October 12, 2022
Dear Colleagues:
The National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering (NSF/ENG) continually seeks to advance scientific progress in research and innovation while broadening participation of underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeks to inform the community about an opportunity to pursue both goals through supplements from the Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) Program to active Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) research awards, active Engineering Research Center (ERC) awards, and active Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) awards.
REM funding will support costs associated with bringing high school students, STEM teachers, undergraduate STEM students, faculty, and veterans to be engaged as Research Participants (RPs) in a research environment. RPs are expected to participate in research activities aligned with the EFRI-, ERC-, and IUCRC-supported research goals and receive structured mentoring over the summer. REM supplement recipients are required to extend structured mentoring into the academic year.
The REM Program supports the active involvement of research participants (high school students, STEM teachers, guidance counselors and academic advisors, undergraduate STEM students, faculty, and veterans) in hands-on research to bring participants into collaboration with suitable STEM mentors and expose them to a rich research experience. Research participants must be recruited as cohorts to facilitate mentoring and research activities, community building, and provide mutual support.
The main goals of the REM Program are to provide research experiences and mentored opportunities to STEM students and/or educators that may ultimately enhance their career and academic trajectories while simultaneously enhancing EFRI-, ERC-, and IUCRC-supported research. The REM Program may also enable the building of long-term collaborative partnerships among EFRI-, ERC-, and IUCRC-supported researchers, community colleges, local four-year colleges, and local school districts.
For Fiscal Year 2023, the deadline for submission of a REM request is 5:00 p.m., submitter's local time, on December 16, 2022.
For subsequent Fiscal Years, proposals will be accepted between August and the first Monday of November, 5:00 p.m., submitter's local time, of that Fiscal Year.
A request for supplemental funding may be submitted by the PI or co-PI of any currently active EFRI, ERC, or IUCRC research award or cooperative agreement. These supplemental funding requests may include collaboration with and/or placement of RPs in other EFRI-, ERC-, or IUCRC-supported laboratories. It is recommended that EFRI, ERC, and IUCRC grantees who wish to apply for REM supplemental funding contact their cognizant NSF Program Director prior to submission. REM RP candidates must be United States citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. It is the responsibility of the submitting organization to verify the eligibility of REM RP candidates.
The maximum amount of a REM supplement is $110,000. The Awardee may request REM supplements for up to 12 months (summer plus academic year). REM supplements are nontransferable.
