Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology

 

The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program provides support to enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. CREST promotes the development of new knowledge, enhancements of the research productivity of individual faculty, and an expanded presence of students historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. HBCU-RISE awards specifically target HBCUs to support the expansion of institutional research capacity as well as an increase in the production of doctoral students, especially those from groups underrepresented in STEM, at those institutions. The CREST program supports the following types of projects:CREST Center awards provide multi-year support (typically 5-year) for eligible minority-serving institutions (MSI) that demonstrate a strong research and education base, a compelling vision for research infrastructure improvement, and a comprehensive plan with the necessary elements to achieve and sustain national competitiveness in a clearly defined and focused area of science or engineering research. Successful center proposals will demonstrate a clear vision and synergy with the broad goals of the CREST Program and the Human Resource Development Division with respect to development of a diverse STEM workforce. CREST Centers are expected to provide leadership in the involvement of groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM at all levels (faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers) within the Center. Centers are expected to use either proven or innovative mechanisms to address issues such as recruitment, retention and mentorship of participants from underrepresented groups. CREST Partnership Supplements support the establishment or strengthening of partnerships and collaborations between CREST centers and nationally or internationally recognized research centers including NSF-supported research centers. HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (RISE) awards support the development of research capability at Historically Black Colleges and Universities that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines. Supported projects must have a unifying research focus in one of the research areas supported by NSF, a direct connection to the long-term plans of the host department(s) and the institutional mission, and plans for expanding institutional research capacity as well as increasing the production of doctoral students, especially those underrepresented in STEM. Broadening Participation Research (BPR) in STEM Education projects create and study new models and innovations in STEM teaching and learning; enhance the understanding of the underlying issues affecting the differential participation and success rates of students from underrepresented groups; add to the research knowledge base; and inform STEM education practices and interventions. Broadening Participation Research proposals should describe evidence-based research studies that contribute to understanding the participation of and successful outcomes for underrepresented groups in STEM. Proposals should consider new evidence-based strategies and practices and institutional structure models for broadening participation in STEM and increasing the capacity of scholars in minority-serving institutions to conduct this type of research.SBIR/STTR Phase IIa Diversity Collaboration Supplements provide an opportunity for existing SBIR/STTR Phase IIa projects to initiate collaborations with minority-serving institutions that have active CREST and HBCU-RISE awards. These supplemental proposals are administered by and co-funded with the NSF Directorate for Engineering Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (ENG/IIP).

Deleted 07/06/2013 (Archived.) 13-533 Agency: National Science Foundation Grant 13 *Organization Limit: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - CREST Center proposals are invited from minority-serving institutions of higher education in the United States. This denotes institutions that have undergraduate enrollments of 50% or more (based on total student enrollment) of members of minority groups underrepresented among those holding advanced degrees in science and engineering fields: African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Native Pacific Islanders. Eligibility as a minority-serving institution will be determined by reference to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) of the US Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/). Proposals are also invited from institutions of higher education that primarily serve populations of students with disabilities (http://www.nsf.gov/od/broadeningparticipation/nsf_frameworkforaction_0808.pdf). HBCU-RISE proposals are invited from Historically Black Colleges and Universities that offer doctoral degrees in science (including social, behavioral, and economic science), technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

SBIR /STTR diversity collaborative supplement proposals are invited from current SBIR/STTR Phase IIA grantees and their CREST or HBCU-RISE institution partners. BPR in STEM Education proposals are invited from institutions meeting the organizational eligibility for CREST or HBCU - RISE proposals. *PI Limit:Principal Investigators for CREST, HBCU-RISE, BPR, and SBIR/STTR awards must be employed by a CREST, HBCU-RISE, BPRor SBIR/STTR-eligible institution, respectively. See solicitation for deadline dates 06/06/2013 This program does not have cost sharing or matching requirements. NSF grants.gov support
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf13533 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov $6,000,000.00 Awards up to $5,000,000.00