Letter of intent due July 13, 2023
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBU) Excellence in Research Program (HBCU-EiR) provides opportunities to stimulate sustainable improvement in research and development capacity. HBCU-EiR grants seek to create stronger connections between HBCU researchers and the National Science Foundation (NSF) by funding research projects aligned with NSF’s research programs.
The program was established in response to direction provided in the Senate Commerce and Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Report (Senate Report 115-139) and is built on prior and continuing efforts by the NSF to strengthen research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This report provided guidance to NSF to establish the HBCU Excellence in Research program “to provide opportunities for both public and private HBCUs, particularly for those who have not been successful in larger NSF Research & Related Activities competitions, in order to stimulate sustainable improvement in their research and development capacity” (https://congress.gov/congressional-report/115th-congress/senate-report/139/1).
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Key elements of HBCU-EiR
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Provides research grants to individual faculty with an eye towards long-term impacts on research infrastructure at the institution. Lead PIs on these awards must have a full-time faculty or research appointment at an HBCU. Faculty at other institutions may partner as co-PIs but can only receive funding though subawards.
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Ideally serves as a bridge between funding through the HBCU-UP Research Initiation Award (RIA) and funding through NSF’s research program areas.
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PIs with an established history of successful research funding should apply directly to research programs in NSF directorates and not to the HBCU-EiR mechanism.
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There are no limits on the total budget and up to 20 percent of the total budget can be allocated for equipment.
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Information sources: NSF research programs and EiR program
Award information
- Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant
- Estimated Number of Awards: 30 to 35; estimated number of awards is pending the availability of funds and the number and quality of proposal submissions.
- Anticipated Funding Amount: $28,000,000; estimated funding amount is pending the availability of funds and the number and quality of proposal submissions.
Eligibility information
Who may submit proposals:
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- Proposals may only be submitted by accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that have faculty members who conduct research in science and/or engineering and/or STEM education.
Who may serve as PI:
The Principal Investigator for an Excellence in Research Project must be a full-time faculty member or researcher at the HBCU from which the proposal is submitted.
Limit on number of proposals per organization:
There are no restrictions or limits.
Deadlines
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Letter of Intent due July 13, 2023 (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time)
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Full proposals due October 17, 2023 (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time):
Before proposal submission, prospective PIs are strongly encouraged to contact the cognizant program officer(s) listed in the solicitation, or the core program officers(s) from the most relevant NSF research program, to discuss the fit and appropriateness of their research idea for the NSF program.
