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NSF EHR Core Research (ECR) Program FAQ

What is the NSF EHR Core Research (ECR) program?

The NSF Education and Human Resources (EHR) Core Research (ECR) program is a discretionary grant opportunity focused on building strong, long-lasting foundations for fundamental research in STEM education. It supports rigorous, theory-building research that produces durable knowledge the field can build on over time.

What is the main purpose of ECR funding?

The central purpose is to support fundamental STEM education research that helps the field better understand how people learn STEM, what conditions shape that learning, how STEM pathways connect to workforce development, and how participation in STEM can be broadened in meaningful and measurable ways.

Is ECR intended to fund short-term program delivery or implementation?

No. ECR is oriented toward research that accumulates robust evidence over time and contributes lasting knowledge, rather than emphasizing short-term program delivery. Interventions and innovations are positioned as being grounded in and informed by fundamental research, not treated as stand-alone implementation efforts.

What are the four main research focal areas of ECR?

ECR targets four focal areas: STEM learning, STEM learning environments, STEM workforce development, and broadening participation in STEM.

What kinds of research contributions does ECR expect from proposals?

Projects are expected to go beyond describing educational problems. They should synthesize existing research and/or generate new evidence that strengthens the overall research base and supports theory-building in STEM education.

What is a distinguishing feature of ECR compared with other STEM education funding?

A key distinguishing feature is ECR's emphasis on: (a) improving understanding of persistent challenges in STEM interest, learning, and participation; (b) developing or refining theories that explain why those challenges occur; and (c) informing interventions and innovations that could address them, with interventions grounded in fundamental research.

What learning settings are within the scope of ECR?

ECR supports research across a wide range of learning settings, including formal environments (such as K-12 classrooms, colleges, and professional training programs) and informal environments (such as museums, afterschool programs, online communities, and other public learning contexts).

What age groups or life stages can ECR research address?

The scope spans the full lifespan, from early developmental stages through adulthood and into workforce participation, reflecting an interest in STEM learning and engagement as a developmental and contextual process.

How does ECR address inclusion and diversity in STEM?

The program highlights inclusion of all groups and reinforces that high-quality STEM education research should account for diverse learners and varied pathways, with an ultimate aim of strengthening public understanding of science and engineering.

Does ECR focus on STEM workforce development?

Yes. STEM workforce development is one of the four main focal areas, and the program explicitly recognizes the importance of understanding how STEM pathways connect to workforce participation and development.

What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the NSF funding opportunity number for ECR?

The opportunity is listed as NSF Publication/Funding Opportunity Number 15-509.

What CFDA number is associated with this program?

The program is under CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?

The estimated total funding listed is $61,500,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicants of many entity types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full solicitation text.

When was the opportunity originally posted?

The original posting date listed is October 24, 2014.

What proposal deadlines are mentioned for ECR?

Full proposal deadlines listed include February 3, 2015 and September 10, 2015, and then the second Thursday in September annually thereafter during the active period of the program announcement.

What does it mean that proposals were due the second Thursday in September annually?

It indicates that, after the listed 2015 dates, the program used a recurring annual deadline schedule of the second Thursday in September during the period when the announcement was active.

Is this funding opportunity still active?

The archived date is listed as October 10, 2020, indicating the announcement is archived.

Where can applicants get help if they have access issues with the Grants.gov announcement?

For access issues related to the full announcement through Grants.gov, the support contact provided is grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

What is the overall orientation of ECR projects regarding evidence and theory?

ECR projects are oriented toward building robust evidence over time and developing or refining theories that explain persistent challenges in STEM learning, interest, and participation, with the intent that this knowledge can inform future interventions and innovations.