[U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov)

Proposals accepted anytime

Up to $15,000 in direct costs per award (plus indirect costs); ~10–15 awards/year; project duration up to 24 months

Supports doctoral dissertation research to digitally record, document, and archive endangered human languages, advancing linguistic science and data infrastructure.

--- ## Description This program supports doctoral dissertation research projects focused on documenting endangered human languages. With nearly half of the world's 7,000 languages at risk of extinction, the program aims to leverage advances in information technology to record, archive, and analyze these languages. Funding is available for fieldwork, data management, development of lexicons, grammars, text samples, and digital databases. The goal is to enhance the scientific understanding of language, build computational infrastructure, and train the next generation of linguists and language scientists. The program specifically funds Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs), which are intended to improve the quality and scope of dissertation research by providing resources not normally available through the student's institution. --- ## Due Dates - Proposals accepted anytime (no fixed deadline) --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum award: $15,000 in direct costs per project (indirect costs may be requested in addition, subject to the institution’s federally negotiated rate) - Estimated total program funding: $250,000 annually (pending appropriations) - Expected number of awards: 10–15 per year - Project duration: Up to 24 months --- ## Eligibility - **Who May Submit:** Proposals must be submitted by Ph.D.-granting universities or colleges accredited in, and having a campus located in, the U.S. (acting on behalf of their faculty and doctoral students) - **PI/Co-PI Requirements:** - The Principal Investigator (PI) must be the dissertation advisor or another faculty member at the submitting U.S. institution. - The doctoral student must be listed as the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). - **Proposal Limits:** - No limit on the number of proposals per institution or advisor. - Each doctoral student may submit a maximum of two DDRIG proposals during their graduate career. --- ## Application Process - **Submission Platforms:** Proposals may be submitted via [NSF FastLane](https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov), [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/research-web/), or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/). - **Proposal Preparation:** Follow the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) and the specific [program solicitation](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf16617). - **Required Documents:** - Project summary and description (10 pages max for description) - Data Management Plan (2 pages max) - Biographical sketches for both student and advisor - Statement of consultation with relevant language communities - Letter from the advisor (PI) affirming the student’s readiness to undertake the project - Letter from the selected language archive confirming willingness to archive materials - Budget and budget justification - Additional supplementary documents as specified in the solicitation - **Cost Sharing:** Not required or allowed - **Letters of Intent/Preliminary Proposals:** Not required --- ## Additional Information - **Scope of Support:** - Fieldwork, data collection, and archiving - Preparation of lexicons, grammars, and databases - Development of computational tools and infrastructure for language documentation - **Restrictions:** - No support for language revitalization or expansion of language use (focus is on documentation) - No stipends or salaries for the doctoral student or advisor - No tuition or unrelated educational expenses - **Review Criteria:** Proposals are evaluated on intellectual merit and broader impacts, including urgency of documentation, quality of proposed work, and potential benefits to both the scientific community and the language community. --- ## External Links - [NSF Program Page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/del-ddrig-documenting-endangered-languages-doctoral-dissertation/505309/nsf16-617/solicitation) - [NSF Publication 16-617 (Solicitation)](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf16617) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359582) - [Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [DELAMAN (Language Archives)](https://www.delaman.org) - [NSF FastLane](https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov) - [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/research-web/) - [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | |-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|---------------| | NSF DEL-DDRIG Program (Joan Maling) | [jmaling@nsf.gov](mailto:jmaling@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-8046 | | NSF Grants.gov Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | | | NSF Information Center | | (703) 292-5111 | For technical questions on FastLane or Research.gov: - FastLane/Research.gov Help Desk: 1-800-673-6188 - [fastlane@nsf.gov](mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov) - [rgov@nsf.gov](mailto:rgov@nsf.gov) For Grants.gov technical support: - Grants.gov Contact Center: 1-800-518-4726 - [support@grants.gov](mailto:support@grants.gov)

Documenting Endangered Languages - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants

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