Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS)
Link
Deadline
Application Deadline: Feb 27, 2025
Sponsor
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Purpose
Awards funding to increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas participating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Supports research, education, and extension projects that target K-12 students as well as students in 2-year post-secondary programs, such as vocational or technical institutions and community or junior colleges. Helps prepare students to enter STEM fields in higher education with the goal of developing a qualified workforce in food and agriculture. Proposals should develop education and extension initiatives focused on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations for women and underrepresented minorities focused on strengthening rural economies.
Additional information on program priorities, need areas, applied projects, and expected outcomes can be found in the program guidance.
Under this opportunity, rural area is defined as any locality with a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less and is generally characterized as having fewer that 1,000 inhabitants per square mile, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Amount of Funding
Award ceiling: $200,000
Award floor: $25,000
Project period: 24 - 36 months
Estimated number of awards: 9
Estimated total program funding:
$1,800,000
A dollar-for-dollar funding match with cash or in-kind contributions from non-federal sources is required. More information about cost matching and conditions under which the matching requirement may be waived are available in the program guidance.
Who Can Apply
Applications may be submitted by:
- State agricultural experiment stations
- Colleges and universities
- University research foundations
- Other research institutions and organizations
- Federal agencies
- National laboratories
- Private organizations or corporations
- Individuals or any group consisting of 2 or more of the eligible entities described described above
Geographic Coverage
Nationwide
What This Program Funds
New Program • Operating Costs and Staffing
Application Process
Application instructions, requirements, and other information is available in the funding announcement.
Contact
For programmatic or technical
questions:
Christopher Green
856-328-7396
christopher.green@usda.gov
For programmatic or technical
questions:
Donna Hiatt
816-702-9678
donna.hiatt@usda.gov
Rural Awards
Past awards received in fiscal year 2024 are described on the program website.
Examples of programs to support rural populations and communities include:
- Explora Science Center and Children's Museum of Albuquerque received funding funding to support the Roots & Routes: Rural Women, STEM, and Sustainability program with the goal of increasing rural female and minority participation in food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences.
- Oregon State University received funding to support the Explore and More: Diving Deeper into Tribal Students' Interests program for Native American high school students, mostly from reservations and rural communities, as they look to their own cultures as inspiration, creating original projects that will address community issues related to food, agriculture, and natural resource management.
- University of Arkansas received funding to support the Arkansas CommUniversity Statewide Partnerships and Agri-STEM Pathways for Underrepresented Students program with the goal of increasing the number of minority students pursuing agricultural degrees and entering the agriculture workforce in Arkansas.
Topics This Program Addresses
Vocational Training, Education, and Employment