EDU Core Research: Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (ECR: BCSER)

The U.S. National Science Foundation's EDU Core Research: Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (ECR: BCSER) program supports projects that enhance the nation's STEM education enterprise by building investigators' capacity to carry out high-quality STEM education research. The program seeks to broaden the pool of researchers who can advance knowledge regarding STEM learning and learning environments, broadening participation in STEM fields, and STEM workforce development. Some key points to consider include: • Career development may be accomplished through investigator-initiated professional development and research projects or through institutes that enable researchers to integrate methodological strategies with theoretical and practical issues in STEM education. • Researchers from underrepresented groups, as well as faculty at minority-serving and two-year institutions, are particularly encouraged to submit proposals. • The program supports activities that enable researchers to expand their areas of expertise and acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to conduct rigorous research in STEM education.