What is the ECR Program?

The EDU Core Research (ECR) program at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) currently funds fundamental research on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education focused on undergraduate education, graduate education, higher education and the STEM workforce. 

Note: Prior to 2026, the ECR program had also previously funded fundamental research projects focused on early childhood or K-12 education levels or in informal settings (see recent changes here) and capacity-building projects through the ECR Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (BCSER) solicitation (now archived since December 2025).

Are you a prospective grantee? See tips here for exploring current NSF ECR funding opportunities. 

What is Fundamental Research?

ECR’s focus on fundamental research distinguishes the program from more applied programs within NSF’s Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). Fundamental research generates knowledge and understanding with the potential for broad relevance. Unlike more applied research, its implications for improving STEM education practice may be indirect and long-term rather than direct and immediate. 

Fundamental research explores curiosity-driven and use‑inspired questions such as: 

• How do students learn algebra? 
• What systemic barriers and biases do certain groups face in STEM training? 
• What new types of emerging technological skills are STEM employers looking for?

This NSF-IES common guidelines document further elaborates (see descriptions for "foundational research" and "early-stage or exploratory research"). 

What Research Areas Does ECR Fund?

Click the below links to see example fundamental research and capacity-building projects across the three research areas that ECR funds:

• STEM learning and learning environments: Fundamental research on STEM teaching and learning in any virtual or formal learning environment focused on undergraduate or graduate education.
• Broadening participation in STEM: Fundamental research on individual or organizational factors that impact the participation of diverse groups in STEM, such as people of races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and disabilities who are currently underrepresented in STEM (see here for guidance from 2025 on pursuing this type of research).
• STEM workforce development: Fundamental research on workforce-related topics such as STEM workforce participation, skill-building approaches, workplace knowledge and competencies, learning in workplace contexts, and critical shifts in STEM workforce trends.

If your idea is not reflected in these examples, also note that under-researched topics can be prime opportunities for future research.

How Does ECR Relate to Other NSF Programs?

Other NSF EDU programs such as Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) or Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) focus more on applied research projects that develop, test, and implement educational interventions. Though some ECR projects also develop and test interventions, the focus should be on theory building and generating knowledge with the potential for broad relevance.

The new STEM K–12 program also supports fundamental research (in addition to applied and translational research), but it differs from ECR in its grade-level focus: Those studying PreK–12 or informal learning should consider STEM K–12 (see here for more).

If you think another NSF program may better fit your idea, consider exploring the websites for NSF EDU programs or searching for NSF EDU funding opportunities. 

More Information

Learn more about the ECR Hub, a multi-institutional resource center that partners with NSF to support and grow communities of fundamental STEM education researchers.