U.S. National Science Foundation
Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF)
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Oct 21, 2026 · 14 days left
- Award size
- From $190K
- Total available
- $8.5M · about 45 awards
- Cost share / match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- 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 14 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 Gibson County (nationwide program)
- No cost share required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 41
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
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Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/793e4716-44ff-4f29-9a06-326f00e9bae9 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/d3d63302-4fed-4e2a-9c6a-133731c5fcee
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About this grant
The purpose of the Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) is to support future leaders in mathematics and statistics by facilitating their participation in postdoctoral research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development. There are two options for awardees: Research Fellowship and Research Instructorship. Awards will support research in areas of mathematics and statistics, including applications to other disciplines.
Eligibility (from the notice)
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
-The Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are awards to individuals, and proposals are submitted directly by the fellowship proposer to NSF. Fellows must affiliate with institutions or organizations (e.g., Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), government and national laboratories and facilities, privately sponsored nonprofit institutes and museums, and for-profit organizations under certain conditions).
*Who May Serve as PI:
An individual is eligible to submit a proposal to this program if all the following criteria are met:
Must, at the time of submission, be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a legally admitted permanent resident alien of the United States;
May not have held the doctoral degree more than 2 years as of January 1 of the year of the award;
Must propose research in an area of mathematics or statistics;
May not have previously been a principal investigator or co-principal investigator of an NSF award (other than a graduate research fellowship or an award in support of a conference or workshop);
May not submit a research plan duplicated in another NSF proposal;
Must not have previously been offered an award by the MSPRF program; and
Must have a doctoral degree conferred before the postdoctoral appointment start date.
Proposals that fail to meet the above eligibility requirements will be returned without review.
By signing and submitting the proposal, the fellowship candidate is certifying that they meet the eligibility criteria specified in this program solicitation. Willful provision of false information in this request and its supporting documents or in reports required under an ensuing award is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).
Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Sep30
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment (already past: do it now)
Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters. - Oct14
Finish a complete draft for a final review
University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs - Oct19
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Oct21
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Gibson County facts with citations.
Who in Tennessee has won this program
21 awards to Tennessee recipients in 4 counties since 2017 · 0 in Gibson County. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $11.7M | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $2.4M | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.7M | 2022 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.7M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.6M | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.2M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.1M | 2019 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $911K | 2019 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $800K | 2021 |
| University Of Tennessee | Chattanooga, Hamilton County | $793K | 2025 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $780K | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $749K | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another grantee
This federal money also reaches local groups as subawards. 20 subawards on file · 0 in Gibson County. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Through | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fisk University | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University | $956K | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Texas A & M University | $388K | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Ed | $370K | 2026 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill | $265K | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | West Virginia University Research Corporation | $244K | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Cornell University | $235K | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Oregon State University | $228K | 2024 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of Vermont & State Agricultural College | $204K | 2025 |
| University Of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | University of Arizona | $168K | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of Notre Dame Du Lac | $165K | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | The Pennsylvania State University | $158K | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Cornell University | $157K | 2026 |
Source: USAspending.gov subaward reports (prime recipients report subawards of $30,000 or more).
About the program (47.049)
Mathematical and Physical Sciences — (MPS)
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.