Opportunity Information: Apply for 18 505
The National Science Foundation's International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program funds projects that give U.S. undergraduate and graduate students the chance to do meaningful research and research-related training in international settings. The central idea is hands-on participation: students are not just attending lectures or observing from the sidelines, but actively contributing to high-quality work in NSF-supported areas of science and engineering while being mentored by experienced researchers. At the program level, IRES is meant to help build a diverse, globally engaged U.S. STEM workforce with strong technical skills, professional connections, and the ability to operate in international research environments. NSF frames the long-term purpose as strengthening U.S. leadership in research and education and improving economic competitiveness by preparing the next generation of research leaders.
Proposers must choose one of three distinct tracks, each aimed at a different type of international experience. Track I, called IRES Sites (IS), supports cohort-based research experiences where a group of undergraduate and/or graduate students travels to an international host site and works collaboratively on a shared research theme. These site projects are organized around a coherent intellectual focus that can be within a single discipline or interdisciplinary, as long as it aligns with areas NSF funds. A defining feature is structured mentorship from researchers at the foreign host lab, with students gaining advanced research skills through direct engagement in ongoing projects.
Track II, called Advanced Studies Institutes (ASI), supports intensive, short-duration institutes held outside the United States. These are typically 10 to 21 days and are designed for advanced graduate students who need concentrated training and exposure to frontier topics. ASIs combine short-course style instruction with related learning and research activities, and they are expected to justify why the institute must be located internationally (for example, unique facilities, data resources, field sites, or concentrations of expertise). They should bring together distinguished, active researchers from both the U.S. and abroad and are intended to help students sharpen technical abilities, broaden professional networks, and benefit from complementary international resources in a way that is valuable to both U.S. participants and host collaborators.
Track III, called New Concepts in International Graduate Experience (IGE), is aimed at larger-scale, more experimental models that expand access to high-impact international research and professional development for U.S. graduate students. This track invites U.S. professional societies and organizations tied to science and engineering education or research to propose, implement, and evaluate new approaches for preparing globally engaged scientists and engineers. The model can support individuals or groups of graduate students traveling to non-U.S. locations for immersive experiences lasting from several weeks up to a semester, under mentorship arrangements that include collaborators in both the U.S. and the host country. Track III emphasizes transferable skills development and network building, encourages recruitment from a broad and diverse applicant pool, and favors proposals that leverage or expand existing global networks and infrastructure.
Across all tracks, student participants supported with IRES funds must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents. A key practical point is that students do not apply directly to NSF for IRES participation. Instead, NSF makes awards to investigators or organizations running IRES projects, and students apply to those NSF-funded projects. To find current opportunities, students are directed to use NSF's award search directory of active IRES awards.
From the opportunity details provided, the program is administered by NSF as a discretionary grant program in the science and technology research and development category. The funding opportunity number listed is 18-505, with an award ceiling of up to $1,500,000 and an estimate of about 40 expected awards (as of the solicitation information shown). The original closing date referenced is February 13, 2018, and multiple NSF CFDA program numbers are associated with the solicitation, reflecting that IRES projects can span many NSF-funded research areas.Apply for 18 505
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Research Experiences for Students" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 27, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 13, 2018 Track-II Advanced Studies Institutes Track - III New Concepts in International Graduate Experience Track - I IRES Sites. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) - FAQs
1) What is the NSF International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program funds projects that provide U.S. undergraduate and graduate students with meaningful research and research-related training in international settings. The emphasis is on hands-on participation, where students actively contribute to high-quality research in NSF-supported areas of science and engineering while being mentored by experienced researchers.
2) What is the main goal of IRES?
At the program level, IRES is designed to help build a diverse, globally engaged U.S. STEM workforce. NSF frames the long-term purpose as strengthening U.S. leadership in research and education and improving economic competitiveness by preparing the next generation of research leaders with strong technical skills, professional connections, and the ability to operate in international research environments.
3) What kinds of student activities does IRES support?
IRES supports active, hands-on research and research-related training conducted in international settings. The program is centered on students directly engaging in ongoing, high-quality work rather than only attending lectures or observing.
4) Do students apply directly to NSF for IRES funding or participation?
No. Students do not apply directly to NSF for IRES participation. NSF makes awards to investigators or organizations that run IRES projects, and students apply to those NSF-funded projects.
5) How can students find IRES opportunities to apply to?
Students are directed to use NSF's award search directory of active IRES awards to locate current opportunities and the projects that are recruiting participants.
6) Who is eligible to participate as a student on an IRES-funded project?
Across all tracks, student participants supported with IRES funds must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents.
7) What are the different IRES tracks?
Proposers must select one of three tracks, each focused on a different type of international research experience:
- Track I: IRES Sites (IS)
- Track II: Advanced Studies Institutes (ASI)
- Track III: New Concepts in International Graduate Experience (IGE)
8) What is Track I (IRES Sites) and who is it for?
Track I, called IRES Sites (IS), supports cohort-based research experiences where a group of undergraduate and/or graduate students travels to an international host site. Students work collaboratively on a shared research theme organized around a coherent intellectual focus. The focus may be within a single discipline or interdisciplinary, as long as it aligns with areas NSF funds. A defining feature is structured mentorship from researchers at the foreign host lab, with students gaining advanced research skills through direct engagement in ongoing projects.
9) What is Track II (Advanced Studies Institutes) and who is it for?
Track II, called Advanced Studies Institutes (ASI), supports intensive, short-duration institutes held outside the United States. These institutes are typically 10 to 21 days and are designed for advanced graduate students who need concentrated training and exposure to frontier topics. ASIs combine short-course style instruction with related learning and research activities.
10) Why must a Track II Advanced Studies Institute be located outside the United States?
Track II projects are expected to justify why the institute must be located internationally. Examples of international justification include access to unique facilities, data resources, field sites, or concentrations of expertise that are best leveraged in a non-U.S. location.
11) What kinds of instructors or experts are involved in Track II ASIs?
Advanced Studies Institutes are expected to bring together distinguished, active researchers from both the U.S. and abroad. The intent is to provide advanced graduate students with exposure to frontier topics while strengthening professional networks across countries.
12) What is Track III (New Concepts in International Graduate Experience) and who can propose it?
Track III, called New Concepts in International Graduate Experience (IGE), supports larger-scale, more experimental models to expand access to high-impact international research and professional development for U.S. graduate students. This track invites U.S. professional societies and organizations tied to science and engineering education or research to propose, implement, and evaluate new approaches for preparing globally engaged scientists and engineers.
13) What types of international experiences are supported under Track III?
Track III can support individuals or groups of graduate students traveling to non-U.S. locations for immersive experiences lasting from several weeks up to a semester. These experiences occur under mentorship arrangements that include collaborators in both the U.S. and the host country.
14) What does Track III emphasize in terms of student development?
Track III emphasizes transferable skills development and network building. It encourages recruitment from a broad and diverse applicant pool and favors proposals that leverage or expand existing global networks and infrastructure.
15) What research areas can IRES projects cover?
IRES projects must align with areas that NSF funds in science and engineering. The solicitation indicates that multiple NSF CFDA program numbers are associated with IRES, reflecting that projects can span many NSF-supported research areas.
16) What is meant by a "cohort-based" international research experience?
In the context of IRES Track I (IRES Sites), cohort-based means a group of undergraduate and/or graduate students travels together to an international host site and participates in a coordinated experience tied to a shared research theme and a coherent intellectual focus.
17) What role does mentorship play in IRES?
Mentorship is a core feature across the program. Track I highlights structured mentorship from researchers at the foreign host lab. Track III specifies mentorship arrangements that include collaborators in both the U.S. and the host country. Overall, students are expected to gain advanced research skills through guided participation in real research environments.
18) Which federal agency administers IRES?
The program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
19) What type of funding program is IRES?
Based on the opportunity details provided, IRES is a discretionary grant program in the science and technology research and development category.
20) What is the funding opportunity number for this IRES solicitation?
The funding opportunity number listed is 18-505.
21) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is up to $1,500,000.
22) How many awards were expected under the solicitation information shown?
The solicitation information provided estimates about 40 expected awards.
23) What deadline is referenced in the opportunity details provided?
The original closing date referenced is February 13, 2018.
24) Are IRES experiences only for undergraduates?
No. IRES includes opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, depending on the track. Track I includes undergraduate and/or graduate cohorts, Track II is designed for advanced graduate students, and Track III focuses on graduate student international experiences.
25) What makes IRES different from a study-abroad or lecture-only program?
IRES is built around active participation in research and research-related training in an international setting. The central idea is that students contribute directly to high-quality work in NSF-supported areas while being mentored, rather than only attending lectures or observing research activities.
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