Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 573
The Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (MPS-Ascend) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity designed to support early-career postdoctoral researchers whose work and leadership will help broaden participation in U.S. mathematical and physical sciences (MPS). The fellowship specifically emphasizes strengthening pathways for groups that have been historically underrepresented in MPS fields, including Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native American researchers, with Native American defined to include Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders. At its core, the program aims to invest in researchers with strong potential at the beginning of their independent careers and to position them to become future leaders in their disciplines.
A key feature of MPS-Ascend is that it is structured as a fellowship award made to an individual rather than an institution. That means the postdoctoral Fellow is the direct awardee and is responsible for administering the fellowship, rather than having the award primarily managed as an institutional grant on the Fellow's behalf. The program is meant to support a postdoctoral research experience that has high impact on the Fellow's scientific development, including opportunities that broaden the Fellow's perspective, encourage interdisciplinary engagement, and strengthen professional trajectories that lead toward long-term research and academic leadership. A major stated goal is to help Fellows transition successfully into faculty appointments, reflecting the program's focus on building a sustainable pipeline of diverse talent into the professoriate and broader leadership roles in MPS.
Research supported through MPS-Ascend can fall anywhere within the scientific scope of NSF's MPS Directorate, specifically across the five participating divisions: Astronomical Sciences (AST), Chemistry (CHE), Materials Research (DMR), Mathematical Sciences (DMS), and Physics (PHY). In practical terms, this means applicants can propose postdoctoral research spanning a wide range of topics, from core disciplinary questions to cross-cutting or interdisciplinary projects, as long as the work fits within the purview of one of these divisions. The fellowship structure is intended to place Fellows in postdoctoral environments that will maximize their growth as scientists and help them build the research profile, collaborations, and professional preparation needed for the next career stage.
From the funding opportunity details provided, the program is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 47.049). The opportunity was issued by the National Science Foundation, created on March 21, 2021, with an original closing date of June 15, 2021. The anticipated scale of the program included an expected 50 awards, with an award ceiling of $300,000 per fellowship. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility requirements referenced as being clarified in the full opportunity text.Apply for 21 573
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 21, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
What is the MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Research Fellowship?
The Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (MPS-Ascend) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity that supports early-career postdoctoral researchers in U.S. mathematical and physical sciences (MPS). It is designed to invest in researchers at the beginning of their independent careers and help position them to become future leaders in their disciplines.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to support a high-impact postdoctoral research experience that advances a Fellow's scientific development and leadership trajectory, while also helping broaden participation in MPS. A major stated goal is to support successful transitions into faculty appointments and long-term research and academic leadership roles.
Who is the fellowship intended to support in terms of broadening participation?
MPS-Ascend emphasizes strengthening pathways for groups that have been historically underrepresented in MPS fields, including Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native American researchers. In this opportunity, "Native American" is defined to include Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders.
Is this award made to an institution or to an individual?
The fellowship is structured as an award made to an individual. The postdoctoral Fellow is the direct awardee and is responsible for administering the fellowship, rather than the award being primarily managed as an institutional grant on the Fellow's behalf.
What does it mean that the Fellow is responsible for administering the fellowship?
Based on the opportunity description provided, MPS-Ascend is intended to be administered by the postdoctoral Fellow as the direct awardee. This distinguishes it from many grant mechanisms where an institution is the primary award recipient and handles most administrative responsibilities.
What kinds of research areas are supported?
Research can fall anywhere within the scientific scope of NSF's Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate, across the five participating divisions: Astronomical Sciences (AST), Chemistry (CHE), Materials Research (DMR), Mathematical Sciences (DMS), and Physics (PHY).
Can proposals be interdisciplinary?
Yes. The fellowship is intended to broaden the Fellow's perspective and encourage interdisciplinary engagement. Projects can be cross-cutting or interdisciplinary as long as they fit within the purview of one of the participating MPS divisions.
What type of postdoctoral experience does the program aim to support?
The program is meant to support a postdoctoral environment and research plan that maximizes the Fellow's growth as a scientist, including building a research profile, collaborations, and professional preparation for the next career stage.
How does the program support career development beyond research?
In addition to research impact, the opportunity description highlights professional trajectory and leadership development, with an emphasis on positioning Fellows for long-term leadership and supporting transitions into faculty appointments.
Which NSF directorate and divisions are involved?
The opportunity is housed within NSF's Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate and includes five divisions: AST, CHE, DMR, DMS, and PHY.
What is the activity category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, with CFDA 47.049.
Who is the issuing agency?
The issuing agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 21, 2021.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed for the opportunity was June 15, 2021.
How many awards were expected?
The anticipated scale described in the details provided was an expected 50 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as $300,000 per fellowship.
Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility requirements referenced as being clarified in the full opportunity text.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The information provided indicates that additional eligibility requirements are clarified in the full opportunity text.
What is the central leadership and participation focus of MPS-Ascend?
At its core, MPS-Ascend focuses on supporting early-career researchers whose work and leadership will help broaden participation in U.S. MPS fields, while building a sustainable pipeline of diverse talent into the professoriate and broader leadership roles.
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