Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 503
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 24-503) funds hands-on summer research experiences that place K-14 educators into authentic engineering and computer science research settings. The central goal is to build long-term, two-way partnerships among universities, community colleges, school districts, and, when appropriate, industry partners. Rather than treating teachers as temporary visitors, the program is designed to create sustained collaborations where educators contribute their classroom expertise while gaining real research experience that can meaningfully shape what and how they teach.
A defining feature of this solicitation is the emphasis on reciprocal exchange. Participating K-14 educators strengthen their content knowledge in engineering or computing by working alongside research faculty (and sometimes industry mentors). They then translate what they learn into classroom activities, lesson plans, and curricula that help students better understand engineering and computing fields and see clearer pathways into related coursework and careers. At the same time, the university-based research teams benefit by learning directly from educators about current K-14 classrooms, instructional practices, pedagogy, standards and curricula, and the practical realities schools face. In other words, the program is meant to improve both research-to-classroom translation and researchers understanding of precollege education environments.
NSF supports two main participation routes under this opportunity. The first is an RET Site award, which is a standalone grant led by an eligible institution to run a structured RET program. The second route is an RET Supplement, which provides additional funding tied to engineering (ENG) or computer and information science and engineering (CISE) research awards. Supplements may be requested by active ENG or CISE awardees, or they may be included as part of a proposal submission to ENG or CISE for a new or renewal grant or cooperative agreement (in that case, the eligibility rules of the underlying funding opportunity also apply).
Eligibility to submit RET Site proposals is limited to US-based Institutions of Higher Education, including both two-year and four-year colleges and universities (community colleges included), as long as they are accredited and have a campus located in the United States. These institutions submit on behalf of their faculty. Minority-Serving Institutions, community colleges, and institutions with strong programs serving persons with disabilities are specifically encouraged to apply, reflecting the program interest in broadening participation and expanding access to engineering and computing pathways for more students and communities.
If a proposal includes any funding that would go to an international branch campus of a US institution (including through subawards or consultant arrangements), NSF requires an explicit justification. The proposal must explain the benefits of performing work at the international branch campus and clearly argue why those activities cannot be carried out at the US-based campus instead. This condition is meant to keep the core work anchored in the US context while allowing international branch involvement only when it is genuinely necessary and advantageous.
The principal investigator requirements are also specific. For an RET Site proposal, the PI must be a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty member in an engineering/engineering technology department or in a computer and/or information science department broadly defined (examples named include human-computer interaction, software engineering, networking science, and informatics) at the submitting US institution. The PI must be a research-and-teaching faculty member, not someone serving primarily in an administrative role such as a dean or an outreach coordinator. This requirement signals NSF intent for the RET Site to be tightly integrated with an active research environment and led by someone positioned to connect educators directly with research activity.
From a practical standpoint, this opportunity sits in NSF science and technology research and development funding and is offered as a grant under CFDA numbers 47.041 and 47.070. The listed agency is the National Science Foundation, and the original closing date provided is October 9, 2024. Overall, the program is best understood as a structured way to connect K-14 education with cutting-edge engineering and computer science research so teachers can bring credible, research-informed experiences back to their students while researchers gain a clearer view of what works in real classrooms and why.Apply for 24 503
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.070.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science (24-503)
What is the NSF RET in Engineering and Computer Science opportunity (24-503)?
It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 24-503) that supports hands-on summer research experiences placing K-14 educators into authentic engineering and computer science research settings. The intent is not a one-time visit, but a structured experience that helps educators gain real research exposure they can translate into classroom learning.
What is the main goal of the RET program described here?
The central goal is to build long-term, two-way partnerships among universities, community colleges, school districts, and, when appropriate, industry partners. The solicitation emphasizes sustained collaborations where educators contribute classroom expertise and gain research experience that meaningfully shapes teaching practice.
Who participates in the RET experiences?
The program places K-14 educators into engineering and computer science research environments, working alongside research faculty and, in some cases, industry mentors. The experience is designed to strengthen educators content knowledge and connect it to classroom instruction.
What does K-14 mean in this solicitation?
Based on the solicitation language provided, K-14 refers to educators spanning kindergarten through the first two years of postsecondary education, aligning with participation by school systems and community colleges.
What makes this RET solicitation different from a short-term teacher visit to a lab?
A defining feature is reciprocal exchange and sustained collaboration. Teachers are not treated as temporary visitors; instead, the program is designed to create ongoing, two-way relationships where both educators and researchers learn from each other.
What do educators gain from participating?
Participating educators strengthen their engineering or computing content knowledge by engaging in authentic research. They then translate what they learn into classroom activities, lesson plans, and curricula that can help students better understand engineering and computing fields and see clearer pathways into related coursework and careers.
How do university-based research teams benefit?
Research teams benefit by learning directly from educators about current K-14 classrooms, instructional practices, pedagogy, standards and curricula, and real-world constraints schools face. The program is intended to improve both research-to-classroom translation and researchers understanding of precollege education environments.
What are the two main NSF participation routes under this opportunity?
NSF supports two routes: (1) an RET Site award, which is a standalone grant to run a structured RET program, and (2) an RET Supplement, which provides additional funding tied to certain existing or proposed NSF research awards.
What is an RET Site award?
An RET Site award is a standalone grant led by an eligible institution to run a structured RET program that places educators into engineering and computer science research settings.
What is an RET Supplement?
An RET Supplement is additional funding connected to engineering (ENG) or computer and information science and engineering (CISE) research awards. Supplements can be requested by active ENG or CISE awardees, or included as part of a proposal submission to ENG or CISE for a new or renewal grant or cooperative agreement.
Who can request an RET Supplement?
Supplements may be requested by active NSF ENG or CISE awardees. They may also be included within a proposal submitted to ENG or CISE for a new or renewal grant or cooperative agreement, in which case the eligibility rules of the underlying funding opportunity also apply.
Who is eligible to submit RET Site proposals?
Eligibility to submit RET Site proposals is limited to US-based Institutions of Higher Education, including accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (community colleges included), as long as the institution has a campus located in the United States. Institutions submit on behalf of their faculty.
Are community colleges eligible for RET Site proposals?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes two-year institutions and community colleges, provided they are accredited and have a US-based campus.
Are Minority-Serving Institutions encouraged to apply?
Yes. Minority-Serving Institutions are specifically encouraged to apply. Community colleges and institutions with strong programs serving persons with disabilities are also encouraged, reflecting an interest in broadening participation and expanding access to engineering and computing pathways.
Does the solicitation encourage partnerships beyond universities?
Yes. The program is designed to build partnerships among universities, community colleges, school districts, and, when appropriate, industry partners.
Are there special conditions if any funds go to an international branch campus?
Yes. If a proposal includes any funding that would go to an international branch campus of a US institution (including via subawards or consultant arrangements), NSF requires an explicit justification. The proposal must explain the benefits of performing work at the international branch campus and why the work cannot be carried out at the US-based campus instead.
Does the international branch campus requirement apply only to direct funding?
No. The condition is described as applying when funding would go to an international branch campus, including through subawards or consultant arrangements, meaning indirect routes are also covered.
What are the PI (Principal Investigator) requirements for an RET Site proposal?
For an RET Site proposal, the PI must be a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty member in an engineering/engineering technology department or a computer and/or information science department (broadly defined) at the submitting US institution.
Can the PI be primarily an administrator or outreach coordinator?
No. The PI must be a research-and-teaching faculty member and not someone serving primarily in an administrative role such as a dean or an outreach coordinator. This reflects NSF intent that the site be led from within an active research environment.
What fields are included under the computer and/or information science department definition?
The description notes the department definition is broad and provides examples including human-computer interaction, software engineering, networking science, and informatics.
What kinds of research settings are supported?
The program supports authentic engineering and computer science research settings where educators work alongside research faculty and sometimes industry mentors, particularly during hands-on summer research experiences.
What types of outputs are expected from educators after the research experience?
The solicitation emphasizes translation back to the classroom, including classroom activities, lesson plans, and curricula informed by the research experience to help students understand engineering and computing and see pathways into related coursework and careers.
Is the program intended to influence what and how teachers teach?
Yes. A core theme is that educators gain real research experience that can meaningfully shape both what they teach and how they teach it.
Which NSF directorates are referenced for supplements?
RET Supplements are described as being tied to engineering (ENG) or computer and information science and engineering (CISE) research awards.
What is the agency offering this opportunity?
The listed agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).
What type of funding instrument is used?
The opportunity is offered as a grant.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA numbers 47.041 and 47.070.
What is the original closing date provided for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is October 9, 2024.
In simple terms, what is this program trying to accomplish?
It is a structured way to connect K-14 education with current engineering and computer science research so educators can bring credible, research-informed experiences back to students, while researchers gain a clearer view of real classroom practice, constraints, and what works in precollege settings.
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