NSF Grants 2026: Science Foundation Funding for Research and Education

NSF Directorates and Their Research Programs

NSF is organized into six research directorates plus the Directorate for STEM Education and several cross-cutting offices. The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) funds research in molecular and cell biology, genetics, evolutionary biology, environmental biology, and the biological infrastructure programs that support shared research equipment and biological collections. The Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) funds research in computing foundations, advanced cyberinfrastructure, information and intelligent systems, and computing education — making it one of the largest and most competitive NSF directorates, particularly relevant in the AI era. The Directorate for Engineering (ENG) funds fundamental engineering research across chemical, biomedical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and materials systems — with growing emphasis on convergent research connecting engineering with biology, computing, and social science.

The Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) funds research in earth, ocean, atmospheric, and polar sciences, including the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) covers astronomy, chemistry, materials research, mathematics, and physics — funding major research facilities including observatories and accelerators. The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) funds research on human behavior, society, economy, and the intersection of science, technology, and society. Each directorate publishes its own program descriptions and deadlines — researchers should identify the most relevant program within the appropriate directorate before writing a proposal. NSF program officers are accessible and generally receptive to brief pre-submission email inquiries about whether a project concept fits a specific program.

Major NSF Grant Mechanisms

The most common NSF award type is the standard research grant, also called an Individual Investigator Award or Core Research grant. These are typically submitted in response to program solicitations or as "unsolicited" proposals to core research programs that accept proposals at any time or on specific deadlines. Award sizes vary widely by discipline: biology and chemistry projects average $150,000–$500,000 over three years; computer science and engineering projects often reach $500,000–$1.5 million over three to five years; large collaborative awards can exceed $5 million. NSF requires a detailed two-page Project Summary, a full 15-page Project Description, CVs, and a Data Management Plan for all standard proposals.

Collaborative Research proposals allow two or more organizations to share a single NSF award with budget components flowing to each institution. This is common for multi-university research teams. Mid-scale Research Infrastructure grants (MSRI) fund research instrumentation and shared facilities costing $6 million to $100 million — a critical mechanism for institutions building out shared equipment needed for research programs. Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grants, up to $6 million (or $4 million for non-PhD-granting institutions), fund acquisition or development of shared research instruments at individual institutions. Proposals must involve a research plan demonstrating how the instrument will be used by multiple researchers. MRI proposals are due annually in mid-January, with awards announced approximately six months later.

NSF CAREER Awards

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is the NSF's most prestigious award for early-career faculty members. CAREER awards support researchers who demonstrate the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education while building a foundation for a lifetime of leadership. Awards range from $400,000 to $1 million or more over five years, with minimum total award amounts of $400,000 for most directorates and $500,000 for CISE. Eligibility is limited to tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty members who have received their terminal degree within 10 years (or within the 7 years preceding the deadline, depending on directorate). Applicants must not have previously received a CAREER award and must be at a U.S. institution of higher education. CAREER proposals integrate a research plan and an educational/broader impacts plan — the educational component must be substantive and connected to the research, not a token effort.

CAREER proposal deadlines vary by directorate: BIO, CISE, ENG, GEO, and MPS directorates typically have deadlines in July and August; SBE has a fall deadline. Investigators may submit only one CAREER proposal per competition cycle. NSF's CAREER program is highly competitive — typical funding rates are 15–25% depending on the directorate and year. Unsuccessful CAREER applicants are strongly encouraged to resubmit in subsequent years, incorporating reviewer feedback. Mentors and department chairs at research universities should ensure junior faculty are aware of CAREER and are planning their submission strategy well in advance of the deadline.

NSF EPSCoR: Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

NSF EPSCoR (CFDA 47.083) supports research infrastructure and competitiveness at institutions in 28 jurisdictions (states and territories) that have historically received disproportionately low levels of NSF funding relative to their population. EPSCoR states include Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming. EPSCoR programs include Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-1 grants ($20 million over five years for statewide research themes), Track-2 grants ($6 million over four years for multi-state collaborative research), and Track-4 Research Fellows (individual researchers up to $300,000 for visits to federal facilities and leading laboratories). EPSCoR-eligible researchers also receive enhanced review consideration in regular NSF programs when proposed projects fall within the EPSCoR jurisdiction.

NSF SBIR/STTR for Small Businesses and Startups

NSF's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (CFDA 47.041) fund deep technology startups and small businesses developing innovations with strong scientific foundations. NSF SBIR/STTR differs from DOD and NIH SBIR in its emphasis on transformative technologies with large potential societal impact — rather than specific agency mission needs. NSF Phase I awards are up to $275,000 over six months for proof-of-concept research. Phase II awards up to $1 million over 24 months support further R&D and commercialization planning. NSF also offers a $50,000 Phase I Supplement for companies demonstrating especially strong Phase I results. The America's Seed Fund (NSF SBIR/STTR portal at seedfund.nsf.gov) accepts applications in all technology sectors including AI, advanced manufacturing, biotech, medtech, clean energy, semiconductors, and agtech.

NSF SBIR applications begin with a required Project Pitch (a brief online submission reviewed by NSF program directors) — companies receiving positive feedback are invited to submit full Phase I proposals. This pre-screening step distinguishes NSF SBIR from most federal grant programs and allows for faster cycle times. Companies should research which NSF directorate and program best aligns with their technology area, then submit a Project Pitch that clearly articulates the scientific innovation, the potential market, and the team's capacity to execute. NSF program officers are active in the startup ecosystem and attend major tech and deep science conferences — identifying and connecting with relevant program officers is a high-value strategy for SBIR applicants. All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and have an active account on the NSF SBIR/STTR portal.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) 2026

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is the oldest and most prestigious graduate fellowship in STEM — providing three years of support (usable over a five-year period) to outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. The 2026 GRFP award includes a $37,000 annual stipend and a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance paid to the institution. Fellows may defer fellowship use and have the flexibility to pursue research at any accredited US institution.

GRFP is open to US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who are graduate students in or applying to eligible STEM graduate programs, or undergraduate seniors planning to enroll in graduate school. Applicants may apply only once as an undergraduate/post-baccalaureate and once as a graduate student — making strategic timing critical. The 2026 GRFP application deadline is typically mid-October 2026, with deadlines varying by field (STEM fields use separate deadline dates). Panels evaluate applications on Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts — the same criteria used for all NSF proposals. NSF awards approximately 2,000 fellowships per cycle from around 12,000–13,000 applicants, making the acceptance rate roughly 15–17%.

Key Takeaways

• NSF funds ~25% of all federally supported basic research at U.S. universities — all proposals submitted through Research.gov using the PAPPG as the governing document.
• CAREER awards ($400K–$1M+ over 5 years) are the flagship early-career faculty award — deadlines vary by directorate (mostly July–August), with one submission per cycle allowed.
• MRI grants (up to $6M, due mid-January) fund shared research instrumentation — contact NSF program officers before submitting to confirm instrument scope and program fit.
• EPSCoR institutions in 28 states/territories have access to Track-1 ($20M/5 years) and Track-2 ($6M/4 years) grants plus enhanced review consideration in regular programs.
• NSF SBIR/STTR (seedfund.nsf.gov) starts with a required Project Pitch — Phase I up to $275K, Phase II up to $1M — open to all deep technology sectors.