Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology Postdoctoral Research Program | 23 555

CREST-PRP (NSF) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the CREST Postdoctoral Research Program (CREST-PRP)?

The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology Postdoctoral Research Program (CREST-PRP) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity under the broader CREST program. It supports early-career scientists at the postdoctoral stage by providing a structured research, training, and mentoring experience hosted within an active NSF CREST Center.

2) What is the overall purpose of CREST and how does CREST-PRP fit into it?

CREST is designed to strengthen the research capacity of minority-serving institutions (MSIs) by supporting centers that connect research and education. CREST aims to generate new scientific knowledge, increase research output and competitiveness, and expand participation and success for students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM. CREST-PRP extends that mission specifically by investing in postdoctoral researchers through mentored training intended to diversify and grow the national STEM workforce.

3) How long is the CREST-PRP support period?

CREST-PRP awards provide two years of support for the postdoctoral research and training experience.

4) Where does the postdoctoral experience take place?

The postdoctoral experience must be hosted within an active NSF CREST Center at the selected host institution.

5) Is this funding meant only for a research project, or is it also a training/mentoring program?

It is explicitly both. The program is intended to fund a research and training experience, placing the postdoctoral scholar in an environment designed for interdisciplinary collaboration, professional development, mentoring, and preparation for long-term leadership in the scientific community.

6) Does my proposed research topic need to match the host CREST Center?

Yes. Postdoctoral scholars are expected to conduct research that clearly aligns with the priorities and research focus of the specific CREST Center hosting them. Applicants should design a project plan that fits naturally within the center's ongoing work and that benefits from the center's existing expertise and infrastructure.

7) Do I need to identify mentors as part of the application?

Yes. Each applicant must identify one or more scientific mentors affiliated with the host CREST Center. The proposal should describe how the mentoring relationship(s) will support the scholar's development as an independent researcher.

8) What is NSF looking for in the mentoring component?

The program emphasizes mentoring and career growth. The application should reflect how mentoring will provide intensive guidance and access to a research community, while also showing how the scholar will contribute to advancing the center's research agenda. NSF describes this as a two-way benefit to both the postdoctoral scholar and the mentor/center.

9) Who submits the application: the institution or the individual?

The application is submitted by the individual postdoctoral candidate directly to NSF, not by the host institution.

10) If I submit as an individual, who receives the award money if funded?

If NSF recommends an award, the funding is issued to the host institution. The postdoctoral scholar is designated as the principal investigator (PI) on a standard NSF research award administered by that institution.

11) Will I be listed as the PI on the award?

Yes. The postdoctoral scholar is designated as the principal investigator (PI) on the NSF research award, even though the award is administered by the host institution.

12) What is required for U.S. citizenship or residency eligibility?

By the full proposal deadline, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.

13) Are doctoral degree requirements tied to minority-serving institutions (MSIs)?

Yes. By the program requirements described, the applicant must have earned a doctoral degree from an MSI (or expect to have earned it before the required start date). MSI status is determined using the most recent Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data.

14) What if I have not finished my doctoral degree yet?

The information provided indicates an applicant may be eligible if they expect to have earned the doctoral degree before the required start date, provided the doctoral institution is an MSI (as determined by the most recent IPEDS data).

15) Is there a limit on how much postdoctoral experience I can have?

Yes. Applicants cannot have worked more than a total of 24 full-time-equivalent months in positions that require a doctoral degree.

16) Can I apply if I previously served as a PI or co-PI on an NSF award?

Generally, no. Applicants must not have previously served as a PI or co-PI on an NSF award, with the stated exception of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

17) Does the host institution need to meet specific requirements?

Yes. The host must be tied to an active CREST Center. The eligibility framing provided also emphasizes MSIs with undergraduate enrollments that include 50 or more students who are members of minority groups underrepresented among those holding advanced degrees in science and engineering. IPEDS is the formal reference source used for MSI eligibility determination.

18) How do I confirm whether an institution qualifies as an MSI for this program?

MSI status is determined by reference to the most recent Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data. The applicant is responsible for selecting an eligible host institution that houses an active CREST Center and for ensuring the affiliation and alignment are clear.

19) What is the role of the CREST Center in the proposal?

The CREST Center is central to the application. Your project plan must align with that center's research priorities, your mentor(s) must be affiliated with the center, and the award supports a two-year experience within the center's collaborative research and training environment.

20) Are certain applicant groups especially encouraged to apply?

Yes. NSF explicitly encourages applications from women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and members of groups underrepresented in STEM, consistent with the program's workforce-diversification goals.

21) What happens if an application does not meet eligibility requirements?

The provided information indicates eligibility should be treated as a strict checklist. Proposals that do not meet requirements are returned without review.

22) Does submitting an application involve an eligibility certification?

Yes. Submitting the proposal functions as a certification that the applicant meets all eligibility requirements.

23) Are there legal consequences for false eligibility claims?

Yes. The solicitation underscores that knowingly providing false information can trigger criminal penalties under federal law (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).

24) Who is the sponsoring agency?

The sponsoring agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).

25) What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?

The opportunity number listed is 23-555.

26) What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?

The listed closing date is 2024-10-04.

27) What is the CFDA number and category listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed in the science and technology research and development category with CFDA 47.076.

28) Is this a discretionary grant?

Yes. The administrative details describe it as a discretionary grant.

29) Is an award ceiling or the expected number of awards provided in the summary?

No. The public summary described does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards in the provided fields.

30) What is the core idea behind the program structure (individual submission, institutional administration)?

The structure is designed so the postdoctoral candidate drives the proposal and research vision by submitting directly to NSF, while the award is managed through the host institution's established grants administration infrastructure if recommended for funding.