Dear Colleague Letter: NSF INCLUDES Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) Supplemental Funding Opportunities

The National Science Foundation continually seeks to advance scientific progress in research and innovation by broadening the participation and inclusion of the full spectrum of diverse talents in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Through this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) Initiative seeks to inform the community about an opportunity to pursue supplemental funding for Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) activities for active NSF projects focused on microelectronics, in response to the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

The NSF INCLUDES Initiative, in collaboration with the REM program, will support costs associated with bringing a cohort of high school students, STEM middle school and high school teachers, undergraduate students, faculty from non-research intensive institutions, and/or veterans to be engaged as Research Participants in a microelectronics research environment, in alignment with REM program guidance (NSF 23-012). Research experiences and mentorship have been positively correlated with academic and professional success in STEM (click here for a list of related references). Research Participants shall participate in research activities aligned with the parent project's microelectronics research goals and receive structured mentoring throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. The INCLUDES-REM program welcomes submission of proposals to this funding opportunity that include the participation of the full spectrum of diverse talent to include underrepresented and under-served populations in microelectronics-related STEM fields. (see https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf23315 for statistical information about underrepresentation in STEM). Partnerships with K-12 schools, community colleges, technical schools, and/or minority-serving four-year institutions are especially encouraged.

Summary of Proposed Work: (Combine the plans listed below into a single document.)

1. Recruitment Plan, describing how an at least six-member cohort of research participants will be established. Letters of collaboration demonstrating credible relationships with campus or community organizations must be included. The REM program strongly recommends utilizing the NSF Education & Training Application (ETAP) mechanism to manage the recruitment, application, and selection processes. (2 pages maximum, not including the letters)
2. Participant Research Plan, describing types of research activities to which the Research Participants will contribute. The plan must include the significance of the research area, expected outcomes of research activities, and example projects that describe the types of tasks Research Participants will complete. The plan should be specific to the local setting, resources, and skills of the PI/Research Team. The plan should include Research Participants' attendance at the Emerging Researchers National Conference (ERN) in STEM in Washington, DC in 2025. Conference details can be found at https://emerging-researchers.org/. (3 pages maximum)
3. Research Participant Mentoring Plan, describing the mentoring activities that will be provided to the Research Participants supported by a supplement, if awarded. Mentoring plans should include a list of the individual(s) who will serve as mentors and describe their mentoring experience and the proposed mentoring activities. (3 pages maximum)
4. Mentorship Training Plan, describing the formal mentorship training that individuals responsible for mentoring Research Participants will receive. (2 pages maximum)
5. Evaluation Plan, describing expected outcomes of the activities undertaken and methods for measuring outcomes. (2 pages maximum)

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