National Science Foundation (NSF)’s cover photo
National Science Foundation (NSF)

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Research Services

Alexandria, VA 303,257 followers

Where discoveries begin

About us

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…" With an annual budget of more than $8 billion, NSF is the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities. In many fields, such as mathematics, computer science, and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing. NSF awards about 11,000 new awards per year, with an average duration of three years -- to fund specific research proposals that have been judged the most promising by a rigorous and objective merit-review system. In the past few decades, NSF-funded researchers have won more than 200 Nobel Prizes as well as other honors too numerous to list. NSF funds equipment that is needed by scientists and engineers but is often too expensive for any one group or researcher to afford. Another essential element in NSF's mission is support for science and engineering education, from pre-K through graduate school and beyond. There are many exciting careers at NSF, not only in science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM), but also in business and operations. For more information, please visit us at http://nsf.gov/careers/. NSF welcomes opportunities to engage with you on our LinkedIn page. Please see our Comment Policy [http://www.nsf.gov/social/policies.jsp ] for more information.

Website
https://www.nsf.gov/
Industry
Research Services
Company size
1,001-5,000 employees
Headquarters
Alexandria, VA
Type
Government Agency
Founded
1950
Specialties
Biological Sciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Education and Human Resources, Engineering, Geosciences, International Science and Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences, Grants, STEM, and Research

Locations

Employees at National Science Foundation (NSF)

Updates

  • Origami isn't just art — it's inspiration for cutting-edge #NSFfunded research. 💡 Metamaterials are a special class of engineered materials, designed to have unique properties not found in nature. In the latest "NSF's Discovery Files" podcast, Glaucio Paulino, a professor at Princeton University, dives into his work on developing modular chiral origami metamaterials, engineering control approaches, and the ways they might benefit society. https://bit.ly/46weSzf #metamaterials #engineering #science 📷: Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

    • Image of Princeton University professor Glaucio Paulino next to the quote, "This will offer a new PARADIGM in structural and material design."
  • The U.S. National Science Foundation is committed to ensuring the United States is at the vanguard of innovation in artificial intelligence to secure economic competitiveness and national security. To align with The White House AI Action Plan, NSF will be investing in NSF AI Research Institutes, multi-sectoral partnerships, AI Testbeds and the next phase of the National AI Research Resource. "These investments will help secure U.S. leadership in AI while ensuring the benefits of this powerful technology reach across America and create more jobs," said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. "NSF stands ready to work alongside our partners in government, private industry and philanthropy to keep American innovation on the frontier where it belongs." https://bit.ly/3GXVMHL

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  • The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory is offering a unique experience to explore the cosmos visually and through sound. Skyviewer is an easy-to-use, interactive app that brings detailed images of the cosmos from the Rubin Observatory to users at home. Participants can embark either on a guided or free-form journey to move through galaxies, stars, supernovas and more. The sonification feature also provides the opportunity to experience the app's data through sound, with a different listening experience each time. The Rubin Observatory is equipped with the largest digital camera ever built, uncovering the mysteries of the cosmos to enable groundbreaking discoveries. Click to explore: https://bit.ly/3GUUOvV

    • Many stars and galaxies shown in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Skyviewer app.
  • A leap forward in brain research and health, powered by federally funded research. Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's are a growing concern in the U.S., with over 7 million Americans living with #Alzheimers disease today. By 2060, that number is expected to grow, affecting nearly 13 million people. Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, a team of researchers at the University of Southern California is developing an artificial intelligence model that could predict neurodegenerative diseases years before symptoms surface. The AI is capable of generating a future MRI of a person's brain from just a single present-day scan. This technology opens the door to identifying subtle changes that may signal the earliest stages of neurodegenerative diseases The multidisciplinary research combined AI, neuroscience and mathematical modeling to address one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time. This work was made possible through NSF's long-term investment in: 💠Cyber-physical systems. 💠Uncertainty modeling. 💠Trustworthy and explainable AI. Federally funded research provides the foundation for discoveries that improve lives. With continued support, these tools could become part of routine preventive care, potentially saving millions in health care costs and improving countless lives. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/4kOW6qi Graphic by U.S. National Science Foundation. Image credits left to right: pressmaster/AdobeStock; Gengshuo Liu, University of Southern California; mankjon/AdobeStock; pavlofox/AdobeStock

    • A person sits at a computer with brain scan images on a screen in front of them. Code is shown on the right. 
Graphic by NSF. Images L to R: pressmaster/AdobeStock; Gengshuo Liu, University of Southern California; mankjon/AdobeStock; pavlofox/AdobeStock.
  • The "pressure-quench protocol," a new technique developed by #NSFfunded researchers, offers a novel approach for exploring and developing superconducting materials. The technique created by a collaborative team of researchers from the University of Houston and the University at Buffalo stabilizes a composite material in a superconducting state at ambient or normal pressure. Superconducting materials have the potential to enable highly efficient electronic devices and minimal energy loss in power grids. The new protocol also opens a new way to explore material phases that usually exist only under extreme pressure. "The technique used in this study not only demonstrates potential for understanding how materials can be superconductive in everyday conditions — it's a new way to create states of matter that we have not seen before in particular materials," says John Schlueter, program director in the NSF Division of Materials Research, which supported the work. https://bit.ly/46NNBYW 📷: Liangzi Deng, Busheng Wang and Ching-Wu Chu #superconducting #NSFfunded

    • Visual representation of the pressure-quench protocol technique in a graphic. Three blue spheres containing shapes inside them and yellow lines with "-e" charges pointing up to them. The background is a warped, multicolored grid with a diamond at the end.
  • NSF is excited to announce its first set of Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP) designated institutions. NSF EGFP funding of approximately $25 million will support more than 160 fellows at 16 institutions across the country. The program provides funding to institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions to increase research capacity and attract some of the nation's most outstanding STEM students. https://bit.ly/4m2QJVj

    • NSF logo
  • In support of the NSF-led National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot, the agency announces a new partnership with Voltage Park to match U.S. researchers with high-performance cloud computing resources and expert support to drive AI innovation. "Voltage Park's participation significantly strengthens our ability to deliver on the promise of the NAIRR pilot," said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. "By partnering with visionary private-sector organizations like Voltage Park, we are expanding the frontiers of AI research and ensuring that the U.S. continues to lead in AI innovation." Launched in 2024, the NAIRR pilot is a public-private initiative that expands access to the critical tools and resources needed to advance U.S. leadership in AI, promoting economic growth and national competitiveness. https://bit.ly/456yBUM

    • A collage banner with abstract graphics with a large computer system in the forefront along with the title National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR).
  • New imaging technologies have enabled researchers to uncover the intricate ways in which DNA is packaged. A team of NSF-supported researchers, led by Northwestern University, utilized new imaging techniques to view in detail how chromatin, the DNA-protein complex that comprises chromosomes, is packaged. Findings revealed that chromatin packing domains, tiny 3D structures that emerge during the folding process, exist beyond the previously believed fixed "on" or "off" stages. Instead, structures learn and then guide which genes are active and to what level they are expressed, leading to the development of "cellular memories," which help them respond in predictable ways to changes in their environment. "This finding suggests that cells can remember and reuse patterns in how their chromatin is packed — helping them adapt as their needs change," said Diana Chu, an NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences program officer. "It's like a toolbox that can be rearranged for different tasks. Over time, you learn which configurations work best for specific jobs, allowing you to reuse them when needed." https://bit.ly/44P2oQy 📷: U.S. National Science Foundation

    • Every cell in the human body contains about 6 feet of DNA, all packed tightly inside a space too small to see with the naked eye. To fit all that genetic material, DNA is first wrapped around proteins called histones, forming a structure known as chromat
  • The NSF Mind, Machine and Motor (NSF M3X) program is enabling researchers nationwide to better understand interactions between humans and "synthetic factors" to improve technologies that could benefit millions. In healthcare, NSF M3X is supporting research for human-machine interactions while aiming to build trust in the technology for doctors and patients. Projects using NSF M3X to improve healthcare technology include: • Researchers at New York University are using virtual reality simulations to study how visually impaired people navigate crowded surroundings safely, potentially leading to improved nonvisual feedback. • The development of a wearable device that brings the expertise of a physical therapist to at-home care using machine learning models at the University of Michigan. • Engineers at The Johns Hopkins University are advancing upper limb prosthetics by developing a prosthesis that provides haptic feedback, restoring "touch" to amputees. • The creation of working models that allow surgical robotic arms to better respond to human input based on the user's intent, movement style and level of expertise at The University of Texas at Austin. • Rice University researchers are helping surgeons train by combining virtual reality simulations with a vibrating wristband, testing how vibrations in response to inaccuracies affect performance. https://bit.ly/4nRm3Z2

  • Engineers at UC San Diego are pushing boundaries to make infrastructure safer during and after earthquakes. Using the NHERI DesignSafe Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table, the team has been performing tests to gather data on how buildings and their internal features react to seismic activity. Most recently, the team tested a 10-story, 100-foot building made of cold-formed steel, surpassing the current six-floor height restriction for buildings made of this material. Insights from this testing could increase building codes and height regulations, while offering cheaper and more sustainable construction options. https://bit.ly/44sOmW4

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