Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 510
The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Division of Materials Research (DMR), offered the Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials Research (PREM) program as a discretionary grant opportunity focused on building strong, sustained collaborations in materials research and education. The central purpose of PREM is to enable, expand, and deepen partnerships between minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and NSF DMR-supported research centers and/or user facilities. These partnerships are designed to advance two goals in parallel: first, to broaden participation in materials research by improving recruitment, retention, and degree completion for individuals from groups that are most underrepresented in the field (often described in the solicitation as the "PREM pathway"), and second, to support high-quality research and educational activities that make the partnership scientifically productive and institutionally durable.
In practice, PREM is structured around the idea that meaningful progress in broadening participation happens when students and faculty at MSIs are fully integrated into vibrant research ecosystems that include advanced infrastructure, established research programs, and strong mentoring networks. By formally linking an MSI with a DMR-supported center or facility, projects are expected to create clear pathways for student training and advancement, such as research experiences that span academic years and summers, co-mentoring relationships, access to specialized instrumentation and expertise, and coordinated educational and professional development activities. While the program is explicitly focused on participation outcomes, it also emphasizes that the research itself must be excellent and that the educational components should be thoughtfully designed to reinforce student success and long-term engagement in materials research.
The funding opportunity, titled "Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials," was issued by NSF under Funding Opportunity Number 21-510 and falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 47.049). Awards were made as grants, with an anticipated maximum award size (award ceiling) of $700,000 and an expectation of approximately 8 awards. The opportunity was originally posted on October 7, 2020, with an original closing date of February 5, 2021. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the solicitation indicating that applicants should consult the additional eligibility language for clarification; however, the program description makes clear that the core model is an MSI partnering with a DMR-supported center and/or facility.
Overall, PREM is best understood as a partnership-building program that treats research excellence and broadening participation as mutually reinforcing rather than competing priorities. Proposals are therefore expected to present a credible plan for collaborative materials research, a well-defined education and workforce-development strategy connected to the PREM pathway outcomes (recruitment, retention, and degree attainment), and a partnership structure that will last beyond the award period by strengthening the institutions and the people involved.Apply for 21 510
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials" 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 Oct 07, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 05, 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 $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 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 PREM (DMR) Funding Opportunity 21-510
What is the PREM program?
Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials Research (PREM) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Division of Materials Research (DMR). It is designed to build strong, sustained collaborations in materials research and education.
What is the central purpose of PREM?
The central purpose of PREM is to enable, expand, and deepen partnerships between minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and NSF DMR-supported research centers and/or user facilities, in ways that are both scientifically productive and institutionally durable.
Who is PREM meant to connect or partner together?
PREM is built around formal partnerships where a minority-serving institution (MSI) collaborates with an NSF DMR-supported research center and/or a DMR-supported user facility. The partnership model emphasizes shared research and education activities rather than isolated participation.
What are the two main goals PREM is trying to advance?
PREM aims to advance two goals in parallel: (1) broaden participation in materials research by improving recruitment, retention, and degree completion for individuals from groups most underrepresented in the field (referred to in the solicitation as the "PREM pathway"), and (2) support high-quality research and educational activities that make the partnership scientifically productive and durable.
What does the "PREM pathway" refer to in this opportunity?
The "PREM pathway" refers to participation outcomes, specifically improving recruitment, retention, and degree completion for individuals from groups most underrepresented in materials research.
Is PREM mainly an education program, a research program, or both?
PREM is explicitly a combined research and education partnership program. It emphasizes that broadening participation and research excellence are mutually reinforcing, and proposals are expected to include both a credible collaborative materials research plan and a thoughtfully designed education and workforce-development strategy.
What kinds of activities are PREM projects expected to include for students and faculty?
Based on the program description, projects are expected to create clear pathways for training and advancement that can include research experiences spanning academic years and summers, co-mentoring relationships, access to specialized instrumentation and expertise, and coordinated educational and professional development activities.
Why does PREM emphasize integration into research ecosystems?
PREM is structured around the idea that meaningful progress in broadening participation happens when students and faculty at MSIs are fully integrated into vibrant research ecosystems that include advanced infrastructure, established research programs, and strong mentoring networks.
What role do NSF DMR-supported centers and user facilities play in PREM partnerships?
NSF DMR-supported centers and/or user facilities are key partners that can provide access to advanced infrastructure, specialized instrumentation, established research programs, expertise, and mentoring networks that strengthen research and education outcomes within the partnership.
How does PREM define success for a partnership?
From the description provided, success involves both strong participation outcomes (recruitment, retention, and degree attainment along the PREM pathway) and high-quality, scientifically productive research and educational activities, supported by a partnership structure expected to last beyond the award period.
What is the funding opportunity number for this NSF PREM solicitation?
The funding opportunity number is 21-510.
What NSF unit offered this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Division of Materials Research (DMR).
What is the official title of the funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials."
What type of award is anticipated under this opportunity?
Awards were made as grants.
What is the maximum anticipated award size (award ceiling)?
The anticipated maximum award size (award ceiling) is $700,000.
About how many awards were expected to be made?
The opportunity indicated an expectation of approximately 8 awards.
What is the activity category and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and lists CFDA 47.049.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was originally posted on October 7, 2020, with an original closing date of February 5, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," and the solicitation indicates applicants should consult additional eligibility language for clarification. However, the program description makes clear that the core model is a minority-serving institution (MSI) partnering with a DMR-supported center and/or facility.
Does PREM require that the research be high quality, or is the focus only on participation outcomes?
The description emphasizes both. While PREM is explicitly focused on broadening participation outcomes, it also stresses that the research itself must be excellent and that educational components should be designed to reinforce student success and long-term engagement in materials research.
What should proposals be expected to present, based on the program description?
Proposals are expected to present (1) a credible plan for collaborative materials research, (2) a well-defined education and workforce-development strategy connected to PREM pathway outcomes (recruitment, retention, and degree attainment), and (3) a partnership structure designed to last beyond the award period by strengthening the institutions and the people involved.
How does PREM approach the relationship between research excellence and broadening participation?
PREM is described as treating research excellence and broadening participation as mutually reinforcing rather than competing priorities. In other words, the partnership is expected to strengthen both the science and the pathway outcomes at the same time.
What does it mean for a partnership to be "institutionally durable" in PREM terms?
Based on the description provided, institutional durability refers to building a partnership structure that will last beyond the award period by strengthening the institutions and the people involved, rather than creating a short-term or one-off collaboration.
Is access to specialized instrumentation and expertise part of the PREM concept?
Yes. The description specifically highlights access to specialized instrumentation and expertise as one of the ways PREM partnerships can integrate MSI students and faculty into advanced materials research environments.
What kinds of mentoring structures are implied by the PREM model?
The program description points to co-mentoring relationships and strong mentoring networks as part of integrating MSI students and faculty into established research ecosystems connected to DMR-supported centers and/or user facilities.
Is this opportunity described as discretionary?
Yes. The PREM program is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the overall way to think about PREM in plain terms?
Overall, PREM is best understood as a partnership-building program in materials research and education that links MSIs with NSF DMR-supported centers and/or facilities to create sustained, high-quality collaborations that improve participation outcomes while producing excellent research.
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