Note to PIs: The following program summary is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It does not replace the sponsor’s actual funding opportunity announcement. Always review the most recent version of the sponsor’s full announcement to verify that the deadline has not changed and to identify the most current program requirements.

About the program

The NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) seeks to award grants intended to support research independence among early-career academicians who specifically lack access to adequate organizational or other resources. It is expected that funds obtained through this program will be used to support untenured faculty or research scientists (or equivalent) in their first three years in a primary academic position after the PhD, but not more than five years after completion of their PhD. Applicants for this program may not yet have received any other grants or contracts in the PI role from any department, agency, or institution of the federal government, including from the CAREER program or any other program, post-PhD, regardless of the size of the grant or contract, with certain exceptions as noted below. Serving as co-PI, Senior Personnel, Postdoctoral Fellow, or other Fellow does not count against this eligibility rule.

Importantly, the CRII program seeks to provide essential resources to enable early-career PIs to launch their research careers. For the purposes of this program, CISE defines “essential resources” as those that (a) the PI does not otherwise have, including through organizational or other funding; and (b) are critical for the PI to conduct early-career research that will enable research independence. In particular, this program is not appropriate for PIs who already have access to resources to conduct any early-career research.

It is expected that these funds will allow the new CRII PI to support one or more graduate students for up to two years.

Award amount and award period

Each award will be up to $175,000 for a period of 24 months.

Application deadline

August 14, 2019.

Learn more

Visit https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19579/nsf19579.htm.

Last updated: August 1, 2019.