PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF)
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for engineering faculty who want to start research in professional formation of engineers. At least one PI must be in an engineering department and have no prior engineering education/professional formation funding from NSF ENG in the past three years. Faculty with active disciplinary research or those shifting research focus are especially encouraged. This program explicitly excludes established education or social science researchers; they should apply to the Research in the Formation of Engineers program instead.
Eligible applicants are engineering faculty new to education research but accomplished in teaching, mentoring, or campus educational leadership. The program aims to expand the pool of engineering faculty conducting PFE research. No cost sharing is required.
This is a research grant supporting projects on how engineers develop professionally. Work may include formal/informal education, ethics, inclusivity, and workforce responsiveness. The $3M funding pool supports multiple awards at $200K each.
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Program description
The PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program has two goals: 1) Support research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE), and 2) Increase the community of researchers conducting PFE research. PIs are expected to have little or no experience conducting social science or education research. PFE: RIEF is not intended for established researchers in engineering education or other social science fields to initiate new projects. Those researchers should consider the Research in the Formation of Engineers program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/rfe-research-formation-engineers).
The NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate has launched a multi-year initiative, the Professional Formation of Engineers, to create and support an innovative and inclusive engineering profession for the 21st Century. Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) refers to the formal and informal education and value systems by which people become engineers. It also includes the ethical responsibility of practicing engineers to sustain and grow the profession. The engineering profession must be responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs; it must be equally open and accessible to all Americans.
Engineering faculty possess both deep technical expertise in their engineering discipline and the primary responsibility for the process of professional formation of future engineers. As such, engineering faculty are in a unique position to help address critical challenges in engineering formation. The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program enables engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NSF PAPPG Form 1: Cover Sheet (SF 424-R)
- Project Narrative (proposal)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (co-PIs and key personnel)
- Current and Pending Support
- Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.041 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$41,946,862
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$39,305,237
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$38,714,114
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$38,523,346
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$37,936,436
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$37,861,058
-
$37,780,463
-
$36,940,111
-
$36,277,271
-
$36,183,087
Top States by Funding
- TX 3 awards $93.8M
- CA 7 awards $86.9M
- IL 5 awards $78.8M
- NC 3 awards $71.9M
- AZ 2 awards $68.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.041). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $752,230,000 | |
| 2025 | $727,730,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $181,990,000 |
FAQ
Can an engineering faculty member with some prior education research apply?
No. You must have received no engineering education or professional formation funding from NSF ENG in the last three years to be eligible as a PI.
Is this grant for education researchers?
No. Established social science or education researchers should apply to the Research in the Formation of Engineers program instead.
What types of research projects does this support?
Research on how engineers develop professionally, including ethics, inclusivity, diversity in engineering education, and workforce preparedness.
When is the deadline?
November 10, 2026 (fixed deadline).
What is the typical award size?
The minimum award is $200,000. Consult the full solicitation for maximum amounts and typical grant duration.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your teaching, mentoring, or educational leadership accomplishments before describing your research ideas.
- Frame your project as an entry point into PFE research, not as a continuation of prior education work.
- Connect your research to NSF priorities like diversity, workforce needs, and grand challenges in engineering.
- Partner with education researchers if needed, but ensure the engineering faculty lead is genuinely new to this research area.
- Clearly explain how your engineering discipline expertise will inform your PFE research questions.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants with prior NSF engineering education funding in the last three years are ineligible and will be rejected. Established education researchers applying directly compete with a different program; choose the right one. Proposals that lack credible connection to an engineering discipline or fail to demonstrate genuine entry into PFE research get low scores.
Similar grants
- OPEN Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) — U.S. National Science Foundation
- ROLLING Research in the Formation of Engineers — U.S. National Science Foundation
- OPEN IUSE / Professional Formation of Engineers: Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (IUSE/PFE: RED) — U.S. National Science Foundation
- OPEN Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) — U.S. National Science Foundation
- OPEN Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 — U.S. National Science Foundation