This grant is for the purpose of supporting research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) and expanding the community of researchers in this field. Specifically, it targets principal investigators with limited or no prior experience in social science or education research, not established researchers. Launched by the NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate, the PFE initiative aims to create an innovative and inclusive engineering profession. PFE encompasses the formal and informal education and ethical systems by which individuals become engineers. This program enables engineering faculty, recognized for their teaching or educational leadership, to gain expertise in conducting engineering education research, thereby addressing critical challenges in the formation of future engineers.
Opportunity ID: 360027
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | 20-558 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 47.041 — Engineering |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Jul 14, 2025 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jul 14, 2025 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Nov 12, 2025 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Nov 12, 2025 |
| Archive Date: | Dec 12, 2025 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $3,000,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | – |
| Award Floor: | $200,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | *Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. *Who May Serve as PI: |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| 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/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505681).
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.
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.
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| Link to Additional Information: | NSF Publication 20-558 |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
NSF grants.gov support
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov Email:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
There are no related documents on this grant.
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | NSF grants.gov support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov Email: grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PKG00291194 | Jul 14, 2025 | Nov 12, 2025 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
360027 RR_SF424_5_0-5.0.pdf
360027 NSF_CoverPage_2_3-2.3.pdf
360027 NSF_KeyPersonExpanded_3_3-3.3.pdf
360027 RR_Budget_3_0-3.0.pdf
360027 PerformanceSite_4_0-4.0.pdf
360027 RR_OtherProjectInfo_1_4-1.4.pdf
Optional forms
360027 NSF_DeviationAuthorization-1.1.pdf
360027 NSF_SuggestedReviewers-1.1.pdf
360027 RR_SubawardBudget_3_0-3.0.pdf
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