The NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) has issued an updated program solicitation (NSF 22-604) for the Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) program, whose main goal is to help launch the careers of pre-tenure faculty in Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) fields at institutions that do not traditionally receive significant amounts of NSF funding, such as some minority-serving institutions (MSIs), predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs), and Carnegie Research 2 (R2) universities. LEAPS-MPS awards are for beginning investigators to undertake research activities that will improve the competitiveness of their future grant applications to NSF programs. These research activities might include the acquisition of preliminary data or other research results, or the development of collaborations for research. LEAPS-MPS has the additional goal of achieving excellence through diversity and aims to broaden participation to include members from groups underrepresented in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

Proposals to this program must demonstrate the context of the work within or across disciplines supported by MPS, including Mathematical Sciences (DMS). Awards are for 24 months and are up to $250,000 total costs (direct plus indirect). MPS expects to invest up to $12,000,000 in FY 2023.

There are a few changes in the new solicitation with respect to the previous one. For example, PI eligibility is no longer restricted by US immigration status. Also, the LEAPS-MPS Impact Statement has been moved from the project description to supplementary documents to avoid confusion with Broader Impacts section of the project description.

Please see https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=50589 (this page has now been moved to https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/launching-early-career-academic-pathways, updated Nov. 11, 2022) for more details, including the full program description, eligibility, program specific solicitation requirements, and others.

The deadline for full proposal submission is January 26, 2023 (5 p.m. submitter’s local time).

Estimated Number of Awards: 32 to 48

Anticipated Funding Amount: $8,000,000 to $12,000,000

(Estimated program budget and number of awards are subject to the availability of funds and receipt of competitive proposals.)

It is planned to post FAQs over the next few weeks, and MPS is planning to run a LEAPS webinar later in Fall 2022. Please check the NSF Events website for updates on that.