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NSF CREST (Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology) FAQs

1) What is the NSF CREST opportunity?

The NSF Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) opportunity is a discretionary science and technology research and development program that funds center-based efforts at minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The goal is to strengthen institutional research capacity by tightly connecting research with education, increasing faculty research productivity, generating new knowledge, and significantly increasing the participation and success of students who have been historically underrepresented in STEM.

2) What is the overall purpose of CREST?

CREST is designed to build durable institutional capability, not just fund standalone research projects. In addition to research results, CREST emphasizes strengthening the research culture, developing training pipelines, expanding collaborations, and helping students progress into advanced study and STEM careers.

3) What funding opportunity number is referenced?

This solicitation is identified as NSF Publication/Funding Opportunity No. 10-519.

4) What types of projects are supported under this solicitation?

The solicitation supports multiple project types:

• CREST Centers: center awards to establish or operate research centers that consolidate strengths in a focused research area and integrate education and research.
• CREST partnership supplements: supplements tied to existing CREST awards to extend or deepen collaborations and increase the center's impact.
• HBCU RISE (HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering): projects to strengthen research infrastructure at doctoral-granting Historically Black Colleges and Universities in STEM.
• SBIR/STTR diversity collaborative supplements: supplements that allow current SBIR/STTR grantees to partner with CREST or HBCU RISE institutions to support more inclusive innovation and workforce pathways.
• Innovation through Institutional Integration (I3) within NSF EHR: supports institutions in integrating multiple NSF-funded efforts to achieve greater combined impact than isolated projects.

5) What is a CREST Center award intended to do?

A CREST Center award is intended to create or expand a multi-faceted research center that builds an institution's strength in a focused research area, increases research productivity, generates new knowledge, and advances student development through strong education-research integration.

6) What are CREST partnership supplements?

CREST partnership supplements are tied to existing CREST awards and are intended to extend or deepen collaborations that increase a center's overall impact.

7) What is HBCU RISE and what does it focus on?

HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU RISE) focuses on strengthening research infrastructure at Historically Black Colleges and Universities that award doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines.

8) What are SBIR/STTR diversity collaborative supplements in this solicitation?

These are supplements associated with NSF's SBIR/STTR programs. They allow current SBIR/STTR awardees to partner with CREST or HBCU RISE institutions to help build more inclusive innovation and workforce pathways.

9) What is the Innovation through Institutional Integration (I3) component?

I3 is a track within NSF's Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) that supports strategic integration of multiple NSF-funded efforts so an institution can produce more combined impact than it would through separate, unconnected projects. For FY2010, I3 proposals were solicited across nine EHR programs (including CREST and other STEM education-focused programs).

10) What mechanism does NSF use to provide funding for this opportunity?

Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which reflects NSF's expectation of substantial interaction with awardees during the award period.

11) What is the estimated total funding and the expected number of awards?

The estimated total funding for this opportunity was $12.5 million, with an anticipated 40 awards.

12) What is the award size range?

Individual award sizes range from a floor of $75,000 up to a ceiling of $5,000,000.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is noted in the information provided.

14) What were the key due dates listed for this cycle?

• Letters of intent (required) for CREST Centers and HBCU RISE: January 21, 2010
• Full proposals for CREST Centers, CREST partnership supplements, and HBCU RISE: March 22, 2010
• SBIR/STTR diversity collaborative supplement timing: spring, with a cited date of March 13, 2010
• I3 submissions deadline: April 7, 2010 (also listed as the overall closing date in the posting)

15) Who is eligible to apply for a CREST Center proposal?

CREST Center proposals are limited to U.S. minority-serving institutions of higher education with enrollments of 50 percent or more from underrepresented minority groups in science and engineering advanced-degree attainment. The solicitation specifically lists Alaska Natives, African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and Native Pacific Islanders.

16) Does NSF indicate any preferences for CREST Center applicant institutions?

NSF indicates a preference for institutions that demonstrate growing strength in NSF-supported fields and a developing capacity to offer doctoral degrees in one or more STEM disciplines. The institution should also be able to function as a resource center in the chosen research area.

17) What other institutional characteristics are expected for CREST Centers?

The institution is expected to show a track record of enrolling and graduating minority scientists and engineers and to demonstrate strong collaborations in the proposed research field.

18) Are there priority research areas or disciplines?

Priority consideration is given to disciplines and research areas where minorities remain significantly underrepresented.

19) Who is eligible to apply for HBCU RISE?

HBCU RISE proposals are restricted to Historically Black Colleges and Universities that offer doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines.

20) Who is eligible to apply for SBIR/STTR diversity collaborative supplements under this opportunity?

SBIR/STTR diversity collaborative supplement proposals are limited to current SBIR/STTR awardees that partner with eligible CREST or HBCU RISE institutions.

21) Who is eligible to apply under the I3 component?

For I3, eligibility is generally limited to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (two-year and four-year). Broader proposer eligibility may be possible when the proposal is exclusively for I3 STEM education or related research consistent with NSF's Grant Proposal Guide.

22) What are the PI citizenship or residency requirements for CREST, HBCU RISE, and SBIR/STTR-related awards?

For CREST, HBCU RISE, and SBIR/STTR-related awards, the principal investigator must be a U.S. citizen or national, or a permanent resident, and must be employed by an eligible institution for the relevant track.

23) Who must serve as PI for I3 proposals?

NSF specifies that the PI for I3 proposals must typically be the university provost or an equivalent chief academic officer. An exception is noted when the submission is exclusively for I3 STEM educational or related research; in that case, a different PI may be allowed consistent with the rules described in the solicitation.

24) How should an institution think about CREST strategically?

Based on the description provided, CREST is both a research capacity-building investment and a workforce/education strategy. It is structured to help MSIs and doctoral-granting HBCUs build stronger research enterprises while directly increasing the number and success of underrepresented students in STEM, and it also creates collaboration pathways with NSF's SBIR/STTR programs and institution-wide integration through I3.

25) Does this opportunity emphasize education as well as research?

Yes. A central theme is tightly connecting research with education, including student development and education-research integration as part of the center-based approach.