NSF Announces Education, Training Funding

Gabor Szekely and Nandini Kannan, NSF Statistics Program Directors

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has several funding opportunities that support research, education, and training for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

The Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) is investing in several work force programs with the long-range goal of increasing the number of well-prepared U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who successfully pursue careers in the mathematical and statistical sciences and other NSF-supported disciplines. The DMS Workforce Program has several solicitations such as Research Training Groups, Research Experiences for Undergraduate sites, and Mentoring Through Critical Transition Points. Doctoral students close to graduation should consider applying for mathematical sciences postdoctoral research fellowships. In particular, proposals that seek to broaden participation in the mathematical and statistical sciences are of interest to DMS.

NSF also administers the Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program. The NSF scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (S-STEM) program provides funding for students pursuing associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees. Statistics departments that offer undergraduate degrees also should consider the Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM program. It is focused on improving the quality of STEM education. The solicitation allows for small exploratory proposals and large projects with the potential to transform undergraduate STEM education.

Additionally, the Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program provides support for conferences and workshops. The statistics community is encouraged to take advantage of these and many other opportunities.

Faculty and graduate students are encouraged to visit the NSF DMS website for details. The statistics program officers are also available to answer questions about specific solicitations or more general questions related to research and education. Contact Gabor Szekely at gszekely@nsf.gov and Haiyan Cai at hcai@nsf.gov.