PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF)
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- 20-558
- Agency
-
National Science Foundation
- Applications due
- Award size
- $200,000 or more
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 47.041 Engineering
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Science Foundation is soliciting applications for PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF), a grant program supporting engineering faculty new to education research, with applications due November 10, 2026. At least one principal investigator must be a member of an engineering department and have received no engineering education or professional formation funding from NSF's Engineering Education and Centers division in the preceding three years. The program explicitly excludes established researchers in engineering education or social science fields; those applicants should apply instead to the Research in the Formation of Engineers program.
The initiative aims to expand the community of engineering faculty conducting research in professional formation of engineers—defined as the formal and informal education and value systems through which people become engineers, including the ethical responsibilities of practicing engineers. Eligible principal investigators are engineering faculty renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on campus who seek to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research. Submissions from faculty with active disciplinary research programs or faculty seeking a shift in research focus receive particular encouragement.
The program supports research advancing an inclusive and innovative engineering profession responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs. Engineering faculty are positioned to address critical challenges in engineering formation by combining deep technical expertise with primary responsibility for the professional formation of future engineers.
The opportunity is funded under NSF's Engineering Directorate (CFDA 47.041) as a Project Grant. Applicants must comply with NSF's standard application requirements, including advance registration with Research.gov, valid SAM registration, data management and sharing plans, biographical sketches via SciENcv, and budget justification documentation.
Synopsis
The PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program has two goals: 1) Support research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE), and 2) Increase the community of researchers conducting PFE research. PIs are expected to have little or no experience conducting social science or education research. PFE: RIEF is not intended for established researchers in engineering education or other social science fields to initiate new projects. Those researchers should consider the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers).
The NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate has launched a multi-year initiative, the Professional Formation of Engineers, to create and support an innovative and inclusive engineering profession for the 21st Century. Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) refers to the formal and informal education and value systems by which people become engineers. It also includes the ethical responsibility of practicing engineers to sustain and grow the profession. The engineering profession must be responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs; it must be equally open and accessible to all Americans.
Engineering faculty possess both deep technical expertise in their engineering discipline and the primary responsibility for the process of professional formation of future engineers. As such, engineering faculty are in a unique position to help address critical challenges in engineering formation. The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program enables engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research.
Eligibility
*Who May Serve as PI: The PFE: RIEF program is designed to expand the community of engineering faculty equipped to conduct research in professional formation of engineers. At least one (co) PI must be a member of an engineering department AND not have received engineering education or professional formation funding through EEC in the last three years. Submissions from faculty with active disciplinary research programs, or faculty seeking a shift in their research focus, are especially encouraged. The program is not intended to create an additional funding channel for researchers with expertise in social science or education research; such researchers should apply to the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers), or other related NSF opportunities.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294108.pdf |
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