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

Proposals accepted anytime

$5,000–$5,000,000 per award | ~$100M total annual funding | Award duration varies

Supports research and training on evolutionary and ecological processes at the population, species, community, and ecosystem levels.

--- ## Description The Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) supports fundamental research and training focused on evolutionary and ecological processes that operate at the levels of populations, species, communities, and ecosystems. This funding opportunity encourages proposals that elucidate the principles underlying the unity and diversity of life and its interactions with the environment across spatial and temporal scales. Research approaches may include field, laboratory, or collection-based studies, synthesis activities, phylogenetic discovery, or theoretical and computational modeling. Proposals should be directed to one of the DEB core clusters: - Ecosystem Sciences - Evolutionary Processes - Population and Community Ecology - Systematics and Biodiversity Sciences Interdisciplinary projects that integrate across biological scales or conceptual boundaries are encouraged. Projects leveraging NSF-supported infrastructure (e.g., NEON, EDI, iDigBio) are welcomed. The DEB also solicits "Rules of Life" proposals that span multiple levels of biological organization, connecting population, community, and ecosystem science with organismal, cellular, or molecular biology. Special categories include: - Bridging Ecology and Evolution (BEE) - Small Grants (SG, ≤$200,000) - Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) - Collaborative international proposals with the UK (NERC) or Israel (BSF) Proposals addressing marine ecology should be directed to the Biological Oceanography Program, while those on marine evolution/systematics may be submitted to DEB's Evolutionary Processes or Systematics clusters. --- ## Due Dates - Proposals are accepted at any time; there is no fixed deadline. --- ## Funding Amount - Estimated total annual program funding: ~$100,000,000 - Individual award size: $5,000 to $5,000,000 - Small Grants: ≤$200,000 - Award duration varies depending on project scope --- ## Eligibility Eligible applicants include: - U.S. institutions of higher education (two- and four-year, including community colleges) accredited in the U.S. and acting on behalf of their faculty. - U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations directly associated with educational or research activities (e.g., independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies). Special notes: - International branch campuses of U.S. institutions may participate but must provide strong justification for conducting project activities abroad. - There are no limits on the number of proposals per investigator or organization. - Collaborations with international partners (UK, Israel) are possible under specific guidelines. --- ## Application Process - Proposals may be submitted via [NSF FastLane](https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/) or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/). - Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required. - Follow the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide ([PAPPG](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg)) and the [NSF Grants.gov Application Guide](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide). - Required documents include project summary, project description (max 15 pages), biographical sketches, budget, data management plan, and (if applicable) postdoctoral mentoring plan and letters of collaboration. - For collaborative or international proposals, additional documentation may be required (see solicitation for details). - Proposals are subject to NSF’s standard merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. --- ## Additional Information - No cost sharing or matching is required. - Projects are encouraged to make use of community data infrastructure and ensure broad data dissemination. - Small Grants and special tracks (BEE, RUI, RoL) have specific title and documentation requirements. - For Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) or other supplements, consult the DEB supplement request website. --- ## External Links - [NSF DEB Program Information](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503634) - [DEB Solicitation (NSF 18-587)](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf18587) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359572) - [NSF PAPPG](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg) --- ## Contact Information | Topic/Cluster | Contact/Email | Phone | |----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | General DEB Inquiries | [debquestions@nsf.gov](mailto:debquestions@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-8480 | | FastLane Help Desk | [fastlane@nsf.gov](mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov) | 1-800-673-6188 | | Grants.gov Support | [support@grants.gov](mailto:support@grants.gov) | 1-800-518-4726 | | Ecosystem Science Cluster | [Program Info](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503663&org=DEB&from=home) | | | Evolutionary Processes Cluster | [Program Info](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503664&org=DEB&from=home) | | | Population & Community Ecology | [Program Info](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503665&org=DEB&from=home) | | | Systematics & Biodiversity Sci. | [Program Info](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503666&org=DEB&from=home) | | | UK Collaboration (NSFDEB-NERC) | [NSFDEB-NERC@nsf.gov](mailto:NSFDEB-NERC@nsf.gov) | | | Israel Collaboration (NSFDEB-BSF)| [NSFDEB-BSF@nsf.gov](mailto:NSFDEB-BSF@nsf.gov) | | ---

Division of Environmental Biology

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