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

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U.S. National Science Foundation

Deadline: Jan 22, 2026federal

Updated: Oct 30, 2025

Summary

The LEAPS-MPS grant aims to support pre-tenure faculty in Mathematical and Physical Sciences at institutions that typically receive less funding, such as R2 universities and minority-serving institutions, by helping them establish research programs. Eligible applicants include faculty members with a doctoral degree in relevant fields from accredited U.S. institutions that are not classified as R1 universities, who have not previously served as Principal Investigators on NSF research awards. Proposals must be submitted to the appropriate MPS Division, and awards are for 24 months with budgets up to $250,000.

Full Description

Description

The Launching of Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) supports the launch of the careers of pre-tenure faculty whose research is in Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) fields at institutions that do not traditionally receive significant amounts of MPS funding, such as Carnegie Research 2 (R2) universities, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs). The LEAPS awards enable PIs from these institutions to initiate productive research programs and generate results useful for preparing subsequent competitive...

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Miscellaneous

  • Other

Additional information

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -

The proposal must be submitted by Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., that arenotcurrently classified as a Doctoral University with “Very High Research Activity” (R1 institutions) according to the most recent Carnegie Classification:https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/. These include two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. Eligibility is based on the classification on the date of proposal submission deadline. *Who May Serve as PI: The Principal Investigator must fulfill these three conditions at the time of proposal submission:

  • hold a doctoral degree in a discipline in which the Divisions of the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences support fundamental research
  • be in the pre-tenure period of a tenure-track or tenure-track equivalent faculty appointment
  • have not previously served as Principal or co-Principal Investigator on an NSF research award. For this solicitation, Fellowship, Conference/Workshop, Equipment, Travel, Instrumentation Infrastructure, and Research Opportunity Award (ROA) awards are not included in the research grant category
Tenure-track equivalency - For a position to be considered tenure-track-equivalent, it must simultaneously meet these three requirements: (1) the continuing appointment is expected to last at least three years from the start date of the LEAPS award; (2) the appointment comes with substantial research and educational responsibilities; and (3) the employee's career goals and job responsibilities as well as the mission of the department or organization will be served by the proposed LEAPS project. Co-Principal Investigators are not permitted on LEAPS-MPS proposals.

Grantor contact information

Description

NSF grants.gov support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

Email

If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above.

grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

Apply on official siteUpdated Oct 30, 2025

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