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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF DMS Workforce Program in the Mathematical Sciences

1) What is the NSF Workforce Program in the Mathematical Sciences?

The Workforce Program in the Mathematical Sciences is an NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) effort designed to strengthen the long-term U.S. talent pipeline in mathematics and statistics. Its overall goal is to increase the number of well-prepared U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who move into successful careers in the mathematical sciences and other NSF-supported disciplines.

2) What is the main purpose of this program?

The program aims to grow the mathematical sciences workforce in a way that goes beyond simply increasing the number of graduates. It emphasizes recruitment, retention, educational quality, and job placement across both academic and nonacademic sectors, with training that is closely tied to authentic research involvement.

3) Who is the program ultimately trying to support?

The program focuses on strengthening the training pathway from undergraduate students through postdoctoral researchers, with the goal of producing a stronger pipeline of U.S. talent in mathematics and statistics.

4) What stages of training does the program cover?

It spans the full pathway from undergraduate education through graduate training and postdoctoral development, with an emphasis on experiences that integrate research and education rather than relying only on classroom-based instruction.

5) What kinds of project goals align with this opportunity?

Projects align well when they clearly strengthen the workforce pipeline by improving recruitment and persistence, expanding educational breadth to better match modern career realities, and/or building professional skills that help trainees succeed in a wide range of careers.

6) What are the three main priority areas of the program?

The opportunity highlights three major priorities:

• Recruitment and retention: bringing more students into mathematics and statistics and supporting persistence toward degrees, with explicit interest in increasing both the number and diversity of participants.
• Educational breadth: broadening what students learn and experience so they are prepared for a wider range of careers (including interdisciplinary work and exposure to modern practice in industry, government, and academia).
• Professional development: developing practical skills such as communication, collaboration, mentoring, teaching, leadership, and career preparation beyond traditional academic pathways.

7) Does the program require research involvement, or can projects be classroom-only?

The program places a strong emphasis on education that is tightly connected to authentic research involvement. While the details of any one project can vary, the overall framing favors education-through-research approaches rather than classroom-only experiences.

8) Are unsolicited proposals allowed?

Yes. A key feature is that it welcomes unsolicited proposals. That means applicants can propose custom-designed activities, as long as they directly advance the program goals and are concrete, well justified, and accountable.

9) What does NSF expect in an unsolicited proposal for this program?

NSF expects proposers to clearly describe:

• The project goals
• The new activities to be carried out
• How those activities address the goals
• How the approach differs from or meaningfully improves on common practice
• Measurable outcomes
• A credible evaluation plan showing how progress and success will be assessed
• A budget that matches the scope of work

10) What makes an unsolicited proposal more competitive under this program?

DMS indicates special interest in activities that are:

• Novel and potentially transformative (not just incremental improvements)
• Portable (other institutions could realistically replicate or adapt them)
• Sustainable (able to continue after NSF funding ends)
• Influential at scale (likely to affect larger numbers of trainees and/or serve as a national model)

11) What does "portable" mean in this context?

"Portable" means the approach is designed so that other institutions could realistically replicate it or adapt it in their own settings, rather than being so unique to one campus or department that it cannot be transferred.

12) What does "sustainable" mean for this opportunity?

"Sustainable" means the activities are designed to keep going after the NSF funding period ends, rather than disappearing once the grant concludes.

13) Is the program focused only on academic careers?

No. A repeated theme is preparation for successful careers in both academic and nonacademic sectors. The educational breadth and professional development priorities explicitly reflect the reality that many trainees pursue careers outside traditional academic pathways.

14) When can unsolicited proposals be submitted?

Unsolicited proposals are accepted only during an annual submission window: May 15 through June 15 (by 5 p.m. local time). Proposals submitted outside that window are returned without review.

15) What happens if a proposal is submitted outside the May 15 to June 15 window?

Proposals submitted outside the stated submission window are returned without review, so timing is critical.

16) Should applicants contact NSF before submitting?

Yes. The program advises prospective applicants to contact the relevant (cognizant) program director before submitting. This is intended to confirm fit, reduce misunderstandings, and improve the project concept prior to formal review.

17) Are there other related NSF training programs under the same umbrella?

Yes. In addition to unsolicited proposals, the Workforce Program umbrella includes several structured training mechanisms that operate under separate solicitations with their own deadlines and rules.

18) Which structured training mechanisms are mentioned?

The opportunity references the following mechanisms:

• Research Training Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (RTG)
• Mentoring through Critical Transition Points in the Mathematical Sciences (MCTP)
• Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF)
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites
• Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences (UBM)

19) How do applicants decide whether to submit an unsolicited proposal or use a structured mechanism?

The key guidance is to match the right vehicle to the idea. Some concepts fit the flexible unsolicited window, while others align better with one of the established mechanisms (RTG, MCTP, MSPRF, REU Sites, UBM) that have dedicated solicitations and timelines.

20) What review criteria does NSF use for this program?

NSF applies its standard merit review criteria, including Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. The announcement also emphasizes two additional lenses that are central to this opportunity: integrating research and education, and integrating diversity into programs and activities.

21) What does the program mean by integrating research and education?

The program is explicitly looking for efforts that connect discovery-driven research with training and learning. It highlights leveraging academic environments where participants can function simultaneously as researchers, educators, and students.

22) How important is diversity and broadening participation in this opportunity?

Broadening participation is treated as essential, not optional. The announcement underscores NSF commitment to enabling participation by women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities, and it favors proposals that build participation into the project design rather than treating it as an add-on.

23) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The administrative details provided state that cost sharing or matching was not required for this opportunity.

24) What CFDA number is associated with this program?

This opportunity was offered as a discretionary NSF grant program under CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).

25) What does the listing being "archived" mean for applicants?

The listing provided is archived (PD 08-7335). That means it reflects the program goals and structure as described at the time of the listing, but applicants should rely on current NSF program pages and active solicitations for up-to-date deadlines, requirements, and contact information.

26) Is eligibility restricted?

The information provided describes eligibility as unrestricted in general terms (open to entity types unless otherwise limited in the full text). For current eligibility details, applicants should check the active NSF program materials.

27) What kinds of outcomes does NSF expect projects to define?

The program expects measurable outcomes and a credible evaluation plan. In practice, that means proposals should specify how progress and success will be assessed, rather than relying on general intentions or unmeasured activities.

28) What is NSF looking for beyond "good intentions"?

The announcement emphasizes evidence-minded planning and accountability from the start: clear goals, clearly described activities, measurable outcomes, a real evaluation plan, and a budget that fits the proposed scope.

29) Does the program prefer projects with broader influence?

Yes. The program values scale and influence, including projects likely to affect larger numbers of trainees and projects that could serve as national models for education-through-research approaches in the mathematical sciences.

30) Where should applicants look for the most current deadlines and instructions?

Because the provided listing is archived, applicants should consult current NSF program pages and active solicitations to confirm the latest deadlines, requirements, and program contacts.