February 22, 2024
Dear Colleague:
The National Science Foundation continually seeks to advance scientific progress in research and innovation by broadening the participation and inclusion of the full spectrum of diverse talents in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Through this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) Initiative seeks to inform the community about an opportunity to pursue supplemental funding for Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) activities for active NSF projects focused on microelectronics, in response to the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
The NSF INCLUDES Initiative, in collaboration with the REM program, will support costs associated with bringing a cohort of high school students, STEM middle school and high school teachers, undergraduate students, faculty from non-research intensive institutions, and/or veterans to be engaged as Research Participants in a microelectronics research environment, in alignment with REM program guidance (NSF 23-012). Research experiences and mentorship have been positively correlated with academic and professional success in STEM (click here for a list of related references). Research Participants shall participate in research activities aligned with the parent project's microelectronics research goals and receive structured mentoring throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. The INCLUDES-REM program welcomes submission of proposals to this funding opportunity that include the participation of the full spectrum of diverse talent to include underrepresented and under-served populations in microelectronics-related STEM fields. (see https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf23315 for statistical information about underrepresentation in STEM). Partnerships with K-12 schools, community colleges, technical schools, and/or minority-serving four-year institutions are especially encouraged.
For Fiscal Year 2024, the deadline for submission of an NSF INCLUDES-REM supplemental funding request is 5:00 p.m., submitter's local time, on April 10, 2024.
A request for supplemental funding may be submitted by the AOR on behalf of the PI or co-PI of any currently active NSF research award or cooperative agreement that has a microelectronics focus. These supplemental funding requests may include collaboration with and/or placement of Research Participants in other laboratories if the research activities are in the field of microelectronics. Research Participant candidates must be United States citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. It is the responsibility of the submitting organization to verify the eligibility of Research Participant candidates.