Re-entry to Active Research Program | 18 525

Opportunity Information: Apply for 18 525

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET), is offering the Re-entry to Active Research (RARE) program, a grant opportunity designed to help highly qualified scientists and engineers restart and strengthen their academic research careers after a hiatus. The core aim is to support investigators who have stepped away from active research and are now seeking to reestablish momentum toward success in the academic tenure system, whether that means returning to a tenure-track pathway or advancing to a higher academic rank. By creating structured re-entry points, NSF is both reinvesting in a pool of extensively trained researchers and promoting broader participation in the academic workforce, including greater diversity of experiences and career paths.

RARE proposals must center on potentially transformative research that fits within the scope of participating CBET program areas. In other words, applicants are expected to propose credible, high-impact research aligned with CBET priorities in fields spanning chemical engineering, bioengineering, environmental engineering, and transport-related systems. The program explicitly recognizes that a research hiatus can create gaps in a publication record, funding history, or technical currency, and it is structured to accommodate those realities rather than treat them as automatic disqualifiers.

The program is divided into two tracks, each tailored to a different kind of re-entry need. Track 1 is meant for investigators who are ready to jump back into competitive research activity and primarily need an opportunity that fairly accounts for time away from research. Track 1 proposals are essentially standard CBET unsolicited research proposals in terms of scope and budgeting, following the normal budget rules of the relevant CBET program, but reviewed with an understanding that the applicant may have a hiatus-related gap in their recent track record.

Track 2 is designed for investigators whose time away has made retraining necessary, such as learning updated methods, tools, or experimental and computational techniques that are now essential for competitiveness in their area. Track 2 proposals must clearly explain what new skills or techniques are needed, how the retraining will occur, and how that retraining will position the investigator to return to strong, competitive CBET research. The Track 2 budget is intentionally limited to expenses directly tied to retraining and retooling, including items like travel to a workshop or conference, registration fees, support for a retraining sabbatical, and seed funds to gather preliminary data. Allowable seed funding may cover practical costs required to produce early results, such as limited salary support, equipment or facility usage fees, materials, and supplies, as long as those costs are tied to enabling the investigator to re-enter active research competitively.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NSF grant under CFDA 47.041. Proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis (no single fixed deadline is stated), and NSF anticipates making around four awards, with an award ceiling of up to $300,000. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility guidance, so prospective applicants should confirm their fit under NSF's specific eligibility language for this opportunity. Questions about the program can be directed to RAREquestions@NSF.GOV or to the designated RARE Program Officer(s) associated with the solicitation.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Re-entry to Active Research Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 08, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Proposals accepted anytime. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 18 525

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: