The Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Program is
designed to encourage development and implementation of bold, new, and
potentially transformative approaches to STEM graduate education training. The
program seeks proposals that a) explore ways for graduate students in STEM
master’s and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and
competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers, or b) support research
on the graduate education system and outcomes of systemic interventions and policies.

IGE projects are intended to generate the knowledge
required for the customization, implementation, and broader adoption of
potentially transformative approaches to graduate education. The program
supports piloting, testing, and validating novel models or activities and
examining systemic innovations with high potential to enrich and extend the
knowledge base on effective graduate education approaches.

The program addresses both workforce development,
emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity-building needs in
graduate education. Strategic collaborations with the private sector,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national
laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science
organizations, and academic partners are encouraged. The primary beneficiaries
for all IGE research projects (Track 1 and Track 2) must be master's and/or
doctoral students in STEM-designated degree programs.

The IGE Program calls for proposals in two tracks to:

• Design, pilot, and test new, innovative and
  transformative approaches for inclusive STEM graduate education (Track 1);
• 
  
  Examine the impact of innovative systemic policies,
  procedures, and interventions on graduate education outcomes (Track 2);
• 
  
  Examine the potential to extend a successful approach
  developed in one discipline or context to other disciplines or contexts (Tracks
  1 and 2);
• 
  
  Develop approaches that are informed by learning science
  and the existing body of knowledge about STEM graduate education (Tracks 1 and
  2).

Awards and project periods:

• IGE Track 1 Awards (6 to 10 anticipated in FY 2024) are
  expected to be up to three (3) years in duration with a total budget between
  $300,000 and $500,000.
• 
  
  
  
  IGE Track 2 Awards (6 to 12 anticipated in FY 2024) are
  expected to be up to five (5) years in duration with a total budget up to
  $1,000,000.

Cost Sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost
sharing is prohibited.