---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19211"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19211"
heading: "Early-career research fellowship program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19211"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter VI — Miscellaneous Science and Technology Provisions"
  - "Part A — Supporting Early-Career Researchers"
---

# §19211. Early-career research fellowship program

- (a) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11) may establish a 2-year pilot program to make awards to highly qualified early-career investigators to carry out an independent research program at the [institution of higher education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=13) or participating Federal research facility chosen by such investigator, to last for a period not greater than two years.
- (b) **Selection process—** The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11) shall select [recipients](/usc/42/18901.md?p=24) under [subsection (a)](#a) from among citizens, nationals, and lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of the United States.
- (c) **Outreach—** The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11) shall conduct program outreach to recruit fellowship applicants—
  - (1) from all regions of the country;
  - (2) from historically underrepresented populations in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and
  - (3) who graduate from or intend to carry out research at a variety of types of institutions of higher education, including—
    - (A) historically Black colleges and universities;
    - (B) Tribal Colleges and Universities;
    - (C) [minority-serving institutions](/usc/42/18901.md?p=19);
    - (D) institutions of higher education that are not among the top 50 institutions in annual Federal funding for research; and
    - (E) [EPSCoR institutions](/usc/42/18901.md?p=8).
- (d) **Special consideration—** The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11) shall give special consideration and priority to an application from an individual who graduated from or is intending to carry out research at an institution of the type specified in [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3).
- (e) **Reports from fellows—** Not later than 180 days after the end of the pilot program under this section, each early-career investigator who receives an award under the pilot program shall submit to the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11) a report that describes how the early-career investigator used the award funds.
- (f) **Report from the Director—** Not later than 90 days after the conclusion of the second year of the pilot program, the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11) shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following:
  - (1) A summary of the uses of award funds under this section and the impact of the pilot program under this section.
  - (2) Statistical summary data on fellowship [awardees](/usc/42/18901.md?p=2) disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, geography, age, years since completion of doctoral degree, and institution type.
  - (3) If determined effective, a plan for permanent implementation of the pilot program.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VI, § 10601, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1632.)