GEO EMpowering BRoader Academic Capacity and Education (GEO-EMBRACE)
NSF's GEO-EMBRACE program funds geoscience research and capacity-building at non-R1 institutions to broaden participation and strengthen research infrastructure.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (Full proposal target date) | May 2027 (Full proposal target date)
Funding Amounts: Seed proposals: up to $200,000 over 2 years; Growth proposals: up to $400,000 over 4 years; ~20–25 awards; total program budget approx. $6 million.
Summary: Supports geoscience research and capacity-building at non-R1 institutions facing institutional barriers, with a focus on broadening participation and enhancing research infrastructure.
Key Information: This is a forecasted competition; dates are projected and subject to change—check the program page for updates.
Description
The GEO EMpowering BRoader Academic Capacity and Education (GEO-EMBRACE) initiative, offered by the NSF Directorate for Geosciences, aims to support geoscience research and education at non-R1 institutions, including minority-serving institutions (MSIs), two-year colleges, primarily undergraduate institutions, and emerging research and master's level institutions. The program is designed to reduce barriers such as high teaching loads, limited start-up packages, and insufficient research infrastructure that can hinder faculty members at these institutions from successfully competing for federal research funding. EMBRACE seeks to broaden participation in the geosciences, foster diverse scientific talent, and enhance research capabilities and institutional capacity through two types of awards: Seed and Growth.
