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

Proposals accepted anytime

Typical awards: $250,000–$700,000 over 2–4 years; up to $1,000,000 possible; ~$10M total program funding annually

Supports fundamental research on the terrestrial water cycle, hydrologic processes, and their interactions with landscapes, ecosystems, and climate.

--- ## Description The Hydrologic Sciences Program from the National Science Foundation funds basic research into the movement and storage of water in the terrestrial environment, encompassing all aspects of the water cycle. Supported topics include rainfall, runoff, infiltration, streamflow, evaporation, transpiration, groundwater flow, and the transport of dissolved or suspended materials. The program is interested in how water interacts with landscapes and ecosystems, and how these processes are affected by land use and climate change. Projects may be observational, experimental, theoretical, modeling, or synthetic, and interdisciplinary approaches—spanning physical, biological, engineering, and mathematical sciences—are encouraged. Key areas of current interest include: - Hydrologic processes in human-impacted environments - Hydrologic response to global change - Integrated hydrologic systems modeling (from pore to continental scale) - Data science applications in hydrologic research (e.g., machine learning, remote sensing) - Interactions between hydrologic and ecological systems The program encourages creative broader impact activities, involvement of early-career researchers, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Proposals may be jointly reviewed with other NSF programs where appropriate. --- ## Due Dates - Proposals accepted anytime --- ## Funding Amount - Typical award size: $250,000–$700,000 for 2–4 years - Maximum award: $1,000,000 - Estimated total program funding: ~$10,000,000 annually - 20–30 awards expected per year, subject to availability of funds and proposal quality --- ## Eligibility - **Institutions of Higher Education:** Accredited two- and four-year institutions (including community colleges) in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty. - For proposals involving an international branch campus of a U.S. institution, justification and explanation are required. - **Non-profit, Non-academic Organizations:** U.S.-based independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizations associated with educational or research activities. - **Principal Investigators:** No specific restrictions. - **Resubmission Policy:** Proposals previously declined are not eligible for resubmission for one year and must be substantially revised. Exceptions require prior program officer approval. --- ## Application Process - **Submission Platforms:** FastLane, Research.gov, or Grants.gov - **Required Documents:** Full proposal in accordance with the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg) - **Letters of Intent/Preliminary Proposals:** Not required - **Cost Sharing:** Not required or allowed - **Data Management:** Must adhere to the [EAR Data Policy](https://www.nsf.gov/geo/geo-data-policies/ear/index.jsp) and include a data management plan - **Special Proposal Types:** Non-standard proposals (e.g., RAPID, conference) require prior discussion with a program director --- ## Additional Information - Equipment requests linked to research proposals should generally not exceed $50,000; larger equipment needs may require a separate proposal. - Collaborative proposals and those involving federal facilities require letters of support. - Broader impacts and project management plans are important components of successful proposals. - Reporting requirements include annual and final project reports, with dissemination of data and metadata as per NSF policy. --- ## External Links - [NSF Program Page: Hydrologic Sciences](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/hydrologic-sciences/13684) - [Full Program Solicitation (NSF 20-560)](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/hydrologic-sciences/13684/nsf20-560/solicitation) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [NSF Grants.gov Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359441) - [EAR Data Policy](https://www.nsf.gov/geo/geo-data-policies/ear/index.jsp) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | |-------------------------|----------------------------------------|---------------| | Laura Lautz | llautz@nsf.gov | (703) 292-7775| | Justin Lawrence | jlawrenc@nsf.gov | (703) 292-2425| | Elizabeth W. Boyer | eboyer@nsf.gov | (703) 292-8549| | Hendratta Ali | heali@nsf.gov | (703) 292-8549| | NSF Grants.gov Support | grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov | | | FastLane/Research.gov | fastlane@nsf.gov / rgov@nsf.gov | 1-800-673-6188| | NSF Information Center | | (703) 292-5111| ---

Hydrologic Sciences (HS)

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