About NSF

As described in our strategic plan, NSF is tasked with keeping the U.S. at the leading edge of discovery in science and engineering, to the benefit of all, without barriers to participation.

NSF works closely with the research community to shape our numerous funding opportunities. Scientists, engineers and educators can join the agency as temporary program directors; these "rotators" make recommendations about which proposals to fund and influence new directions in the fields of science, engineering and education. We also support workshops and other events that help identify potentially transformative areas of inquiry for future funding.

NSF uses a rigorous system of merit review to ensure the proposals we receive are evaluated in a fair, competitive, transparent and in-depth manner. Each year, about 50,000 scientists, engineers and educators give their time to serve as independent reviewers of the proposals submitted to NSF.