Division of Integrative Organismal Systems Core Programs
Funding research on organism structure, function, development, and interactions across biological scales for innovative insights and holistic understanding.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime
Funding Amounts: ~$70M total annually; typical award size and duration vary by project scope (1–5 years).
Summary: Supports research on the structure, function, and integration of organisms, welcoming interdisciplinary and systems-based approaches in organismal biology.
Description
The Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Core Programs support fundamental research to understand why organisms are structured the way they are and function as they do. Proposals are welcome in all core areas of organismal biology, including developmental biology, nervous system evolution and function, biomechanics, physiology, symbioses, microbial interactions, genomics, and animal behavior. Projects should focus on organisms as fundamental units of biological organization and are encouraged to apply systems, interdisciplinary, or integrative approaches to generate new conceptual and theoretical insights.
Two main tracks are available:
- Core Programs Track: Supports research across all IOS core program areas, including projects that cross disciplinary boundaries.
- Integrative Research in Biology (IntBIO) Track: Invites collaborative proposals that address bold, integrative biological questions requiring synergy across sub-disciplines, aiming for holistic understanding from molecular to ecosystem scales.
Broader impacts such as education, outreach, and broadening participation in STEM are strongly encouraged. The program does not support research focused on human disease mechanisms or therapeutics.
