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

Proposals accepted anytime | July 23, 2025 (CAREER)

Estimated total program funding: $7,066,000; typical awards up to 3 years (CAREER awards: 5 years); single-investigator budgets generally support 1 grad student + up to 1 month PI time per year.

Supports engineering research that advances sustainable systems balancing ecological protection, economic stability, and human well-being.

--- ## Description The Environmental Sustainability program, part of NSF's Environmental Engineering and Sustainability cluster, funds research to promote sustainable engineered systems that benefit human well-being while preserving natural environmental systems. Supported projects typically address long-term ecological services essential for human survival and may incorporate social sciences and ethics. Key research areas include: - **Industrial Ecology:** Innovations in modeling (e.g., life cycle assessment, materials flow analysis) and metrics for sustainable systems. - **Green Engineering:** Advancing sustainability in manufacturing, green buildings, and infrastructure, especially with a systems or holistic approach. - **Ecological Engineering:** Engineering solutions for restoring ecological functions to natural systems and enhancing natural capital. - **Earth Systems Engineering:** Large-scale research on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, climate adaptation, and other global environmental challenges. Proposals should be grounded in engineering principles and explicitly address environmental sustainability. Involvement of at least one graduate student (and undergraduates) is expected, and integration with social, behavioral, and economic sciences is encouraged. Note: Proposals focused on water/air treatment, soil remediation, or solid waste treatment should be submitted to the Environmental Engineering program (CBET 1440). --- ## Due Dates - **Proposals Accepted Anytime:** Unsolicited proposals, RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals. - **CAREER Proposals:** July 23, 2025 --- ## Funding Amount - **Estimated Total Program Funding:** $7,066,000 - **Expected Number of Awards:** Approximately 103 - **Typical Award Duration:** Up to 3 years (unsolicited); CAREER awards: 5 years - **Typical Budget:** Single-investigator awards generally support one graduate student (or equivalent) and up to one month of PI time per year. Larger budgets for multi-investigator projects must be discussed with the program director before submission. --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible Applicants:** Unrestricted; open to all types of organizations, subject to NSF policies. - **Additional Notes:** - Proposals for research outside the U.S. must explain the benefit to the United States. - Proposals outside the four core areas should be discussed with the program director before submission. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg). - **Online Submission:** Use [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359506) or [NSF FastLane/Research.gov systems](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505695). - **Proposal Types:** Unsolicited, CAREER, RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, conferences, workshops, and supplements (consult program director for non-standard proposals). --- ## Additional Information - **Compliance:** Non-compliant proposals will be returned without review. - **Budget Guidance:** Proposals with budgets much larger than typical must be pre-discussed with the program director. - **Recent Awards:** [Browse recent awards](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=764300&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) for typical funding levels and topics. - **Indirect Costs:** See [NSF policy on indirect cost rates](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/document/indirect-cost-rate). --- ## External Links - [Program Information & Full Description](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505695) - [NSF CAREER Program](https://www.nsf.gov/career) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359506) - [Directorate for Engineering (ENG)](https://www.nsf.gov/eng) - [Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (ENG/CBET)](https://www.nsf.gov/eng/cbet) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | |--------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------| | NSF Grants.gov Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | — | | Bruce K. Hamilton | [bhamilto@nsf.gov](mailto:bhamilto@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-7066 | ---

Environmental Sustainability

Sign in to see full grant listing