Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)

Background
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a non-regulatory Federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, is one of the nation's premiere research institutions for the physical and measurement sciences, standards, technology, and engineering. NIST provides a strong interface between government, industry and academia. NIST embodies a science culture, developed from a large and well-equipped research staff that enthusiastically blends programs that address the immediate needs of industry and the nation with longer-term research that anticipates future needs.
NIST’s mission in STEM education is to develop a diverse, world-class pool of scientists and engineers to support measurement science and standards research and develop a general population that understands and appreciates measurement science and standards.

Grant Details
The NIST PREP is seeking applications from eligible institutions of higher education in the U.S. and its territories that offer two- or four-year degrees in academic science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to establish and manage a program to support collaborative research relationships in the NIST labs.
The program aims to establish a five-year cooperative agreement to develop a collaborative relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education to host eligible PREP researchers to work at NIST.
The program also aims to develop and train a diverse, world-class pool of scientists and engineers to support NIST's mission in measurement science and standards research.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include accredited institutions of higher education that offer two- or four-year degrees in academic disciplines relevant to the technical programs of the NIST laboratories and major programs such as artificial intelligence, biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, information technology, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical sciences, physics, social sciences, scientific/technical writing, science and technology policy, and statistics.

Period of Performance
The project performance period is up to five years.

Grant Value
In FY22, NIST anticipates funding up to nine awards for approximately $200 million in total with a project performance period of up to five years.
New awards are expected to range from approximately $250,000 to $20,000,000 annually at PREP Boulder and from $500,000 to $24,000,000 annually at PREP Gaithersburg.

Place of Performance
Eligible applicants may apply to establish and manage a program at the relevant NIST campuses in Boulder, Colorado (CO) (PREP Boulder), Gaithersburg, Maryland (MD) (PREP Gaithersburg), and/or Charleston, South Carolina (SC) (PREP Gaithersburg).