Grants to USA IHEs to Promote Diversity in the Fields of Mathematics and Science

Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS)

Agency

Federal

GrantWatch ID#

195081

Funding Source

National Science Foundation (NSF)

CFDA Number: 47.049

Funding or PIN Number: 25-535

Geographic Focus

All USA

Important Dates

Deadline: 01/22/26 5:00 PM Applicant's local time

Grant Description

Grants to USA institutions of higher education to promote diversity in math and science programs. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take several weeks to complete. The purpose of this program is to promote the participation of scientists from underrepresented communities in mathematics and physical sciences. Funding is intended to assist in launching the research career of early-career PIs and, in this way, make Mathematical and Physical Sciences programs more inclusive.

The Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) program supports PIs at institutions that do not traditionally receive significant amounts of MPS funding, such as R2, MSI, and PUI institutions. The program supports PIs who initiate competitive research programs and prepare students to enter the 21st-century STEM workforce, which represents the full spectrum of diverse talent that society offers, including underrepresented and under-served communities.

One critical objective of the LEAPS funding is to enable the PIs to initiate ambitious and productive research projects. The results of these projects can serve as a solid base for subsequent successful proposals to regular NSF funding opportunities, such as core NSF Programs, CAREER, and other program solicitations. This would increase the number and quality of proposals from Institutions that traditionally have not received as much federal support for research and the number of impactful awards to these Institutions. In line with the NSF's goal of increasing the representation and diversity of individuals, organizations, and geographic regions contributing to STEM teaching, research, and innovation, the LEAPS-MPS Program has the aim to increase the participation in STEM of members of communities underrepresented and/or under-served in STEM and the number of members of these communities who can serve as role models for the future scientific workforce.

Proposals must be submitted to the appropriate Division within the Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS). In the proper Division, select one of these Programs:

AST: Special Programs in Astronomy
CHE: Broadening Participation
DMR: XC-Crosscutting Activities Program
DMS: Workforce in the Mathematical Sciences
PHY: Integrative Activities in Physics.

Recipient

Eligibility

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria

The proposal must be submitted by Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., that are not currently classified as a Doctoral University with "Very High Research Activity" (R1 institutions) according to the most recent Carnegie Classification: https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/.

These include two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. Eligibility is based on the classification on the date of proposal submission deadline.

The Principal Investigator must fulfill these three conditions at the time of proposal submission:
• Hold a doctoral degree in a discipline in which the Divisions of the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences support fundamental research
• Be in the pre-tenure period of a tenure-track or tenure-track equivalent faculty appointment
• Have not previously served as Principal or co-Principal Investigator on an NSF research award. For this solicitation, Fellowship, Conference/Workshop, Equipment, Travel, Instrumentation Infrastructure, and Research Opportunity Award (ROA) awards are not included in the research grant category

Tenure-track equivalency - For a position to be considered tenure-track-equivalent, it must simultaneously meet these three requirements: (1) the continuing appointment is expected to last at least three years from the start date of the LEAPS award; (2) the appointment comes with substantial research and educational responsibilities; and (3) the employee's career goals and job responsibilities as well as the mission of the department or organization will be served by the proposed LEAPS project.

Ineligible

Co-Principal Investigators are not permitted on LEAPS-MPS proposals.

The LEAPS-MPS program does not support proposals more appropriate for consideration by NSF programs outside MPS or other federal agencies and will be returned without review.

Pre-Application Information

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):
• April 17, 2025
• January 22, 2026
• Fourth Thursday in January, Annually Thereafter

Potential proposers who are uncertain about the fit of a research project to an MPS division are strongly encouraged to contact the program officers identified below to discuss the fit.

Required Registrations:
Applicants must have an active System for Award (SAM) registration (https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration) which provides a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and Grants.gov account to apply. Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes (https://www.grants.gov/register), but SAM registration may take several weeks. Therefore, an applicant’s registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity’s ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Full Proposals:
• Full Proposals submitted via Research.gov: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidelines apply. The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
• Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide).

Program Solicitation: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/launching-early-career-academic-pathways-mathematical/nsf25-535/solicitation

Grants.gov opportunity page: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/358335

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$18,750,000.00

Number of Grants

Estimated Number of Awards: 45 to 75

Estimated Size of Grant

LEAPS-MPS awards are for up to $250,000 in total (direct and indirect costs).

The budget should include funds for the PI's travel to a one-and-a-half-day meeting of LEAPS award recipients in the Washington, DC, area.

Term of Contract

Awards are for 24 months.

Contact Information

Cognizant Program Officers:
• Catalina Achim (OAD), telephone: (703) 292-2048, email: cachim@nsf.gov
• Simon C. Schuler (AST), telephone: (703) 292-8123, email: sschuler@nsf.gov
• Anne-Marie Schmoltner (CHE), telephone: (703) 292-4716, email: aschmolt@nsf.gov
• Nitsa Rosenzweig (DMR), telephone: (703) 292-7256, email: nirosenz@nsf.gov
• Tomek Bartoszynski (DMS), telephone: (703) 292-4885, email: tbartosz@nsf.gov
• Kathleen V. McCloud (PHY), telephone: (703) 292-8236, email: kmccloud@nsf.gov

For questions related to the use of NSF systems contact:
• NSF Help Desk: 1-800-381-1532
• Research.gov Help Desk e-mail: rgov@nsf.gov

For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:
• Telephone: 1-800-518-4726
• E-mail: support@grants.gov

RFP & Supporting Documents

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.

https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/nsf25535_0.pdf?VersionId=j7VLtfuRhWaka3IQQR0dmeKohyABs.iY

Grants to USA IHEs to Promote Diversity in the Fields of Mathematics and Science

Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS)

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