Synopsis

The NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) seeks to build engineering research capacity across the nation by investing in new academic investigators who have yet to receive sufficient research funding from Federal Agencies. The Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) program will support new investigators as they initiate their research programs and advance in their careers as researchers, educators, and innovators. This funding opportunity aims to broaden the base of investigators involved in engineering research and therefore is limited to investigators that are not affiliated with “very high research activity” R1 institutions (according to the Carnegie Classificationhttps://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/).
Response Date	Oct 09, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Posting Date	Jul 17, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Archive Date	Oct 16, 2027 12:00:00 AM EDT
Award Ceiling	N/a
Award Floor	200,000
Cost Sharing	No

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional Info on Eligibility:

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - <span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW158288404 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">In line with the program goals, ERI welcomes the submission of proposals to this funding opportunity from Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) not currently classified as a Doctoral University with &ldquo;Very High Research Activity&rdquo; (R1 institutions) according to the 2021 Carnegie Classification:<a class="sharedcomments-hyperlink" title="https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/" tabindex="0" href="https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" data-hyperlink="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/&quot;}">https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/</a></span><span class="NormalTextRun CommentHighlightPipeRest SCXW158288404 BCX0">. These include two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">located</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0"> in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Eligibility is based on Classification on the date of proposal submission deadline. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">NSF encourages</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW158288404 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">su</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">b</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">issions from</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0"> and two-year colleges</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">, and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0"> institutions</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">in</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW158288404 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW158288404 BCX0">EPSCoR</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">jurisdictions</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158288404 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"></span> *Who May Serve as PI: The PI of an ERI proposal must hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF and must hold an appointment at an ERI-eligible institution. Postdoctoral fellow researchers are not eligible to serve as PI on an ERI proposal. At the time of the proposal submission deadline,the PI maynothave been a PI or Co-PI on any current or prior awarded NSF research grant (including subaward) or have had research support from any other Federal Agency (within the United States or abroad) totaling $200,000 or more within the past five (5) calendar years from the proposal submission deadline date, with the following exceptions: <ul> <li>Grants not directly for research purposes such as workshops, conferences, travel, instrumentation and equipment (e.g., Major Research Instrumentation; MRI), Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Sites, etc.;</li> <li>Awards that exclusively support pre-tenure-track activities (postdoctoral fellowships and Graduate Research Fellowships/GRFP);</li> <li>I-Corps, Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards; and</li> <li>Awards that originated as NSF or other F

Additional Information

Agency Name	U.S. National Science Foundation
Link to Additional Information:	NSF Publication 24-590
Grantor Contact Information:	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: GrantSolutions Help Desk Phone: 703-292-4203

CFDA Program(s)

• 47.041: Engineering