NSF has identified improvement of graduate student preparedness for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce as one of its priorities. As part of this effort, a supplemental funding opportunity is available in fiscal year (FY) 2018 and FY 2019 to provide support for non-academic research internships for graduate students to support career opportunities in any sector of the U.S. economy.
NSF will provide support for supplements to current NSF grants awarded by the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), Directorate for Engineering (ENG), and Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), to enhance professional development opportunities for graduate students as described below. Supplements to existing NSF awards will enable the PIs of grants to request up to six months of additional support for graduate students to pursue new activities aimed at acquiring professional development experience that will enhance their preparation for multiple career pathways after graduation.
The PI of an active NSF award may request supplemental funding for one or more graduate students to gain knowledge, skills and experiences that will augment his/her preparation for a successful long-term career through an internship in a non-academic setting, including the following:
- Industry laboratories or industry research and development groups;
- Start-ups, such as (but not limited to) those funded through the NSF's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program;
- Government agencies and National Laboratories;
- Policy think-tanks; and
- Non-profit organizations.
PIs are encouraged to discuss with the cognizant NSF program director activities that are synergistic with the project scope. This supplemental funding opportunity is open to PIs supporting graduate students with an active NSF award; note, however, that OAC will only support graduate students who are doctoral candidates. Graduate students must have completed at least one year in their graduate programs and be making satisfactory progress towards the completion of their degrees.
Further information about INTERN supplements is available at NSF 17-091.
Requests for FY19 are due by 5:00 pm on June 3, 2019.