The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program provides support toenhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions (MSI) through the establishment of centersthat effectively integrate education and research. CREST promotes the development of new knowledge,enhancements of the research productivity of individual faculty, and an expanded presence of studentsunderrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The HBCU-RISE is a component of the CREST program that supports the expansion of institutional research capacity as well as the successful training of doctoral students, especially those from groups underrepresented in STEM at HBCUs. HBCU-RISE projects must have a unifying research focus in one of the research areas supported by NSF; a direct connection to the long-term plans of the host department(s) and the institutions strategic plan and mission; and plans for expanding institutional research capacity as well as increasing the production of doctoral students, especially those underrepresented in STEM.