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PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) is a grant from NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) that funds engineering faculty to develop expertise in conducting education research.
Designed for faculty renowned for teaching or mentoring who have little or no prior experience in social science or education research, the program supports two goals: advancing research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) and expanding the community of PFE researchers. NSF's PFE initiative aims to create an innovative, inclusive engineering profession for the 21st century.
Eligible applicants are engineering faculty at U.S. institutions with strong teaching track records. Award amounts and deadlines vary by competition cycle.
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PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements .
All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects. Supports engineering faculty to develop expertise in conducting research on engineering education.
Supports engineering faculty to develop expertise in conducting research on engineering education. The PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program has two goals: 1) Support research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE), and 2) Increase the community of researchers conducting PFE research. PIs are expected to have little or no experience conducting social science or education research.
PFE: RIEF is not intended for established researchers in engineering education or other social science fields to initiate new projects. Those researchers should consider the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www. nsf.
gov/funding/pgm_summ. jsp? pims_id=505681).
The NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate has launched a multi-year initiative, the Professional Formation of Engineers, to create and support an innovative and inclusive engineering profession for the 21st Century. Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) refers to the formal and informal education and value systems by which people become engineers.
It also includes the ethical responsibility of practicing engineers to sustain and grow the profession. The engineering profession must be responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs; it must be equally open and accessible to all.
Engineering faculty possess both deep technical expertise in their engineering discipline and the primary responsibility for the process of professional formation of future engineers. As such, engineering faculty are in a unique position to help address critical challenges in engineering formation.
The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program enables engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research.
Updates and announcements RIEF webinar materials now available June 16, 2026 - NSF CAREER Webinar on Engineering Education Research Proposals to ENG June 12, 2025 - NSF CAREER webinar on engineering education research proposals June 3, 2025 - Engineering Education Webinar: Research Initiation in… November 1, 2023 - Office Hour for Research Initiation in Engineering Formation Additional program resources Research Initiation in Engineering Formation - October 2020 webinar slides NSF information on the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RECR) Awards made through this program Browse projects funded by this program Map of recent awards made through this program Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Division of Engineering Education and Centers (ENG/EEC)
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Engineering faculty with little or no prior social science/education research experience, known for teaching, mentoring or educational reform. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Applications for PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) are due November 10, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) is funded by NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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