Opportunity Information: Apply for 2009 PREP
Apply for 2009 PREP
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.609 Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2009 and posted on Apr 28, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by All applications, paper and electronic, must be received no later than 500 pm Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on May 28, 2009. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are accredited institutions of higher education in the United States and its territories that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. Undergraduate and graduate students who receive fellowships under the PREP must show evidence of a 3.0 or higher grade point average in a curriculum acceptable to the sponsoring educational institution and NIST and must be enrolled full time at a sponsoring institution. Post doctoral associates must be affiliated with a sponsoring institution of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) funding opportunity designed to support hands-on research placements for students and postdoctoral associates at NISTs Boulder Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado. Through this program, NIST provides financial assistance to accredited US colleges and universities so they can place qualified undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral associates, into on-site, collaborative laboratory research experiences alongside NIST scientists. The core idea is to strengthen US science and engineering talent by giving participants direct exposure to advanced measurement, standards, and research-and-development work in a federal laboratory setting, while also helping them progress toward their degrees or professional development goals.
The work supported under PREP takes place within NIST Boulder programs across several major organizational areas: the Electronics and Electrical Laboratory (EEEL), the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL), the Physics Laboratory (PL), the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL), and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). Participants are expected to be physically available for on-site research at the Boulder campus while continuing their university studies, meaning the sponsoring institution must be able to coordinate schedules and commitments so students can meaningfully engage in NIST projects. Research experiences are intended to be collaborative in nature, pairing participants with internationally recognized NIST researchers and exposing them to cutting-edge facilities, methods, and scientific problems.
A central objective of PREP is workforce and pipeline development in science and engineering. For students, the program aims to increase persistence and advancement in STEM degree programs by providing a substantial research experience that complements academic coursework. For postdoctoral associates, the emphasis is on professional growth, deeper research specialization, and development within a high-impact research environment. NIST also indicates an active coordination role through a PREP Coordinator and NIST scientists, who work with university department chairs, outreach coordinators, and multidisciplinary program directors to identify which students and academic programs are the best fit for placements at NIST.
The funding mechanism for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which typically signals a more substantial level of federal involvement than a standard grant. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity area, and it is associated with CFDA number 11.609 (Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards). The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicant institutions are not required to provide a formal match as a condition of award.
Eligibility is limited to accredited institutions of higher education in the United States and its territories that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. While institutions apply for the award, the funded activity is the support and placement of individual participants. Student fellowship recipients must meet specific academic and enrollment criteria: they need to demonstrate a 3.0 or higher GPA in a curriculum acceptable to both the sponsoring institution and NIST, and they must be enrolled full time at the sponsoring institution. Postdoctoral associates must be affiliated with a sponsoring institution of higher education. In addition, all participating students must be enrolled in an academic program that is acceptable to both the university and NIST, reinforcing that placements are tied to legitimate academic pathways and aligned research interests.
Key logistics and deadlines are clearly stated. The funding opportunity number is 2009 PREP, and the posting date is April 28, 2009. Applications had to be received (paper or electronic) by 5:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time on May 28, 2009, with late applications not reviewed or considered. The archive date is June 28, 2009. For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed technical contact is Christopher Hunton, Grants Technical Assistant, at 301-975-5718.
Overall, PREP is best understood as an institutional partnership program: universities compete for NIST support to create a structured pipeline that places qualified students and postdocs into real NIST Boulder research environments. The program emphasizes on-site collaboration, strong academic standing for student participants, and alignment between university degree programs and NIST research needs, with the broader goal of strengthening the nations scientific and engineering capacity through immersive, mentored research experiences.
Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) at NIST Boulder: FAQs
What is the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)?
PREP is a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) funding opportunity that supports hands-on research placements for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral associates, at NIST's Boulder Laboratories in Boulder, Colorado. NIST provides financial assistance to accredited U.S. colleges and universities so they can place qualified participants into on-site, collaborative laboratory research experiences with NIST scientists.
What is the main goal of PREP?
The program is designed to strengthen U.S. science and engineering talent by giving participants direct exposure to advanced measurement, standards, and research-and-development work in a federal laboratory setting. It also aims to help students progress toward their degrees and help postdoctoral associates advance their professional development.
Who applies for PREP funding: students or universities?
Accredited U.S. institutions of higher education apply for the award. The funded activity supported by the award is the placement and support of individual student and postdoctoral participants in research experiences at NIST Boulder.
Where do the research experiences take place?
Research experiences take place on-site at NIST's Boulder campus (NIST Boulder Laboratories) in Boulder, Colorado.
Are participants expected to be on-site at NIST Boulder?
Yes. Participants are expected to be physically available for on-site research at the Boulder campus while continuing their university studies, and the sponsoring institution must be able to coordinate schedules and commitments so participants can engage meaningfully in NIST projects.
What types of NIST organizations or labs are involved at Boulder?
PREP-supported work occurs within NIST Boulder programs across several major organizational areas: the Electronics and Electrical Laboratory (EEEL), the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL), the Physics Laboratory (PL), the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL), and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).
What makes the research experience distinctive?
The research is intended to be collaborative, pairing participants with internationally recognized NIST researchers and providing access to cutting-edge facilities, methods, and scientific problems in a federal laboratory environment.
How does PREP support workforce development?
For students, PREP aims to increase persistence and advancement in STEM degree programs by providing a substantial research experience that complements academic coursework. For postdoctoral associates, the emphasis is on professional growth and deeper research specialization in a high-impact research environment.
What is the funding mechanism used for PREP?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial federal involvement compared to a standard grant.
Is PREP a discretionary funding opportunity, and what is its activity area?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity area.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 11.609, titled "Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards."
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicant institutions are not required to provide a formal match as a condition of award.
Which institutions are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to accredited institutions of higher education in the United States and its territories that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, or engineering.
What kinds of participants can be placed through PREP?
Institutions can place qualified undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates into NIST Boulder research experiences.
What are the academic requirements for student participants?
Student fellowship recipients must demonstrate a 3.0 or higher GPA in a curriculum acceptable to both the sponsoring institution and NIST, and they must be enrolled full time at the sponsoring institution.
Do student participants need to be in a specific type of academic program?
Yes. Participating students must be enrolled in an academic program acceptable to both the university and NIST, reflecting that placements are tied to legitimate academic pathways and aligned research interests.
What are the eligibility requirements for postdoctoral associates?
Postdoctoral associates must be affiliated with a sponsoring institution of higher education.
How does NIST coordinate participant placements with universities?
NIST indicates an active coordination role through a PREP Coordinator and NIST scientists, who work with university department chairs, outreach coordinators, and multidisciplinary program directors to identify which students and academic programs are the best fit for placements at NIST.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is 2009 PREP.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date is April 28, 2009.
What was the application deadline and time zone?
Applications had to be received (paper or electronic) by 5:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time on May 28, 2009.
Are late applications accepted?
No. The announcement states late applications are not reviewed or considered.
What is the archive date for this opportunity?
The archive date is June 28, 2009.
Who is the technical contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed technical contact is Christopher Hunton, Grants Technical Assistant. Phone: 301-975-5718.
How should this program be understood at a high level?
PREP is best understood as an institutional partnership program in which universities compete for NIST support to create a structured pipeline placing qualified students and postdocs into real NIST Boulder research environments. It emphasizes on-site collaboration, strong academic standing for student participants, and alignment between university programs and NIST research needs.
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