NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (Trailblazer) | 24 600

NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) - FAQs

What is the NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER)?

The NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) is a National Science Foundation grant program that supports high-potential, forward-looking, engineering-led research projects proposed by individual investigators.

What kinds of projects is TRAILBLAZER designed to fund?

TRAILBLAZER is intended to fund novel projects that can creatively address major national needs or grand challenges, strengthen US leadership in science and engineering, and generate new progress at the intersection of multiple engineering and science domains.

What does NSF mean by a "genuine pivot" in this program?

A central feature of TRAILBLAZER is that investigators are expected to pursue research directions that are meaningfully distinct from their prior or current lines of work. The program aims to enable a true shift into new territory while still building on the PI's demonstrated creativity and record of innovation.

Where within NSF is this opportunity housed?

The opportunity sits within NSF Engineering, through the Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities (EFMA) Office.

What is meant by "convergence research" in this solicitation?

The program emphasizes convergence research where engineering and scientific fields come together in ways that can produce outsized impact, particularly by connecting multiple engineering and science domains.

Is TRAILBLAZER for individual investigators or teams?

TRAILBLAZER proposals are restricted to single-PI submissions only.

Are collaborative proposals allowed?

No. Collaborative proposals, as defined under NSF policy (PAPPG Chapter II), are not accepted for this program.

Who can submit a proposal (what organizations are eligible)?

Eligibility is limited to proposals submitted by US-based organizations in two categories: (1) non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar entities) that are directly tied to education or research activities; and (2) US-accredited two-year or four-year Institutions of Higher Education (including community colleges) submitting on behalf of their faculty.

What are the PI eligibility requirements?

The PI must hold a tenured or tenure-eligible faculty appointment at the Associate Professor or Full Professor rank (or an equivalent position) at an eligible submitting organization.

Does the PI need an engineering background?

Yes. The PI must be tied to engineering through either an appointment in an engineering school or college and/or possession of an engineering doctoral degree.

Are there extra PI requirements if the proposal is submitted through a non-profit, non-academic organization?

Yes. If the proposal is submitted through a non-profit, non-academic organization, the PI must have a continuing appointment expected to last the full three years of the award, and that appointment must include substantial research responsibilities.

What does it mean to be part of the NSF TRAILBLAZER cohort?

Awardees will become part of a formal NSF TRAILBLAZER cohort intended to build connections, share lessons learned, and accelerate impact across the group.

Are there cohort participation requirements for funded PIs?

Yes. Principal investigators funded under this program are expected to participate in an annual meeting, and they may be invited to additional cohort activities.

What is the non-overlap rule and why does it matter?

If the PI has prior or concurrent funding support for other projects that overlap with the proposed TRAILBLAZER effort, that overlap makes the project ineligible for a TRAILBLAZER award. The proposed work must be clearly distinct both intellectually from the PI's established research area and administratively/financially from other funded projects.

How much funding is available per award?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is up to $3,000,000.

What type of NSF opportunity is this (program classification)?

This is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity with CFDA 47.041.

What is the application closing date?

The posting lists an application closing date of April 15, 2025.

Is there an informational webinar about the solicitation?

Yes. NSF scheduled an informational webinar for October 15, 2024, hosted by EFMA, to walk through the program and answer questions related to the FY 2025 TRAILBLAZER solicitation.

Where will the webinar access details be posted?

Access details are expected to be posted on the NSF Directorate for Engineering and EFMA websites.

Does this program focus on engineering specifically, or broader science too?

The program is engineering-led and housed in NSF Engineering, but it explicitly emphasizes multidisciplinary and convergence research that brings engineering and scientific fields together.

What is the main differentiator of TRAILBLAZER compared to a typical NSF research grant?

Based on the solicitation summary provided, a defining feature is the expectation of a genuine pivot into a research direction that is meaningfully distinct from the PI's prior or current work, alongside the cohort model that includes required annual meeting participation and potential additional cohort activities.