology.

How do NSF grants work?

Grants establish a relationship between NSF and the grantee in which: NSF

agrees to provide up to a specified amount of financial support for the project

to be performed under the conditions and requirements of the grant. NSF will monitor grant progress and assure compliance with applicable standards.

How long are NSF grants?

The proposed duration for which support is requested must be consistent with the nature and complexity of the proposed activity. Grants are normally awarded for

up to three years but may be awarded for periods of up to five years

.

Who is eligible to apply for NSF grants?

NSF-supported research results in all fields of science and engineering: Principal Investigator (PI) or a

co-PI must have had an NSF award that ended no more than seven (7) years

prior to the full proposal deadline date or be a current NSF award recipient.

How many NSF grants are awarded?

We fulfill our mission chiefly by issuing limited-term grants — currently

about 12,000 new awards per year

, with an average duration of three years — to fund specific research proposals that have been judged the most promising by a rigorous and objective merit-review system.

How do I apply for NSF grant?

Proposals submitted to NSF must be submitted via

use of either the NSF FastLane System, Research.gov or Grants.gov

. See the relevant funding opportunity for additional information. Further information on each system is available in Chapter I.A of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Who does NSF report to?

Organization. As an independent federal agency, NSF does not fall under any cabinet department. NSF’s activities are guided by

the 25-member National Science Board

, which also serves as a policy advisory body to the President and Congress.

Is NSF GRFP prestigious?

“The NSF GRFP is

a prestigious fellowship program

that recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions.

Why should I apply for NSF GRFP?

The NSF GRFP funds

people, not projects

.

Unlike other scholarship or fellowship programs, here they’re specifically looking to fund independent, motivated students who have the potential to both advance scientific knowledge and benefit society.

How do I acknowledge NSF GRFP funding?

How do I acknowledge NSF support? Include the following text in the acknowledgments: “

This material is based upon work supported by the

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. (NSF grant number).”

How is NSF funded?

Most NSF grants

go to individuals or small groups of investigators

, who carry out research at their home campuses. Other grants provide funding for mid-scale research centers, instruments, and facilities that serve researchers from many institutions.

Does NSF have a salary cap?

As a general policy, NSF limits the salary compensation requested in the proposal budget for

senior personnel to no more than two months of their regular salary in any one year

. This limit includes salary compensation received from all NSF-funded grants.

How much do NSF program officers make?

NSF Salary FAQs

The average salary for a Program Officer is

$71,845 per year

in United States, which is 62% lower than the average NSF salary of $193,622 per year for this job.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.