U.S. National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program | 24 597

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 597

The U.S. National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is a graduate education and workforce development grant opportunity focused on improving how STEM graduate students are trained for today s research and career landscape. It supports proposals that create or strengthen comprehensive traineeship models for students enrolled in research based master s and doctoral programs. The core idea is to help graduate trainees build practical, transferable skills alongside deep technical expertise, so they are prepared for a wide range of STEM careers across academia, industry, government, nonprofits, and other sectors. NSF is looking for training approaches that are innovative, grounded in evidence about what works in graduate education, and clearly aligned with evolving workforce needs and the realities of interdisciplinary research.

A central requirement is that projects revolve around a high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research area tied to a theme of national importance. In other words, NRT is not just funding traditional single department training; it is pushing programs to cross disciplinary lines and build coherent training ecosystems around problems that require multiple fields working together. These projects are expected to go beyond coursework by integrating research, professional development, mentoring structures, and career exploration into one intentional traineeship experience. The program also emphasizes institutional capacity building, meaning NSF wants universities to use the award to create sustainable improvements in graduate training that can outlast the grant period and influence broader graduate education practices.

Workforce development and broad participation are explicit priorities. Proposals are expected to consider who gets access to advanced STEM training and how programs can remove barriers and expand opportunity. NSF specifically encourages submissions from minority serving institutions and emerging research institutions, signaling a strong interest in proposals that grow training capacity in places that have historically been under resourced in research infrastructure. NRT also encourages strong connections to efforts that broaden participation in STEM, with particular interest in collaborations that reinforce both sides of the partnership rather than being superficial add ons.

Collaboration is a major feature of what NSF wants to see. Competitive proposals often involve strategic partners such as private sector companies, non governmental organizations, government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science centers, and other academic institutions. These partnerships can strengthen traineeships by providing real world problem contexts, internships or externships, co mentoring, access to facilities or data, and clearer pathways into diverse careers. NSF also highlights potential alignment with existing NSF funded efforts, including INCLUDES, REU, LSAMP, S STEM, and STEM Ed OPRF, especially when collaboration is designed to strengthen both the NRT project and the partner project in concrete ways.

Eligibility is limited to U.S. Institutions of Higher Education. Two year and four year accredited colleges and universities, including community colleges, may submit proposals as the applicant organization on behalf of their faculty. If a proposal would send funding to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including through subawards or consultants), the submitting institution must clearly explain why work at the branch campus is beneficial and why the activities cannot be done at the U.S. campus. For leadership, the Principal Investigator for Track 1 and Track 2 must be a faculty member at the submitting institution, reinforcing that the traineeship is expected to be anchored in the academic unit(s) responsible for graduate education.

From the funding details provided, this opportunity is a discretionary NSF grant with an award ceiling of 3,000,000 dollars. NSF anticipates making around 20 awards under this solicitation. The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number 24 597, with a closing date of 2024 11 14. The program spans multiple NSF scientific and education related CFDA areas, reflecting its cross cutting nature and its role in linking research training with broader STEM education and workforce outcomes.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-14. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 24 597

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