MINI-GRANTS
Supporting Collaboration in
STEM Engagement Across Kentucky
We provide support funding for URM-serving individuals and organizations seeking to collaborate, address gaps and overlaps in service, and share exemplary practices for engaging students and citizens in Advanced Manufacturing STEM topics.
STEM for ALL.
Kentucky NSF EPSCoR provides funding to support STEM initiatives and Advanced Manufacturing education across the state.
$1,600
max request
Supports Advanced Manufacturing
Outreach and URM Engagement
If you are proposing supporting a conference, workshop, symposium or other similar meeting with an EPSCoR Mini-Grant, please be advised that you will need to disclose within the project description and budget justification of your application:
(1) if there are any other pending or committed sources of financial support for the activity, and if so, identify and differentiate specifically what each source would pay for, and
(2) indicate if you anticipate collecting a registration fee.
All awardees and funded participants are obligated to provide reporting about the outcomes of their KY NSF EPSCoR-supported projects. Awardees may download the reporting documents at http://kynsfepscor.org/reporting
Yes. Applications must include a statement that justifies the proposed project’s alignment to one, or more, of the following research themes and initiatives: http:/kynsfepscor.org/inititatives
KY NSF EPSCoR requires the use of standardized template forms for all sections of submitted proposals. Applications should be e-mailed as attachments to epscor@uky.edu. In addition to providing the individually attached files, also attach one PDF file that merges all the application documents within a single file.
Mini-grants are awarded to URM-serving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused programs to support collaboration, address gaps and overlaps in service, and share exemplary practices. Mini-grants are a small amount of seed funding and are not intended to fully fund entire projects. The maximum mini-grant award is $1,600.
Mini-grants are designed to build collaboration between existing programs and organizations to encourage students to pursue Advanced Manufacturing-related educational programs and careers. Preference is given to applications that are innovative and involve a collaboration between two programs or organizations.
KY NSF EPSCoR requires the use of standardized template forms for all sections of submitte proposals. You can download the templates from our dropbox folder. Applications should be e-mailed as attachments to Jeff.Mossey@uky.edu
One PDF file that merges all the application documents listed below within a single file, and a copy of the budget spreadsheet (.xlsx extension only)
URM stands for under-represented minority. The Higher Education Act defines the term “minority” as an “American Indian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of Hispanic origin), Hispanic (including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin), Pacific Islander, or other ethnic group underrepresented in science and engineering.”
KY NSF EPSCoR acknowledges that the representation of certain groups of people in STEM education and employment also differs from their representation in the U.S. population. Women, persons with disabilities, Appalachian and Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are also included in our working definition of underrepresented groups in STEM. View data from the NSF Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering 2019 Report here.
Broader Impacts is one of two merit review criteria, along with Intellectual Merit, that the NSF expects proposers to fully address in their proposals. The definitions of the two criteria, as noted in the NSF Proposal and Award Policy Guide ( PAPPG Ch. II Section A), are listed below:
In its Proposal and Award Policy Guide (Ch. II Section C), the agency now only offers broad guidelines on how researchers can meet the BI requirement and potential social outcomes they can strive to achieve.
Guidance on How Broader Impacts Can Be Accomplished:
Examples of Target Outcomes for Broader Impacts Activities:
Intellectual merit is one of two merit review criteria, along with Broader Impacts, that NSF expects proposers to fully address in their proposals. The definitions of the two criteria, as noted in NSF PAPPG Ch. III Section A, are listed below:
The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge.
The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:
1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to:
a. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and
b. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?
For work supported under the KAMPERS project, please reference NSF Cooperative Agreement No. 1849213.
Suggested language for the acknowledgement is, “This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 1849213. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.”
Appalachian BOLD
Appalachian BOLD Introduces Eastern Kentucky Students to Science & Technology.
Ready to start your application? Download the application forms to apply for the EPSCoR Internship program.