Notice of Limited Competition: USDA NIFA Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program
The full proposal submission deadline is April 19, 2023
For the purposes of this Limited Competition, two page pre-proposals are due by 4:30pm March 15, 2023.
Maximum Award Amount: $200,000 for 24-36 month projects.
Pre-proposals are strongly encouraged to document existing partnerships with Cooperative Extension and/or K-14 partners.
For the full USDA solicitation, please visit here.
Sponsor’s Overview:
The purpose of this program is to support research, education/teaching, and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM. NIFA intends this program to address educational needs within broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences. Applications recommended for funding must highlight and emphasize the development of a competent and qualified workforce in the food and agricultural sciences. WAMS-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing research and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations. Projects that contribute to the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged.
For the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) program, NIFA will support projects with a target audience of K-14 students (kindergarten through twelfth grade plus two years of post-secondary schooling (e.g., vocational technical institutions or community or junior colleges)). Four-year undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral focused projects will not be awarded under this grant announcement. Projects with a primary target of four-year undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral studies should consider other NIFA’s workforce development focused programs.
A proposed project must address two or more Educational Need Areas and/or be an Applied Project that addresses education/teaching, outreach and capacity building to benefit the communities served, especially that of their students. For a definition of “underrepresented minorities” and “rural area” please visit Appendix III of this RFA 1.
Educational Need Areas. WAMS projects must focus on the purpose of two or more of the FY 2023 Need Areas. Please note that selected Need Areas must be indicated on the Project Summary (Part IV, B of this RFA).
a. Student Experiential Learning. Furthers the development of student scientific and professional competencies through hands-on experiential learning projects (inside or outside of the classroom) that provide students with opportunities to solve complex problems in the context of real-world situations. Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to: introducing and expanding students’ knowledge of STEM and other technologies supportive of solutions to pressing challenges influencing food and agriculture including Addressing Climate Change; Advancing Racial Justice, Equity, and Opportunity; Creating More and Better Markets for Producers and Consumers at Home and Abroad; Tackling Food and Nutrition Insecurity and Food Safety; and Making USDA a Great Place to Work for Everyone. Projects should focus on advancing student decision-making and communications skills, data and analytical skills and improving their interest in STEM disciplines as they relate to the food and agricultural enterprise. Activities may include, but are not limited to internships, practicum experiences, study abroad opportunities, and leadership skill development.
b. Student Recruitment, Retention, Mentoring and Educational Equity. Enhances educational equity for under-represented students and strengthens student recruitment and retention programs to promote the future strength of the Nation’s scientific, professional, and technical workforce in the food and agricultural sciences. Activities under this need area may include the provision of student financial assistance to support the recruitment and retention of students. Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to:
i. Initiating new projects or supplementing current efforts to attract and enroll an increased number of students from underrepresented groups in education programs in STEM disciplines as they relate to food and agricultural sciences. These efforts may provide outreach to student’s families and communities to engage in a robust exchange of ideas on using the full breadth of the Nation’s intellectual resources more effectively.
ii. Developing or supplementing agricultural and science literacy programs at the K-14 education levels (kindergarten through twelfth grade plus two years of post-secondary schooling (e.g., vocational technical institutions or community or junior colleges)) that attract students to credentialing or degree granting programs and careers in the food and agricultural sciences; providing mentoring and hands-on learning enrichment programs, student financial support for underrepresented students to attend credentialing or degree granting programs or other initiatives for student retention. Projects with a primary target of supporting current four-year undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral studies will not be awarded under this program.
c. Curriculum Design, Materials Development, and Library Resources. The overall objective is to raise awareness for women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas to STEM disciplines as they relate to the food and agricultural sector. This is to be achieved by increasing or updating the quality of academic programs at K-14 institutions. This Educational Need Area promotes the development of alternative courses of study and degree programs, new and improved curricula and instructional materials, delivery systems and technology that respond to differences in student learning styles or increase awareness to the role of STEM disciplines in food and agricultural sciences. The Need Area also promotes the acquisition of library resources including books, journals and digital resources relating to the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences- including traditional ecological knowledge; and stimulates the use of new approaches to the study of traditional subjects, new research on teaching and learning theory, and new applications of knowledge. Projects including curriculum development components must be led by or include key personnel with curriculum development credentials to ensure materials produced comply with the most appropriate pedagogy, teaching standards, and other applicable institutional, state and national accreditation requirements.
For assistance with InfoReady or to discuss your proposal in development, please contact Saul Allen (saul.allen@maine.edu) in the Office of Research Development.