NSF: Advancing Quantum Education and Workforce Development
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) to advance quantum education and workforce development.
The letter encourages the submission of proposals for projects that will motivate and prepare students for the quantum industries of the future. The DCL identifies opportunities via the Directorate of Education and Human Resources (EHR) that aim to prepare a diverse quantum information science and engineering (QISE) workforce.
The DCL highlights how quantum can be advanced through many NSF programs that target a variety of workforce levels including K-12 education, undergraduate programs, graduate program, and projects that span all levels. To respond to the challenge of growing a diverse QISE workforce, the DCL encourages the research community to respond to 20 NSF programs.
Successful projects should research and/or promote awareness and interest in QISE and inform preparation for QISE jobs of the future, while building the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills and practices that will be needed for these jobs.
Applicable programs include the following:
Funding Opportunities for K-12 Education
- Computer Science for All (CSforAll: Research and RPPs)
- Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12)
- Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)
- Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (NOYCE)
Funding Opportunities for Undergraduate Programs
- Advanced Technological Education Program (ATE)
- Hispanic Serving Institutions Program (HSI)
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP)
- Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Program (IUSE)
- Scholarships in STEM Program (S-STEM)
- The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
- The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)
- Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)
Funding Opportunities for Graduate Programs
- Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Program
- Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Program
- NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program
Funding Opportunities for All Educational Levels