Expanding the domestic computing PHD capacity

The National Science Foundation Division of Information and Intelligent Systems awarded the Computing Research Association Inc. $2,011,769 on October 1, 2026, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program to expand the domestic computing PhD pipeline by supporting workforce-returner fellows.

CRA will establish fellowship subawards for participants matriculating into Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) PhD programs in fall 2027, extending program management and subaward administration through the period of performance ending September 30, 2031 to provide consistent oversight for all active fellows through degree completion. The award supports the program's outcomes evaluation, which will assemble a national longitudinal dataset capturing how workforce-returner fellows contribute to research in artificial intelligence, quantum information science, cybersecurity, computer science, and adjacent multidisciplinary fields. This dataset will provide evidence for future federal investments in domestic PhD production.

CRA manages all phases of the fellowship including application review, selection, subaward administration, mentoring, and longitudinal tracking. The project is centered in Washington, DC. The initiative targets domestic college graduates returning to PhD-level study after workforce experience, recognizing that computing PhDs trained domestically are uniquely eligible for sensitive research environments in defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure where security clearance eligibility is essential. Performance of work extends through September 30, 2031.

Abstract

The united states faces a persistent shortfall in domestic students trained for careers in computing research at a time when demand for advanced expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information science, and cybersecurity has reached unprecedented levels. This project supports domestic college graduates who return to PHD-level study in computer and information science and engineering (cise) fields after a period in the workforce. The computing research association (CRA) manages all phases of the fellowship, including application, review, selection, subaward administration, mentoring, and longitudinal evaluation. Domestic computing phds are uniquely eligible for sensitive research environments in defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure where security clearance eligibility is essential. The creation of a robust domestic pipeline of computing phds is important for national security and economic competitiveness, and by supporting these PHD students through degree completion this project expands the domestic pipeline of experts most central to U.S. Technological leadership. This project pursues three activities: (1) establishing fellowship subawards for participants matriculating into cise PHD programs in fall 2027; (2) extending CRA program management, subaward administration, and fellow tracking through FY 2032 to provide consistent oversight for all active fellows through degree completion; and (3) supporting the program's outcomes evaluation. The tracking and evaluation will provide a unique national longitudinal dataset assembled across cohorts, which captures how workforce-returner fellows contribute to research in AI, quantum information science, cybersecurity, computer science, and adjacent multidisciplinary fields. This dataset will provide actionable evidence for future federal investments in domestic PHD production. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.