NSF Funds Find Obscure Research Fellows

Because not all valuable scientific research is performed by engineers under spotlights or in the primes of their lives, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is hoping to support lesser-known researchers in states that typically receive lower levels of NSF funding.

The NSF is investing $6.2 million in 24 researchers selected as NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) fellows. The program is aimed at helping mid-career scientists relaunch their careers and research through financial support, mentorship opportunities, and access to top research facilities. The EPSCoR Research Fellows (ERF) program seeks to foster researchers in making valuable contributions to the scientific community.

Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director, noted, “EPSCoR is a national program that ensures our federal research dollars reach every corner of our nation, and that the Americans who live in these 25 states and territories have the same opportunities to be part of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, access to world-class facilities and partnerships — all of which unlock breakthroughs that wouldn’t happen otherwise.”

Stone added, “By funding Research Fellows, the American taxpayers are directly investing in the next generation of discoveries that create jobs, strengthen local economies, and expand America’s innovation capacity.”

The 24 fellows will be selected from a variety of scientific fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and quantum research (see image above). In addition to being technologically promising, the research will be linked to modern manufacturing approaches, such as automated manufacturing and design for manufacturing (DFM) to ease the transition of advanced research concepts to production lines.