Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) and HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NSF CREST and HBCU-RISE funding opportunity?

This NSF opportunity, titled "Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) and HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE)," is designed to strengthen the research capacity and competitiveness of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It also aims to expand participation in STEM by groups historically underrepresented in advanced science and engineering fields by supporting durable research infrastructure, higher research productivity, and stronger education-to-workforce pathways.

What kinds of outcomes is this opportunity trying to support?

Based on the description provided, the program is focused on long-term institutional improvements such as building research infrastructure, increasing research productivity and competitiveness, integrating research with education, and creating stronger training, mentoring, and advancement pathways for students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty from underrepresented backgrounds into the national STEM workforce and leadership pipeline.

Who is the CREST program intended to serve?

CREST focuses on eligible MSIs, defined here as institutions of higher education with undergraduate enrollments of 50 percent or more students from underrepresented minority groups in science and engineering. The specific groups listed include African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders.

What is a CREST Center award?

A CREST Center award is a major component of this opportunity and is described as a multi-year, center-based investment that typically supports an institution over about five years. The intent is to help an institution reach a higher level of research output and national visibility in a clearly defined area of science or engineering that has national significance.

How is a CREST Center different from funding isolated research projects?

CREST centers are expected to create an integrated environment where research and education reinforce each other. Rather than supporting disconnected projects, the center model emphasizes a cohesive research theme, institutional capacity-building, improved research competitiveness, and sustained mentoring and training opportunities for students and researchers.

What should a CREST Center proposal generally demonstrate?

The information provided indicates that CREST Center proposals are expected to show a strong existing base in both research and education, along with a compelling and realistic plan for improving infrastructure and achieving national competitiveness. Proposals should define a clear research theme, explain why the institution is positioned to build excellence in that area, and describe how success will be sustained beyond the award period.

How does CREST relate to NSF Human Resource Development goals?

CREST centers are expected to align with NSF Human Resource Development goals by strengthening the STEM workforce through inclusive recruitment, retention, training, and mentorship. They are also expected to provide leadership in involving underrepresented groups at every level of the center (faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers) and to use proven or innovative mechanisms to address barriers to persistence and advancement.

What are CREST Partnership Supplements?

CREST Partnership Supplements are designed to deepen or expand collaborations between active CREST Centers and prominent research organizations. These supplements help centers accelerate progress on research and education goals by connecting them to additional expertise, facilities, networks, translational opportunities, or broader impacts channels.

Who can serve as a partner under a CREST Partnership Supplement?

The opportunity description states that partners can include nationally or internationally recognized research centers (including NSF-supported centers), private-sector research laboratories, and K-12 entities such as schools, museums, and science centers when appropriate.

What is the purpose of CREST Partnership Supplements in practice?

As described, the supplements are intended to ensure the CREST center is not operating in isolation. By plugging into larger research ecosystems, a center may improve the quality, reach, and impact of its research and educational activities and strengthen connections that support broader impacts and potentially translational opportunities.

What is the CREST Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (PRF)?

The CREST PRF is an award mechanism aimed at early career scientists with strong potential who will conduct research aligned with an active CREST Center's research focus. The fellowship is intended to provide intensive research experience and career development with strong mentorship from CREST center scientists.

How does the CREST PRF benefit both fellows and host centers?

According to the description provided, fellows gain broader perspectives, interdisciplinary exposure, and leadership development, while host centers benefit by bringing talented researchers into their teams, strengthening research output, and reinforcing a research-focused culture.

What is HBCU-RISE?

HBCU-RISE (HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering) is a component of this opportunity focused specifically on Historically Black Colleges and Universities that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering. It supports development of research capability at doctoral-granting HBCUs with emphasis on expanding institutional research capacity and increasing production of doctoral students, particularly those from groups underrepresented in STEM.

Which institutions are targeted by HBCU-RISE?

Based on the provided information, HBCU-RISE targets HBCUs that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering (doctoral-granting HBCUs in S&E).

What must HBCU-RISE projects be organized around?

Supported HBCU-RISE projects must be organized around a unifying research focus within an NSF-supported research area. They must also connect directly to the long-term plans of the relevant departments and to the institution's strategic plan and mission.

Is HBCU-RISE intended to be short-term funding?

No. The description explicitly frames HBCU-RISE as a mechanism meant to catalyze sustained institutional growth in research training and doctoral education outcomes, rather than serving as a short-term funding boost.

What are SBIR/STTR Phase IIa Diversity Collaboration Supplements in this opportunity?

These supplements allow existing NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II projects to initiate collaborations with MSIs that hold active CREST Center or HBCU-RISE awards. The mechanism encourages diversity-focused collaboration and may help connect small business innovation projects with the research and talent ecosystems at CREST and HBCU-RISE institutions.

Which NSF unit administers and co-funds the SBIR/STTR Phase IIa Diversity Collaboration Supplements?

The information provided states that these supplements are administered by and co-funded with NSF's Directorate for Engineering, Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (ENG/IIP).

What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling in the provided details is $5,000,000.

What is the funding category for this NSF opportunity?

From the provided source details, the opportunity is described as a discretionary grant in the science and technology research and development category.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA numbers listed are 47.041 and 47.076.

When was this opportunity posted, and what is the closing date shown?

The posted and creation dates provided are December 29, 2015, and the closing date shown is June 10, 2016.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the original listing. Based on the description provided, applicants would need to confirm eligibility depending on MSI status (as defined for CREST), whether the institution is an HBCU with doctoral programs in science and engineering (for HBCU-RISE), and the specific project type being pursued (Center award, supplement, fellowship, or collaboration supplement).

Does this opportunity support education and workforce development in addition to research?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes integrating research with education and deliberately strengthening STEM workforce pathways through inclusive recruitment, retention, training, mentorship, and sustained research experiences for students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty from underrepresented backgrounds.

What does NSF mean here by "national significance" for a center research area?

The provided information indicates that CREST centers should focus on a clearly defined area of science or engineering that has national significance and can support increased national visibility for the institution. The description does not provide a further definition beyond that framing.

Are partnerships limited to academic institutions?

No. The description explicitly includes partners such as nationally or internationally recognized research centers (including NSF-supported centers), private-sector research laboratories, and, when appropriate, K-12 entities like schools, museums, and science centers.