Education and Special Programs

The Education and Special Programs unit of the Astronomical Sciences Division administers all Foundation-wide (crosscutting) programs, as well as programs that cross sub-disciplinary lines in astronomy or have significant educational components. Programs include Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER), a prestigious award that supports the early career-development activities of teacher-scholars; NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF), the only postdoctoral program for astronomers that combines research and education; Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites and Supplements, a program that supports undergraduate students to do research; Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI), a program that is similar to the regular research grants but supports faculty members at predominantly undergraduate institutions; ResearchOpportunity Awards (ROA), a supplement available for active research awards to involve faculty from non-research institutions; ADVANCE, a program with different options for increasing the participation of women in the scientific and engineering workforce; MPS Internships in Public Science Education (MPS-IPSE), which strives to bring science research results from MPS disciplines to the public by funding interns; MPS Distinguished International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MPS-DRF), postdoctoral fellowships for carrying out research at leading institutions outside the U.S.; Minority Research Planning Grants (MRPG) that enable eligible minorities to develop a competitive research project; and Minority Career Advancement Awards (MCAA) that enable eligible minorities to undertake one-year enhancement projects to increase their research capability and productivity. Full descriptions ofthese programs can be found by visiting the NSF home page and choosing Crosscutting as a program area, or by visiting the home page of the Astronomical Sciences Division.