Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 04 1575

  • The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EAR Education and Human Resources" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050 Geosciences.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Nov 7, 2013 and posted on May 23, 2007.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Archived. Status of PD Current but no longer receiving proposals.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:

The EAR Education and Human Resources (EHR) opportunity (NSF Program Description PD 04-1575) was a National Science Foundation, Division of Earth Sciences program designed to strengthen education, training, and workforce development in the Earth sciences by tying learning directly to active research. The core idea was to broaden participation in Earth science research and build clear pathways for students, teachers, and early-career researchers to gain meaningful research experience, professional mentoring, and educational leadership skills. Alongside general education and research training goals, the program also emphasized improving recruitment and participation of groups historically underrepresented in the geosciences through related diversity-focused efforts (referenced as Geo Diversity/OEDG support).

The program highlighted three main activity areas. First, it supported Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET). Through these mechanisms, universities and marine laboratories could host structured summer research experiences, typically in the form of internships or intensive research placements where undergraduates and teachers work with research mentors on Earth-science-related projects. These experiences were meant to be hands-on and research-forward, giving participants exposure to real research questions, field or lab methods, data analysis, and scientific communication, while also strengthening the host institution's capacity to train new talent. The EHR program served as a key point of contact for those seeking REU and RET supplement funding, with the note that supplements were funded through EAR science programs and did not operate under fixed submission deadlines.

Second, the opportunity referenced NSF's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) pathway as part of its education and workforce ecosystem for Earth sciences. CAREER awards are aimed at pre-tenure faculty who integrate strong, innovative research with equally strong education plans. In practice, that means proposals are expected to connect a research agenda to an educational or training strategy, such as new course or curriculum development, research-based learning opportunities, teacher professional development, broader engagement activities, or other efforts that link scholarship with measurable educational impact.

Third, the program included EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships, which provided two-year fellowship support to highly qualified researchers within three years of earning their PhD. These fellowships were framed around an integrated plan that combined independent research with a substantive education component, encouraging postdocs not only to produce strong science but also to contribute to teaching, outreach, mentoring, or other educational activities that expand Earth science learning and participation.

From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary grant opportunity under the NSF Geosciences CFDA listing (47.050) and fell within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category. The listing indicated an estimated total funding level of about $4,000,000 and an expectation of roughly 30 awards. No cost sharing or matching was required. Eligible applicants were listed as nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, though in practice the described activities (REU/RET sites, university and marine lab internships, early-career faculty efforts, and postdoctoral fellowships) are typically associated with academic and research institutions and individuals working through those institutions, depending on the specific mechanism.

Timing and status details matter here: proposals were described as accepted anytime for most categories (with REU site proposals being an exception in terms of how they are normally scheduled), and REU/RET supplements were explicitly described as having no deadlines. However, the opportunity record also indicates it is archived: the current status is "current but no longer receiving proposals," with an archive date of November 7, 2013. In other words, while this notice captures how the program operated and what it supported, applicants today would generally need to find the current NSF EAR or EHR-related solicitations and guidance that replaced or superseded this archived program description. For access issues, the source notice pointed users to NSF Grants.gov support (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was the EAR Education and Human Resources (EHR) opportunity?

The EAR Education and Human Resources (EHR) opportunity (NSF Program Description PD 04-1575) was a National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Earth Sciences program designed to strengthen education, training, and workforce development in the Earth sciences by tying learning directly to active research.

What was the main goal of this program?

The core goal was to broaden participation in Earth science research and build clear pathways for students, teachers, and early-career researchers to gain meaningful research experience, professional mentoring, and educational leadership skills, with learning connected directly to ongoing research.

Did the program include a diversity or broadening participation emphasis?

Yes. In addition to general education and research training goals, the program emphasized improving recruitment and participation of groups historically underrepresented in the geosciences through related diversity-focused efforts referenced as Geo Diversity/OEDG support.

What types of activities did the program support?

The program highlighted three main activity areas: (1) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET), (2) the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) pathway as part of the Earth-science education and workforce ecosystem, and (3) EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships.

What were REU and RET activities in this program?

REU and RET activities supported structured summer research experiences, typically internships or intensive research placements, where undergraduates and teachers worked with research mentors on Earth-science-related projects. These experiences were intended to be hands-on and research-forward, exposing participants to real research questions, field or lab methods, data analysis, and scientific communication.

Who could host REU/RET experiences under the described program?

The description notes that universities and marine laboratories could host these structured summer research experiences, strengthening both participant development and the host institution's capacity to train new Earth science talent.

Were REU/RET opportunities limited to fieldwork?

No. The described experiences could include field or lab methods, data analysis, and scientific communication. The emphasis was on authentic research engagement, whether in the field, laboratory, or through data-driven projects.

What did the program say about REU and RET supplement funding?

The program served as a key point of contact for those seeking REU and RET supplement funding. It also noted that these supplements were funded through EAR science programs and did not operate under fixed submission deadlines.

Were there deadlines for REU/RET supplements?

According to the information provided, REU/RET supplements were explicitly described as having no deadlines.

How did this program relate to NSF CAREER awards?

The opportunity referenced NSF's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) pathway as part of its education and workforce ecosystem for Earth sciences. CAREER awards were aimed at pre-tenure faculty who integrate strong, innovative research with equally strong education plans.

What did CAREER proposals generally need to include under this ecosystem description?

Proposals were expected to connect a research agenda to an educational or training strategy. Examples mentioned include new course or curriculum development, research-based learning opportunities, teacher professional development, broader engagement activities, or other efforts linking scholarship with measurable educational impact.

What were EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships under this program?

EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships provided two-year fellowship support to highly qualified researchers within three years of earning their PhD. The fellowships emphasized an integrated plan that combined independent research with a substantive education component.

What did the fellowship "education component" encourage postdocs to do?

The education component encouraged postdocs to contribute to teaching, outreach, mentoring, or other educational activities that expand Earth science learning and participation, alongside producing strong scientific research.

What was the CFDA listing and category for this opportunity?

The opportunity was listed as a discretionary grant under the NSF Geosciences CFDA listing 47.050 and fell within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

How much funding was estimated, and how many awards were expected?

The listing indicated an estimated total funding level of about $4,000,000 with an expectation of roughly 30 awards.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing stated that no cost sharing or matching was required.

Who was listed as eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants were listed as nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education.

How do the described activities relate to typical applicant organizations?

While eligibility was stated in the listing, the activities described (REU/RET sites, university and marine lab internships, early-career faculty efforts, and postdoctoral fellowships) are typically associated with academic and research institutions and individuals working through those institutions, depending on the specific mechanism.

When were proposals accepted?

The information states that proposals were described as accepted anytime for most categories, with REU site proposals being an exception in terms of how they are normally scheduled.

Is this opportunity still accepting proposals today?

No. The opportunity record indicates it is archived and is "current but no longer receiving proposals," with an archive date of November 7, 2013.

What should someone do if they want to apply for a similar NSF opportunity now?

Because this is an archived program description, applicants would generally need to find the current NSF EAR or EHR-related solicitations and guidance that replaced or superseded this archived program description.

Where did the notice direct users for access or submission support?

For access issues, the source notice pointed users to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

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