The National Science Foundation’s RAISE (Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering) mechanism supports research projects that cannot be adequately reviewed within a single NSF program or discipline. These awards are designed for ideas that inherently span multiple scientific fields and require coordinated evaluation across directorates.

RAISE proposals are typically appropriate when a project integrates substantially different areas of expertise — for example combining engineering, computing, environmental science, social science, or biological research into a single unified effort. Because traditional NSF programs review proposals within specific disciplinary panels, some interdisciplinary projects struggle to find an appropriate review home. The RAISE mechanism allows NSF to assemble a tailored review process.

Investigators usually discuss their project with one or more program officers before submission. NSF determines whether the project fits the RAISE criteria and coordinates the review across relevant programs. The proposal must clearly explain why it cannot be evaluated within a standard core program and how each discipline contributes to the research goals.

Successful RAISE proposals present a cohesive interdisciplinary question rather than multiple independent subprojects. Reviewers evaluate the intellectual integration, collaboration plan, and feasibility of coordination across fields. A clear management structure and defined roles for investigators are essential.

Many applications struggle because they simply combine several research topics without demonstrating true integration. Strong submissions instead show that the research question itself requires multiple fields and that the project would not be possible within a single discipline.

ScienceDocs assists research teams in organizing interdisciplinary collaborations, clarifying project structure, and preparing proposals appropriate for multi-program review. We help investigators communicate the integrated research vision and develop a narrative that is understandable to diverse review panels.

To work with ScienceDocs on an NSF RAISE proposal, click HERE.