Arctic Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (Arctic DDRIG) Arctic Social Sciences, Arctic System Sciences, and Arctic Observing Network
NSF offers grants to support U.S. doctoral research advancing understanding of Arctic natural, social, and cultural systems through its Arctic Social Sciences, System Sciences, and Observing Network programs.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: June 15, 2026: Application deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $40,000 in direct costs per award (plus indirects); ~25 awards/year; project duration up to 36 months.
Summary: Supports dissertation-level research by doctoral students at U.S. institutions to advance understanding of the Arctic's natural, social, and cultural systems.
Description
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) invites proposals for Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs) in the Arctic Sciences Section, Office of Polar Programs. This opportunity supports doctoral students, via their advisors, to conduct research that enhances fundamental, process, and systems-level understanding of the rapidly changing Arctic environment and its social and cultural dynamics. Proposals may be submitted to the Arctic Social Sciences, Arctic System Science, and Arctic Observing Network programs.
The program aims to:
- Advance scientific understanding of the Arctic region and its global connections.
- Support early-career scientists and promote STEM workforce development.
- Encourage interdisciplinary, convergent, and collaborative research, including projects that engage Arctic communities and Indigenous knowledge holders.
Research topics may include, but are not limited to: environmental change, socioecological systems, sustainability, system modeling, community health, and development of observing networks.
