International Research Experiences for Students | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity designed to help build a pipeline of U.S. science and engineering students who can operate confidently in international research settings. The core idea is to move students beyond classroom learning by placing them into real, high-level research environments outside the United States, where they can contribute meaningfully to projects at the leading edge of their fields. IRES emphasizes hands-on participation rather than observational travel, with students working directly in ongoing research programs at international host sites or in research projects structured specifically for the IRES award.

IRES supports student research experiences across essentially the full spectrum of NSF-supported disciplines. That includes engineering; mathematical and physical sciences; geosciences; computer and information science and engineering; biological sciences; social, behavioral, and economic sciences; education and human resources; polar programs; international science and engineering; cyberinfrastructure; and EPSCoR-related activities. In practice, this means proposals can be built around many types of research topics, as long as they align with areas NSF funds and are structured to deliver substantive research training in an international context for undergraduate and/or graduate students.

The funding mechanism is a discretionary NSF grant. The opportunity listed an estimated total funding amount of $2,250,000 and anticipated roughly 12 awards. Individual awards had a ceiling of $250,000, and the program did not require cost sharing or matching funds. The focus is less on funding large research projects and more on enabling well-designed cohorts or groups of students to gain robust international research experience, including preparation and mentoring that helps them succeed in a different research culture and environment.

Eligibility to submit proposals is limited to U.S.-based organizations involved in education or research. This includes accredited U.S. universities and colleges (two-year, four-year, and community colleges) submitting on behalf of their faculty, as well as certain non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar entities associated with educational or research activities. The intent is that experienced organizations with appropriate administrative capacity and research leadership oversee student recruitment, preparation, placement, mentoring, and the overall partnership with the international research host.

The solicitation identified an annual proposal rhythm, with a full proposal deadline on the third Tuesday in August each year. Historically, the posting date for this particular opportunity record was April 9, 2012, with an original closing date of August 21, 2012, and later cycles continuing annually (for example, a listed deadline of August 19, 2014). The record shows an archive date of August 16, 2018, meaning that specific listing is no longer active, but it captures the structure and intent of the IRES program as described in NSF Publication 12-551.

For applicants looking for the official details, the announcement points to NSF Publication 12-551 as the primary reference, and it provides contact guidance through NSF Grants.gov support (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) for technical access issues related to the posting.

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