Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) | 21 570

Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 570

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) is offering the Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) program (Funding Opportunity No. 21-570) to help pre-tenure faculty in MPS fields get their independent research careers off the ground. The opportunity is designed specifically with faculty at minority-serving institutions (MSIs), predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs), and Carnegie Research 2 (R2) universities in mind, where building a strong, sustainable research program can come with unique challenges and fewer built-in resources than at some larger research-intensive campuses. At its core, LEAPS-MPS is meant to provide early, targeted support so investigators can establish momentum, generate results, and position themselves to compete successfully for larger NSF opportunities later on.

A central theme of the solicitation is "excellence through diversity." NSF is explicit that this call is meant to broaden participation in the mathematical and physical sciences by encouraging proposals from, and supporting the career development of, individuals from groups that have been historically underrepresented in MPS. The description specifically names Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, while also signaling a broader commitment to inclusion. In practice, this means LEAPS-MPS is not just a research starter grant; it is also a workforce and community-building mechanism intended to help create a more representative and equitable MPS research ecosystem over the long term.

The awards are structured as short, focused research launches rather than long multi-year centers or large collaborative projects. LEAPS-MPS awards last 24 months and can provide up to $250,000 in total costs (including both direct and indirect costs). NSF anticipates making around 30 awards under this call. The intended trajectory is that recipients will use the two-year window to establish a viable, independent research program that produces preliminary results, publications, student training outcomes, and other research products strong enough to serve as a springboard for a subsequent competitive NSF CAREER proposal or an individual-investigator research proposal. In other words, LEAPS-MPS is positioned as a bridge between the earliest stage of a faculty career and the next step of major external funding.

Eligibility is focused on who the principal investigator (PI) is and where they are building their career. The PI must be pre-tenure faculty in an MPS discipline and working at an MSI, PUI, or R2 institution, aligning with the program's emphasis on strengthening research capacity and career pathways in those environments. There is also a strict citizenship/residency requirement: PIs must be U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted U.S. permanent residents at the time the proposal is submitted; visa-holders are not eligible under this solicitation. The solicitation lists the eligible applicant category generally as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which is a reminder that institutional and PI status requirements matter here and applicants need to ensure their institution and appointment align with the program's target community.

From an administrative standpoint, proposals must be submitted to the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA) within the NSF MPS Directorate. After submission, proposals are expected to be transferred to, and managed by, the most appropriate MPS Division for the topic area. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 47.049). The opportunity was created on March 19, 2021, with an original closing date of June 14, 2021, which situates it as a specific NSF solicitation cycle; applicants should verify whether NSF has reissued, modified, or replaced the call in later years if they are looking to apply now.

Overall, LEAPS-MPS is best understood as a career-accelerator grant for early-stage, pre-tenure MPS faculty at institutions where additional support can meaningfully change the trajectory of a research program. It combines a practical research-startup purpose (funding to generate publishable work and preliminary data) with a broader mission (broadening participation and advancing diversity in MPS), and it is explicitly designed to help investigators progress toward major independent NSF awards after the two-year LEAPS-MPS period ends.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS)" 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 19, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 14, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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