National Science Foundation

NSF seeks foundational research in civil infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, intelligent systems, and materials science. Projects should be intellectually ambitious with potential for transformative breakthroughs, not requiring near-term commercial outcomes.

NSF seeks foundational engineering research on novel electrical, photonic, quantum devices, and advanced communications/sensing systems. Projects should explore transformative capabilities without requiring near-term commercialization or deployment plans.

NSF seeks foundational engineering research across chemical processes, bioengineering, energy, and transport systems. Support covers intellectually ambitious work to advance knowledge in resource management, biological systems, and multi-scale transport phenomena without requiring near-term commercialization.

NSF seeks fundamental research on mass, momentum, energy, and species transport across multiple scales. Projects combine experiments, theory, and modeling to advance AI, manufacturing, biotechnology, energy, and quantum science applications.

NSF supports foundational chemistry research across nine specialized programs, from catalysis and synthesis to computational methods and life processes. Funding prioritizes intellectually ambitious, potentially transformative research without requiring near-term commercial outcomes.

NSF funds foundational geosciences research across atmospheric, geospace, Earth, and ocean sciences. Projects advance knowledge frontiers with no requirement for near-term commercial outcomes, emphasizing intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative discoveries.

NSF BIO Core funds foundational and interdisciplinary biological research across all organizational levels—from molecules to ecosystems. Support spans exploratory projects to long-term studies addressing legacy and emerging areas of biological science.

NSF MPS supports fundamental materials research across biomaterials, ceramics, polymers, metals, and photonic materials. This program funds intellectually ambitious, foundational science that advances understanding of material properties without requiring near-term commercial outcomes.

SHINE funds research on how the Sun produces and accelerates magnetic fields and particles that travel through interplanetary space to Earth. Projects address solar energy transport mechanisms and improve predictive capabilities for space weather phenomena.

GEM funds research into Earth's magnetosphere physics and its coupling with the atmosphere and solar wind. The program develops predictive models through observations, theory, and simulations to improve geospace environment forecasting.

NSF seeks research integrating human behavior and social sciences into mathematical epidemic models. Projects must combine math and behavioral science expertise to improve disease prediction and public health intervention design.

NSF seeks innovative mathematical theories and novel computational approaches to solve complex biological problems across all scales. Projects should leverage traditional mathematics, new mathematical frameworks, or AI/ML methods to advance understanding of dynamic biological systems.

Support collaborative research groups tackling major unsolved problems in mathematics and statistics through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches. Risky, high-impact projects addressing fundamental challenges with broad potential benefits across scientific fields.

NSF STEM K-12 funds fundamental and applied research to improve STEM teaching and learning across formal and informal educational settings throughout the human lifespan. The program advances understanding of how to make STEM education more effective and accessible.

Sustained funding for university-based materials research centers tackling fundamental science problems through multidisciplinary collaboration. MRSECs support infrastructure, industry partnerships, and a national network advancing materials discovery and education.

Build interdisciplinary research networks combining learning science, education practice, and data science to create high-value datasets advancing K-12 mathematics learning. Phase I funds dataset generation; Phase II establishes a collaborative platform for sustained innovation.

VINES supports fundamental research and technology development for next-generation intelligent networks spanning edge-to-cloud systems. The program aims to advance U.S. competitiveness in NextG wireless and emerging vertical industries while ensuring resilience and interoperability.

NSF seeks research projects that revolutionize engineering education and workforce development through new cultural or curricular innovations, or by adapting proven models to new contexts across higher education and workplace-based programs.

NSF seeks fundamental research on resource conservation, energy recovery, and environmental protection through biotechnology, AI, quantum engineering, and sustainable manufacturing. Projects focus on creating domestic energy sources, minimizing waste, and closing resource loops to strengthen U.S. industrial resilience.

NSF seeks fundamental research to optimize chemical and biochemical processes for efficiency, sustainability, and resilience across manufacturing, biotechnology, energy, and critical minerals. Projects should connect molecular-scale discoveries to industrial process and plant-scale applications.

EBBS funds engineering research to understand and control biological systems at all scales, from biomarker sensing to protein design and tissue restoration. The program combines fundamental mechanistic insights with experimental and computational techniques to develop innovative platforms and devices that advance human health and U.S. biotechnology leadership.

NSF seeks proposals to develop and operate national-scale cyberinfrastructure systems that enable data-intensive and AI-driven research across science and engineering disciplines. Projects will create integrated data services to advance open science innovation and education.

NSF seeks fundamental research on bidirectional human-machine interaction in physics-based environments. Projects should advance theory, modeling, or technologies for intelligent systems collaborating with humans in applications like disaster response, elder care, and dynamic workplaces.

NSF seeks research on how engineers develop professional skills across education, training, and workplace contexts. Projects should integrate engineering and social science expertise to build pathways creating ethical, globally-competent engineers ready for evolving technical careers.

NSF I-Corps Teams program accelerates translation of NSF-funded foundational research into commercial products and services. Provides entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and funding to validate market potential and attract third-party investment.