Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 510
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education (IUSE: EDU) supports efforts to strengthen undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program is grounded in the idea that STEM fields are central to long-term economic growth in the United States, with STEM job creation projected to grow faster than non-STEM jobs. Through IUSE: EDU, NSF is investing in higher-quality undergraduate STEM teaching and learning by funding projects that do more than implement new activities on a single campus. The expectation is that funded work will generate usable knowledge about what improves STEM learning, how and why it works, and under what conditions it can be transferred to other settings.
A major emphasis of IUSE: EDU is on novel, creative, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM education. NSF is looking for projects that bring current advances in STEM disciplines into undergraduate classrooms and curricula, and that adapt, refine, or scale evidence-based teaching practices so they work better for today’s students. Proposals are expected to be grounded in evidence and designed in a way that builds new understanding about teaching and learning, not just local program improvement. The program also explicitly encourages replication studies, meaning it values proposals that test previously studied interventions or instructional approaches across different institutional types or student populations to better understand effectiveness and generalizability. This focus reflects NSF’s interest in building a stronger, more reliable research base for STEM education improvements nationwide.
IUSE: EDU places strong weight on broader societal impacts tied to undergraduate STEM success. Competitive projects often aim to improve participation and success for groups historically underrepresented in STEM, strengthen the diversity of both students and instructors involved in STEM education, and provide meaningful professional development for instructors so that new teaching practices are adopted well and sustained over time. NSF also encourages collaborative efforts, including institutional partnerships that bring together multiple colleges and universities, or partnerships between institutions and associated organizations, to conduct shared research and development and to extend the reach of successful practices. Proposals that align well with NSF INCLUDES are particularly welcome, since that initiative focuses on developing STEM talent from all sectors of society and expanding pathways into STEM.
Structurally, the program offers two tracks: (1) Engaged Student Learning and (2) Institutional and Community Transformation. While both tracks aim to improve undergraduate STEM outcomes, they differ in focus, with the first generally centered on student learning experiences and instructional approaches and the second oriented toward broader change at the institutional or community level. Regardless of track, proposals are expected to contribute both to the host institution(s) and to the wider STEM education community by producing insights, evidence, or models that others can use.
In terms of basic grant details, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 23-510) in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 47.076). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, and the program is open to institutions of higher education and associated organizations. The listed award ceiling is $2,000,000, and the closing date provided is January 15, 2025.Apply for 23 510
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-10-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-15. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FAQs: NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE: EDU) - Funding Opportunity 23-510
What is the NSF IUSE: EDU program?
Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education (IUSE: EDU) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity that supports efforts to strengthen undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program invests in improving undergraduate STEM teaching and learning while generating usable knowledge about what works, why it works, and when it can be transferred to other settings.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to fund projects that improve undergraduate STEM education in ways that go beyond a single-campus implementation. NSF expects funded projects to build evidence and understanding about STEM teaching and learning, including the mechanisms behind improvements and the conditions needed for successful transfer or scale.
What kinds of projects does IUSE: EDU prioritize?
IUSE: EDU places major emphasis on novel, creative, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM education. It prioritizes projects that bring advances in STEM disciplines into undergraduate classrooms and curricula and that adapt, refine, or scale evidence-based teaching practices to better serve today’s students.
Does the program fund projects that only improve a local campus program?
The opportunity emphasizes that funded work should do more than implement new activities on a single campus. Proposals are expected to produce knowledge, evidence, or models that are useful beyond the host institution(s), including insights that can transfer to other contexts.
What does NSF mean by generating “usable knowledge” in this program?
NSF is looking for projects that produce insights others can use, such as evidence about what improves STEM learning, how and why an approach works, and under what conditions it can be successfully transferred to other institutions or settings.
Are proposals expected to be evidence-based?
Yes. Proposals are expected to be grounded in evidence and designed to build new understanding about teaching and learning. The focus is on strengthening the broader knowledge base for undergraduate STEM education, not just implementing changes locally.
Does IUSE: EDU encourage replication studies?
Yes. The program explicitly encourages replication studies, including proposals that test previously studied interventions or instructional approaches across different institutional types or student populations to better understand effectiveness and generalizability.
Why does the program value replication studies?
The emphasis reflects NSF’s interest in building a stronger and more reliable research base for STEM education improvements nationwide by understanding whether and how proven approaches hold up across different contexts.
What are the broader impacts NSF is looking for under IUSE: EDU?
IUSE: EDU places strong weight on broader societal impacts tied to undergraduate STEM success. Competitive projects often aim to improve participation and success for groups historically underrepresented in STEM, strengthen diversity among students and instructors involved in STEM education, and support professional development that helps new teaching practices take hold and last.
Does the program support professional development for instructors?
Yes. The opportunity highlights professional development for instructors as an important component, particularly when it supports adoption and long-term sustainability of evidence-based teaching practices.
Does NSF encourage collaboration or partnerships in this program?
Yes. NSF encourages collaborative efforts, including partnerships among multiple colleges and universities and partnerships between institutions and associated organizations. These collaborations can support shared research and development and extend the reach of successful practices.
How does IUSE: EDU relate to NSF INCLUDES?
Proposals that align well with NSF INCLUDES are particularly welcome. NSF INCLUDES focuses on developing STEM talent from all sectors of society and expanding pathways into STEM, which matches IUSE: EDU’s emphasis on participation, success, and broadening impacts.
What are the two tracks in IUSE: EDU?
The program offers two tracks: (1) Engaged Student Learning and (2) Institutional and Community Transformation. Both aim to improve undergraduate STEM outcomes, but they differ in focus and scale.
How are the two tracks different?
Engaged Student Learning is generally centered on student learning experiences and instructional approaches. Institutional and Community Transformation is oriented toward broader change at the institutional or community level.
Do both tracks require benefits beyond the host institution?
Yes. Regardless of track, proposals are expected to contribute to the host institution(s) and to the wider STEM education community by producing insights, evidence, or models that others can use.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, and the program is open to institutions of higher education and associated organizations.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 23-510.
What is the CFDA number and category for this program?
The opportunity is in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, with CFDA 47.076.
Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The IUSE: EDU opportunity is listed as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $2,000,000.
What is the application closing date?
The closing date provided is January 15, 2025.
Is the program focused only on developing new classroom activities?
No. While classroom and curricular improvements are part of the program’s interests, IUSE: EDU emphasizes approaches that are evidence-based and designed to produce transferable knowledge about teaching and learning, including how approaches can be adapted, refined, or scaled.
What does NSF mean by “potentially transformative” in this context?
The opportunity highlights an interest in novel and creative approaches that could significantly improve undergraduate STEM education. Projects are expected to advance understanding and practice in ways that can inform broader adoption or adaptation.
What types of outcomes are expected from funded projects?
Funded projects are expected to generate insights, evidence, and/or models about improving undergraduate STEM learning and teaching. NSF emphasizes understanding what improves learning, how and why it works, and the conditions under which it can be transferred to other settings.
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