NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program

NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program

• WVU Internal Application Due: September 30, 2026
• Agency Letter of Intent: December 15, 2026 | 5 p.m. local time
• Agency Full Proposal Due: January 26, 2027 | 5 p.m. local time

Synopsis

The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. EPSCoR eligibility status is yearly updated and reported in the EPSCoR website (see EPSCoR eligibility).

Through this program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education, and industry that are designed to affect sustainable improvements in a jurisdiction's research infrastructure, Research and Development (R&D) capacity, and hence, its R&D competitiveness.

The FEC program (formerly known as “EPSCoR Track-2 program”) builds interjurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focus areas consistent with the current National Science Foundation Strategic Plan. Projects are investigator-driven and must include researchers from at least two EPSCoR eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise and resources necessary to address challenges, which neither party could address as well or as rapidly independently. FEC projects have a comprehensive and integrated vision to drive discovery and build sustainable STEM capacity that exemplifies institutional, geographic, and disciplinary diversity. The projects’ STEM research and education activities seek to broaden participation through the strategic inclusion and integration of all individuals, institutions, and sectors. Additionally, EPSCoR recognizes that the development of early-career faculty is critical to sustaining and advancing research capacity.

Budget

$12,000,000 to $18,000,000—Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the quality of proposals and availability of funds.

Internal Proposal Instructions

Email to: WVU_Internal@mail.wvu.edu with subject line: “ EPSCoR Collaborations” by the above internal deadline. Please include the following:

Cover Page

• List of WVU PI and Co-PI(s) and faculty level Senior Personnel with Department
• The co-PI(s) from your EPSCoR partnering institution(s)
• If you have an emerging/MSI/womens’ college etc. institution as a partner, identify the institution and the point of contact

Project Description

No More Than Three Pages, Written in Jargon-Free Language

• What is your topical area?
• Explain how it is use-inspired.
• Describe your proposed research effort
• What is its intellectual merit?
• How is your proposed effort different/unique?
• Provide the rationale for the specific selection of your team (complementary expertise and resources) and how this combined grouping allows you to tackle the problem more effectively than you would alone.
• Indicate if and how the team has collaborated previous to this submission.
• What are your plans for the recruitment and/or development of early-career faculty as well as groups at all levels of this project who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, including postdoctoral researchers, undergraduates, graduate students, and K-12 students?
• RII-FEC investments are expected to result in sustained improvements in research competitiveness? Explain how this will happen if your project is funded.
• How do you propose to provide the social and economic expertise to understand and assess the societal implications of the focus area?

Budget outline

(how much to each institution/modify as necessary)

Funded Personnel distribution for WVU 

(example if a student will be funded 50% put them in as 0.5)
Modify table as necessary