Sponsors (6)
This bill creates a modest, NSF-supported pilot to improve mentorship, equity, and misconduct reporting in research settings—offering targeted benefits and evidence-gathering for Congress but with limited funding, added administrative costs, and some reputational/legal risks for institutions.
Graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty will receive funded mentorship programs that improve mentoring skills and increase access to mentorship resources.
Minority-serving institutions (including HBCUs and Tribal colleges), rural, and emerging research institutions will receive special consideration in grant awards, increasing equity in research support and opportunities for students from underrepresented groups.
Students and researchers will benefit from required institutional reporting processes for harassment and misconduct, which should improve workplace safety and accountability in research settings.
Graduate students, universities, and researchers will get only limited support because the program is authorized at $5 million over five years, constraining grant size and overall reach.
Universities and state governments will face additional administrative burden and costs to apply for grants, implement required mentorship components, and comply with new reporting processes.
Universities and students may face increased reputational exposure or legal risk if mandated reporting on harassment and misconduct discloses problems.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes an NSF demonstration program to improve STEM mentorship and requires institutional reporting processes for harassment and misconduct.
Official title: To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out a mentorship demonstration program, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 8, 2026 by Jennifer McClellan · Last progress June 8, 2026
Creates a new National Science Foundation competitive demonstration program to improve mentorship practices for faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers in STEM and requires NSF to report on program effectiveness and a plan for permanent adoption if effective. Authorizes $5 million per year (FY2027–2031) for the program and adds a requirement that institutions and agencies have reporting processes for harassment, discrimination, and other professional or scientific misconduct.