Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology

The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) grants are offered to Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to bolster their research capabilities and promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The grants support centers that integrate research and teaching, consequently encouraging the involvement of faculty, students, and researchers traditionally underrepresented in STEM domains.

CREST Center awards further aim to foster new knowledge, increase faculty research productivity, and enhance the representation of historically marginalized groups in STEM fields. Successful proposals are expected to align with the mission of the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES) - fostering a diverse STEM workforce. Specifically, grantees need to exhibit innovation and use evidence-based strategies to address key issues like recruitment, retention, and mentorship of underrepresented groups.

The awards also encourage national research competitiveness, broad involvement in STEM, and sustained funding from federal, state, and private-sector sources beyond CREST’s funding.

Furthermore, there exist Phase I and Phase II CREST Center Awards. Preliminary proposals are a prerequisite for both phases, and an invitation from NSF is needed before submitting a full application. These awards provide multi-year support to institutions with a solid research base. The Phase I grant finances five years of research on a specific NSF-backed topic. Upon invitation, institutions can apply for Phase II funding to continue existing research or propose a new, significantly different research area.

Finally, current CREST Center awardees can also apply for CREST Partnership Supplements. They support the creation or enhancement of collaborations with recognized research centers, including NSF-related centers, private sector research labs, K-12 schools, and informal science entities like museums, depending on their suitability. These partnerships should contribute to the advancement of knowledge and education on topics of national importance.