Opportunity ID: 363764
General Information
| Funding Opportunity Number | 20-558 |
| Funding Opportunity Title | PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) |
| Agency | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Document Type | synopsis |
| Version | 2 |
| Opportunity Category | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation | Not specified |
| Funding Instrument Type | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Category Explanation | Not specified |
| Expected Number of Awards | Not specified |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement | No |
| Posted Date | Sep 01, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Last Updated Date | Sep 03, 2026 12:16:22 PM EDT |
| Original Closing Date | Nov 10, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Original Closing Date Notes | Not specified |
| Current Closing Date | Nov 10, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Current Closing Date Notes | Not specified |
| Estimated Synopsis Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Application Due Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Award Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Project Start Date | Not specified |
| Archive Date | Dec 10, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Estimated Total Program Funding | 3,000,000 |
| Award Ceiling | none |
| Award Floor | 200,000 |
Assistance Listings
- 47.041 — Engineering
- —
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants | Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification) |
*Who May Serve as PI:
The PFE: RIEF program is designed to expand the community of engineering faculty equipped to conduct research in professional formation of engineers. At least one (co) PI must be a member of an engineering department AND not have received engineering education or professional formation funding through EEC in the last three years. Submissions from faculty with active disciplinary research programs, or faculty seeking a shift in their research focus, are especially encouraged. The program is not intended to create an additional funding channel for researchers with expertise in social science or education research; such researchers should apply to the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers), or other related NSF opportunities.
Description
The PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program has two goals: 1) Support research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE), and 2) Increase the community of researchers conducting PFE research. PIs are expected to have little or no experience conducting social science or education research. PFE: RIEF is not intended for established researchers in engineering education or other social science fields to initiate new projects. Those researchers should consider the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers).
The NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate has launched a multi-year initiative, the Professional Formation of Engineers, to create and support an innovative and inclusive engineering profession for the 21st Century. Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) refers to the formal and informal education and value systems by which people become engineers. It also includes the ethical responsibility of practicing engineers to sustain and grow the profession. The engineering profession must be responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs; it must be equally open and accessible to all Americans.
Engineering faculty possess both deep technical expertise in their engineering discipline and the primary responsibility for the process of professional formation of future engineers. As such, engineering faculty are in a unique position to help address critical challenges in engineering formation. The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program enables engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research.
Additional Information
| Contact | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Contact Information | NSF support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov | |
| Email Description | If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. |
| Phone | 703-292-4203 |
NSF Publication 20-558
Version History
Version history
| Opp hist id / Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Opp hist id / Revision | 0 |
| Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Opportunity number | 20-558 |
| Opportunity title | PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) |
| Owning agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity category / Category | D |
| Opportunity category / Description | Discretionary |
| Synopsis / Id / Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Synopsis / Id / Revision | 0 |
| Synopsis / Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Synopsis / Revision | 0 |
| Synopsis / Version | 1 |
| Synopsis / Agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency address desc | If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency contact phone | 703-292-4203 |
| Synopsis / Agency contact name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Agency contact desc | NSF support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email | grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email desc | If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. |
| Synopsis / Synopsis desc | The PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program has two goals: 1) Support research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE), and 2) Increase the community of researchers conducting PFE research. PIs are expected to have little or no experience conducting social science or education research. PFE: RIEF is not intended for established researchers in engineering education or other social science fields to initiate new projects. Those researchers should consider the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers). The NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate has launched a multi-year initiative, the Professional Formation of Engineers, to create and support an innovative and inclusive engineering profession for the 21st Century. Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) refers to the formal and informal education and value systems by which people become engineers. It also includes the ethical responsibility of practicing engineers to sustain and grow the profession. The engineering profession must be responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs; it must be equally open and accessible to all Americans. Engineering faculty possess both deep technical expertise in their engineering discipline and the primary responsibility for the process of professional formation of future engineers. As such, engineering faculty are in a unique position to help address critical challenges in engineering formation. The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program enables engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research. |
| Synopsis / Response date | Nov 10, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis / Funding desc link url | http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf20558 |
| Synopsis / Funding desc link desc | NSF Publication 20-558 |
| Synopsis / Posting date | Sep 01, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Archive date | Dec 10, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis / Cost sharing | No |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding | 3000000 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding formatted | 3,000,000 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling | none |
| Synopsis / Award floor | 200000 |
| Synopsis / Award floor formatted | 200,000 |
| Synopsis / Applicant eligibility desc | *Who May Serve as PI: The PFE: RIEF program is designed to expand the community of engineering faculty equipped to conduct research in professional formation of engineers. At least one (co) PI must be a member of an engineering department AND not have received engineering education or professional formation funding through EEC in the last three years. Submissions from faculty with active disciplinary research programs, or faculty seeking a shift in their research focus, are especially encouraged. The program is not intended to create an additional funding channel for researchers with expertise in social science or education research; such researchers should apply to the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers), or other related NSF opportunities. |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp | Sep 01, 2026 12:20:14 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Action type | U |
| Synopsis / Action date | Sep 03, 2026 12:16:22 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Created date | Sep 01, 2026 12:20:14 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Last updated date | Sep 01, 2026 12:20:14 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Id | 25 |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Description | Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification) |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Id | G |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Description | Grant |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Id | ST |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Description | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Synopsis / Response date str | 2026-11-10-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Posting date str | 2026-09-01-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Archive date str | 2026-12-10-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp str | 2026-09-01-12-20-14 |
| Cfdas 1 / Id | 435288 |
| Cfdas 1 / Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Cfdas 1 / Revision | 0 |
| Cfdas 1 / Cfda number | 47.041 |
| Cfdas 1 / Program title | Engineering |
| Cfdas 2 / Id | 435289 |
| Cfdas 2 / Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Cfdas 2 / Revision | 0 |
| Synopsis modified fields | Not specified |
| Forecast modified fields | Not specified |
Synopsis changes
revision
version
createTimeStamp
| Id | 363764 |
| Revision | 1 |
| Opportunity number | 20-558 |
| Opportunity title | PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) |
| Owning agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity category / Category | D |
| Opportunity category / Description | Discretionary |
| Synopsis / Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Synopsis / Version | 2 |
| Synopsis / Agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Agency phone | 703-292-4203 |
| Synopsis / Agency address desc | If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency contact phone | 703-292-4203 |
| Synopsis / Agency contact name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Agency contact desc | NSF support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email | grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email desc | If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. |
| Synopsis / Synopsis desc | The PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program has two goals: 1) Support research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE), and 2) Increase the community of researchers conducting PFE research. PIs are expected to have little or no experience conducting social science or education research. PFE: RIEF is not intended for established researchers in engineering education or other social science fields to initiate new projects. Those researchers should consider the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers). The NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate has launched a multi-year initiative, the Professional Formation of Engineers, to create and support an innovative and inclusive engineering profession for the 21st Century. Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) refers to the formal and informal education and value systems by which people become engineers. It also includes the ethical responsibility of practicing engineers to sustain and grow the profession. The engineering profession must be responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs; it must be equally open and accessible to all Americans. Engineering faculty possess both deep technical expertise in their engineering discipline and the primary responsibility for the process of professional formation of future engineers. As such, engineering faculty are in a unique position to help address critical challenges in engineering formation. The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program enables engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research. |
| Synopsis / Response date | Nov 10, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis / Funding desc link url | http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf20558 |
| Synopsis / Funding desc link desc | NSF Publication 20-558 |
| Synopsis / Posting date | Sep 01, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Archive date | Dec 10, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis / Cost sharing | No |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding | 3000000 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding formatted | 3,000,000 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling | none |
| Synopsis / Award floor | 200000 |
| Synopsis / Award floor formatted | 200,000 |
| Synopsis / Applicant eligibility desc | *Who May Serve as PI: The PFE: RIEF program is designed to expand the community of engineering faculty equipped to conduct research in professional formation of engineers. At least one (co) PI must be a member of an engineering department AND not have received engineering education or professional formation funding through EEC in the last three years. Submissions from faculty with active disciplinary research programs, or faculty seeking a shift in their research focus, are especially encouraged. The program is not intended to create an additional funding channel for researchers with expertise in social science or education research; such researchers should apply to the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers), or other related NSF opportunities. |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp | Sep 03, 2026 12:16:22 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Mod comments | Updated Synopsis via NSF Grants Opportunity Sync |
| Synopsis / Created date | Sep 01, 2026 12:20:14 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Last updated date | Sep 03, 2026 12:16:22 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Id | 25 |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Description | Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification) |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Id | G |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Description | Grant |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Id | ST |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Description | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Synopsis / Response date str | 2026-11-10-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Posting date str | 2026-09-01-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Archive date str | 2026-12-10-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp str | 2026-09-03-12-16-22 |
| Agency details / Code | NSF |
| Agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Top agency details / Code | NSF |
| Top agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Top agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Top agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Top agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis attachment folders | Not specified |
| Synopsis document urls | Not specified |
| Syn att change comments | Not specified |
| Cfdas 1 / Id | 435288 |
| Cfdas 1 / Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Cfdas 1 / Cfda number | 47.041 |
| Cfdas 1 / Program title | Engineering |
| Cfdas 2 / Id | 435289 |
| Cfdas 2 / Opportunity id | 363764 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Id | 294108 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Topportunity id | 363764 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Family id | 14 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Dialect | XFDL2.2 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opportunity number | 20-558 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opportunity title | PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opening date | 2026-09-01 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Closing date | 2026-11-10 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Owning agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Contact info | Alice L. Pawley E-mail: eer-programs@nsf.gov |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Electronic required | N |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Expected application count | 75 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Expected application size | 50 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Open to applicant type | 3 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Is multi project | N |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Extension | |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Mimetype | application/pdf |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Last update | Sep 03, 2026 12:16:23 PM EDT |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Workspace compatible flag | Y |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Package id | PKG00294108 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opening date str | 2026-09-01-00-00-00 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Closing date str | 2026-11-10-00-00-00 |
| Closed opportunity pkgs | Not specified |
| Original due date | Nov 10, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis modified fields | revision; version; createTimeStamp |
| Forecast modified fields | Not specified |
| Error messages | Not specified |
| Syn post date in past | Yes |
| Doc type | synopsis |
| Forecast hist count | 0 |
| Synopsis hist count | 0 |
| Assist compatible | No |
| Assist url | Not specified |
| Related opps | Not specified |
| Ost | POSTED |
Related Documents
There are no related documents on this grant.
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | NSF support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PKG00294108 | 2026-09-01 | 2026-11-10 | View |
Package 1
Instructions
PKG00294156-instructions.pdf
Mandatory forms
RR_SF424_5_0-V5.0.pdf
NSF_CoverPage_2_3-V2.3.pdf
NSF_KeyPersonExpanded_3_3-V3.3.pdf
RR_Budget_3_0-V3.0.pdf
PerformanceSite_4_0-V4.0.pdf
RR_OtherProjectInfo_1_4-V1.4.pdf
Optional forms
NSF_DeviationAuthorization-V1.1.pdf
NSF_SuggestedReviewers-V1.1.pdf
RR_SubawardBudget_3_0-V3.0.pdf
