Education and Special Programs  (ESP)

SYNOPSIS

The Education and Special Programs unit of the Astronomical Sciences Division administers all Foundation-wide (crosscutting) programs, as well as programs that cross sub-disciplinary lines in astronomy or have significant educational components.

Programs include Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER), a prestigious award that supports the early career-development activities of teacher-scholars; NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF), the only postdoctoral program for astronomers that combines research and education; Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites and Supplements, a program that supports undergraduate students to do research; Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI), a program that is similar to the regular research grants but supports faculty members at predominantly undergraduate institutions; Research Opportunity Awards (ROA), a supplement available for active research awards to involve faculty from non-research institutions; ADVANCE, a program with different options for increasing the participation of women in the scientific and engineering workforce; MPS Internships in Public Science Education (MPS-IPSE), which strives to bring science research results from MPS disciplines to the public by funding interns; MPS Distinguished International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MPS-DRF), postdoctoral fellowships for carrying out research at leading institutions outside the U.S.; Minority Research Planning Grants (MRPG) that enable eligible minorities to develop a competitive research project; and Minority Career Advancement Awards (MCAA) that enable eligible minorities to undertake one-year enhancement projects to increase their research capability and productivity.

Full descriptions of these programs can be found by visiting the NSF home page and choosing Crosscutting as a program area, or by visiting the home page of the Astronomical Sciences Division. 

FUNDED AS PART OF THIS ACTIVITY

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Abstracts of Recent Awards Made Through This Program