Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: August 1, 2025 (Standard, Collaborative Research, and Conference Proposals)
Funding Amounts: Estimated total program funding: $5,500,000; typical award size and duration vary by project type.
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary research on the connections between law, human behavior, and the application of science and technology in legal contexts.
Key Information: Proposals must follow the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) in effect at the time of submission.
Description
The National Science Foundation's Law & Science Program funds research that explores the interplay between law (and law-like systems), human behavior, and the application of science and technology in legal contexts. The program is inherently interdisciplinary and encourages multi-methodological approaches. Projects should advance scientific theory and understanding of how law interacts with human behavior, legal institutions, legal processes, or the basic sciences.
Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Crime, violence, and policing
- Cyberspace and information technology
- Economic and environmental issues
- Evidentiary and forensic science
- Governance, courts, and legal decision-making
- Human rights, comparative law, and legal mobilization
- Legal and ethical issues related to science and technology
- Litigation, legal profession, punishment, and corrections
- Regulation and facilitation of biotechnology and emerging sciences
- Use of science in legal processes
The program supports a range of proposal types, including standard research grants, collaborative research, and conference awards. It also participates in cross-cutting NSF opportunities such as CAREER, REU, RUI, RAPID, and EAGER.
Due Dates
- August 1, 2025: Standard, Collaborative Research, and Conference Proposals
Check the NSF Law & Science program page for updates and additional deadlines for specialized opportunities.
Funding Amount
- Estimated total program funding: $5,500,000
- Award size and duration: Varies by project type and scope; both small and large projects are supported.
- No cost-sharing or matching required.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants: Unrestricted; open to all types of entities, including universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, and other research institutions.
- Principal Investigators: Typically, researchers affiliated with eligible organizations.
- International collaborations: May be included, but primary funding is for U.S.-based institutions.
Refer to the NSF PAPPG for detailed eligibility requirements.
Application Process
- Submission: Proposals must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov.
- Guidelines: All proposals must comply with the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
- Required materials: Project description, budget, biosketches, data management plan, and other standard NSF documents.
- Review process: Proposals are evaluated on intellectual merit and broader impacts through NSF’s merit review process.
Additional Information
- Award conditions: Grants and cooperative agreements made on or after October 1, 2024, are subject to updated NSF award conditions. See NSF award conditions.
- Specialized opportunities: The program participates in cross-cutting NSF activities (e.g., CAREER, REU, RUI, RAPID, EAGER). See the NSF cross-cutting programs page for details.
- Recent awards: Browse funded projects.
External Links
Contact Information