U.S. National Science Foundation
Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Oct 14, 2026 · 8 days left
- Award size
- From $600K
- Total available
- $5.8M
- Cost share / match
- Not required
- Who can apply
- Other (see eligibility)
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. The deadline is in 8 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Grant-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- No cost share required
- Only 8 days left to apply
- Tennessee recipients since 2023: 15
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Read the official notice View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
About this grant
The Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science program supports authentic summer research experiences for K-14 educators to foster long-term collaborations between universities, community colleges, school districts, and industry partners. With this solicitation, the Directorates for Engineering (ENG) and Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) focus on a reciprocal exchange of expertise between K-14 educators and research faculty and (when applicable) industry mentors. K-14 educators will enhance their scientific disciplinary knowledge in engineering or computer science and translate their research experiences into classroom activities and curricula to broaden their students’ awareness of and participation in computing and engineering pathways. At the same time, the hosting research faculty will deepen their understanding of classroom practices, current curricula, pedagogy, and K-14 educational environments.
Eligibility (from the notice)
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
-RET Sites
Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
RET Supplements
RET Supplement to an existing award: Active ENG or CISE awardees.
RET Supplemental funding request submitted as part of a proposal to ENG or CISE for a new or renewal grant or cooperative agreement: Eligibility requirements of the specific funding opportunity apply.
*Who May Serve as PI:
The principal investigator of a RET in Engineering and Computer Science Site proposal must have a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty appointment within a College/Department of Engineering or Engineering Technology or a College/Department of Computer and/or Information Science broadly defined [including e.g., Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Software Engineering, Networking Science, Informatics] within the submitting US IHE. The PI must be a full-time Engineering and/or Computer Science faculty member whose primary job responsibilities are research and teaching and not a faculty member who is involved in an administrative capacity such as a dean or outreach coordinator.
Who in Tennessee has won this program
15 awards to Tennessee recipients in 5 counties since federal FY2023. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $4M | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $3M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.2M | 2022 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.1M | 2021 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $1M | 2026 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $1M | 2019 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $814K | 2017 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $800K | 2025 |
| University Of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | $750K | 2024 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $737K | 2021 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $697K | 2022 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $657K | 2021 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.
About the program (47.041)
Engineering — (ENG)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.