Opportunity Information: Apply for 09 607
Apply for 09 607
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Science Masters Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.082 Trans NSF Recovery Act Reasearch Support.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 19, 2009 and posted on Aug 19, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 20, 2009 Letter of Intent Due Dates (required) October 05, 2009 Full Proposal Deadlines November 20, 2009 Accepted only if a Letter of Intent was submitted.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $14,700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 21 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following U.S. academic institutions in the United States, its territories or possessions that grant the Masters degree in one or more STEM disciplines andhave the capacity toprovideeducation in additional skill areas, for example, bycreating specially tailored courses inbusiness, management, or public administration, may submit proposals. Academic institutions are defined as universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Projects may involve more than one institution, but a single lead institution must accept overall management responsibility. Non graduate degree granting institutions, nonacademic, and international organizations may serve as collaborating organizations. PI LimitThe PI must be on the STEM faculty of the submitting institution.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Science Masters Program (NSF Publication 09-607) is a National Science Foundation discretionary grant opportunity designed to help U.S. academic institutions build or strengthen professional, STEM-focused master's degree programs that prepare graduate students for careers outside traditional academia. The core idea is to pair a strong graduate-level foundation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with practical career preparation, including research experiences, internships, and deliberately designed professional skills training. The target career destinations include business and industry roles, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies, with an emphasis on producing graduates who can move effectively between technical work and real-world organizational needs.
A central goal of the program is institutional change that lasts. NSF frames this opportunity as a catalyst for institution-based efforts that can be sustained after the award ends, rather than an initiative that requires ongoing federal support to keep running. In practice, that means proposals are expected to show how the institution will create durable structures: curriculum changes, employer partnerships for internships, cross-department coordination, and the integration of training in areas such as business, management, or public administration alongside STEM content. The program also explicitly prioritizes broad participation and diversity in student involvement, with the larger workforce goal of building a more inclusive and well-prepared science and engineering talent pipeline.
This opportunity was posted on August 19, 2009, with a required Letter of Intent due October 5, 2009, followed by a full proposal deadline of November 20, 2009. Full proposals were only accepted if a Letter of Intent was submitted, signaling that NSF expected institutions to declare intent early and then follow through with a complete application. The estimated total funding available was $14,700,000, and NSF anticipated making about 21 awards. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed, which reduces the financial barrier for eligible institutions and keeps the focus on program design, partnerships, and long-term sustainability.
Eligibility is limited primarily to U.S. academic institutions (including accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities, including community colleges) that grant a master's degree in one or more STEM disciplines and that can also provide education in additional professional skill areas. NSF notes that institutions should have the capacity to create or provide tailored coursework in domains like business, management, or public administration, reflecting the program's professional master's orientation. Projects may involve multiple institutions, but one lead institution must take overall responsibility for management and submission. Organizations that do not grant graduate degrees, non-academic entities, and international organizations cannot apply as the lead, but they may participate as collaborating organizations, which is consistent with the program's strong interest in internships, employer engagement, and real-world training environments.
Leadership requirements are also specific: the Principal Investigator must be on the STEM faculty of the submitting institution. That detail reinforces that NSF expects the program to be rooted in STEM academic departments and aligned with graduate training standards, even while it reaches outward to employers and professional skill-building units on campus. For access issues with the full announcement, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, indicating the expected submission pathway and where applicants should go for technical help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Science Masters Program (NSF Publication 09-607)
What is the Science Masters Program (NSF Publication 09-607)?
The Science Masters Program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant opportunity that supports U.S. academic institutions in building or strengthening professional, STEM-focused master's degree programs. These programs are designed to prepare graduate students for careers outside traditional academia by combining strong STEM training with practical professional preparation.
What is the main purpose of this NSF grant opportunity?
The main purpose is to help institutions create professional master's programs that blend graduate-level STEM foundations with real-world career preparation such as research experiences, internships, and intentionally designed professional skills training. The program is also intended to serve as a catalyst for lasting institutional change that continues after the NSF award period ends.
What types of careers are these master's programs meant to prepare students for?
The target career destinations include roles in business and industry, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. A key theme is producing graduates who can move effectively between technical work and the needs of real organizations.
What kinds of student experiences are expected to be part of supported programs?
The opportunity emphasizes practical career preparation alongside STEM coursework, including research experiences, internships, and structured professional skills training that is deliberately designed into the program.
What does NSF mean by "institutional change that lasts"?
NSF frames the program as a catalyst for institution-based efforts that can be sustained after the award ends. Proposals are expected to show how the institution will create durable structures such as curriculum changes, employer partnerships for internships, cross-department coordination, and integration of professional training with STEM content, without requiring ongoing federal support to keep the program running.
Is this grant focused only on curriculum, or also on partnerships and program structure?
Based on the description, it is not limited to curriculum. NSF highlights durable structures like employer partnerships for internships, cross-department coordination, and integrating professional skill areas (such as business, management, or public administration) alongside STEM.
Does this program emphasize diversity or broad participation?
Yes. The program explicitly prioritizes broad participation and diversity in student involvement, aligning with a larger workforce goal of building a more inclusive and well-prepared science and engineering talent pipeline.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead organization?
Eligibility is limited primarily to U.S. academic institutions, including accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges), that grant a master's degree in one or more STEM disciplines and can also provide education in additional professional skill areas.
Are community colleges eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes accredited two-year and four-year institutions, including community colleges, as long as they grant a master's degree in one or more STEM disciplines and can provide professional skill-area education.
Do institutions need to already offer professional skills coursework (like business or management)?
NSF notes that institutions should have the capacity to create or provide tailored coursework in areas like business, management, or public administration, reflecting the professional master's orientation of the program.
Can multiple institutions participate in one project?
Yes. Projects may involve multiple institutions, but one lead institution must take overall responsibility for management and submission.
Can non-academic organizations apply as the lead?
No. Organizations that do not grant graduate degrees, non-academic entities, and international organizations cannot apply as the lead. However, they may participate as collaborating organizations.
Can international organizations serve as lead applicants?
No. International organizations cannot apply as the lead organization. They may participate as collaborators, consistent with the emphasis on internships and employer engagement.
Are employer or internship partners allowed to participate?
Yes. While non-academic entities cannot lead the proposal, they may participate as collaborating organizations. This matches the program's interest in internships, employer engagement, and real-world training environments.
What are the Principal Investigator (PI) requirements?
The Principal Investigator must be on the STEM faculty of the submitting institution. This reflects NSF's expectation that the effort is rooted in STEM academic departments and aligned with graduate training standards, while still incorporating professional preparation and external partnerships.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was $14,700,000.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making?
NSF anticipated making about 21 awards.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed. This suggests the primary focus is on program design, partnerships, and long-term sustainability rather than providing institutional match funding.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 19, 2009.
Was a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Yes. A Letter of Intent was required.
When was the Letter of Intent due?
The required Letter of Intent deadline was October 5, 2009.
When was the full proposal due?
The full proposal deadline was November 20, 2009.
Could an institution submit a full proposal without first submitting a Letter of Intent?
No. Full proposals were only accepted if a Letter of Intent was submitted.
What does the LOI requirement suggest about NSF's application process for this program?
NSF required institutions to declare intent early through a Letter of Intent and then follow through with a complete proposal, indicating an organized application pipeline and an expectation of early planning.
How does NSF expect the funded programs to continue after the grant ends?
NSF expects proposals to describe sustainability through durable institutional structures, such as lasting curriculum changes, ongoing employer partnerships for internships, cross-department coordination, and integration of professional skill training, rather than relying on continued federal funding to operate.
Where should applicants go for help if they have trouble accessing the full announcement?
For access issues with the full announcement, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Is Grants.gov implied as the submission pathway?
Yes. The mention of Grants.gov support as the point of contact for access issues indicates Grants.gov as the expected submission pathway.
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