NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program Solicitation

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 10:28:11 -0500

This NRT solicitation extends and broadens the scope of the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program launched in 2014. Proposals are invited in two tracks: the Traineeship Track (maximum 5 years, $3.0 million), dedicated to the education of STEM graduate students through an innovative, evidence-based traineeship approach in high-priority interdisciplinary research areas; and the Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Track (2–3 years, up to $300,000–$500,000) dedicated solely to piloting, testing, and evaluating bold, new graduate-education approaches, models, and activities and to generate the knowledge required for their customization, implementation, and scaling. This solicitation is active for two years, and future NRT solicitations are anticipated. A letter of intent is recommended for both tracks. NRT Deadlines for submission: Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (optional) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): March 25, 2015 Applies to both tracks December 22, 2015 Applies to both tracks Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): May 6, 2015 Applies to both tracks February 22, 2016 Applies to both tracks Synopsis of Program: The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, potentially transformative, and scalable models for STEM graduate education training. The NRT program seeks proposals that ensure that graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The NRT program includes *two tracks*: the *Traineeship Track* and the *Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Track*. The Traineeship Track is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary research areas, through the use of a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, aligned with changing workforce and research needs, and scalable. For this solicitation the *Traineeship Track* has one priority interdisciplinary research theme — Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (DESE); proposals are encouraged also on any non-DESE interdisciplinary research theme that is a national priority. The *IGE Track* is dedicated solely to piloting, testing, and evaluating novel, innovative, and potentially transformative approaches to graduate education, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary, to generate the knowledge required for their customization, implementation, and broader adoption. Whereas the Traineeship Track promotes building on the current knowledge base to more effectively train STEM graduate students, the IGE Track supports test-bed projects with high potential to enrich, improve, and extend the knowledge base with attention to transferability and innovation. For both tracks, strategic collaborations with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, museums, and academic partners are encouraged.