Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research Initiation Initiative | 17 552

Opportunity Information: Apply for 17 552

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), offered the CISE Research Initiation Initiative to help brand-new faculty and equivalent academic researchers quickly establish themselves as independent investigators. The core purpose is to provide early, targeted funding right after someone lands their first primary academic position following the PhD, when the transition from mentored work to leading an independent research agenda is most critical. In practical terms, the program is designed to jump-start a new PI's research direction, generate initial results, and build the foundation needed to compete successfully for larger, longer-term federal awards later on.

Eligibility is tightly focused on researchers at the start of their independent careers. The opportunity is intended for untenured faculty or research scientists (or an equivalent role) who are within their first three years in a primary academic position after completing the PhD, and in any case no more than five total years past the PhD completion date. A key restriction is that applicants must not have previously received any federal grant or contract as a Principal Investigator after the PhD, including NSF CAREER or any other federal program, regardless of award size (with limited exceptions referenced by NSF in the full solicitation). However, prior participation in federally funded work in non-PI roles does not disqualify someone. Serving as a co-PI, senior personnel, postdoctoral fellow, or other fellow is explicitly not counted against the "no prior federal PI award" rule. Likewise, non-federal support does not make an applicant ineligible: funding from private companies or foundations, and from state, local, or tribal governments, or universities, is not treated as disqualifying under this requirement.

The funding is structured to help a new PI build a small but meaningful research effort. Awards are grants with an expected maximum budget (award ceiling) of $175,000, and NSF anticipated making around 60 awards under this specific opportunity. The program expects that these funds will commonly be used to support one or more graduate students for up to two years, which aligns with the goal of quickly producing publishable results and establishing momentum in a new lab or research group. Beyond graduate support, the funds may also be used for other typical research needs, including support for postdoctoral scholars, travel, and research equipment, giving investigators flexibility to match the award to the most pressing needs of their early-stage research program.

The initiative also recognizes the needs and realities of faculty at institutions with a strong undergraduate or two-year college mission. Faculty at undergraduate and two-year institutions are allowed to use the funds to support undergraduate researchers, and they may choose to submit under the Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) designation. Using the RUI option requires an RUI Impact Statement, which is intended to explain how the project will integrate research and undergraduate education and how the institution's context shapes the research plan.

Administrative details from the listing identify this as a discretionary NSF research grant in the science and technology R&D category (CFDA 47.070). The funding opportunity was created April 15, 2017, with an original closing date of August 9, 2017. Overall, the program is best understood as a bridge for newly hired CISE-area researchers who have not yet had the chance to lead a federal award as PI, giving them a realistic starting budget to establish independence, train students, and assemble the early evidence needed for future competitive federal funding.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research Initiation Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.070.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 15, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 09, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $175,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 17 552

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: