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

January 15, 2026 | July 15, 2026 (Annually thereafter)

Up to $12,000 in direct costs per award (plus indirect costs); 25–35 awards/year; project duration up to 24 months.

Supports dissertation research to advance basic science in linguistics, including grammar, phonetics, language processing, and related interdisciplinary topics.

--- ## Description This program supports doctoral dissertation research improvement (DDRI) projects in the field of linguistics. The grant aims to enhance dissertation research conducted by doctoral students at U.S. institutions, focusing on the fundamental science of human language. Supported research areas include syntax, semantics, pragmatics, morphology, phonetics, phonology, and interdisciplinary studies that intersect with psychology, computation, neurobiology, child language development, or sociocultural factors affecting language. The program encourages proposals that cross disciplinary boundaries and advance theoretical, methodological, or empirical understanding of language. Projects solely focused on clinical research, language pedagogy, or documentation of endangered languages (the latter should be submitted to the Dynamic Language Infrastructure program) are not eligible. --- ## Due Dates - January 15, 2026 - July 15, 2026 - Recurs annually on these dates --- ## Funding Amount - **Award size:** Up to $12,000 in direct costs per award (indirect costs may be added per institutional rate) - **Number of awards:** Approximately 25–35 per year - **Total program funding:** Estimated at $300,000–$400,000 per fiscal year - **Project duration:** Up to 24 months --- ## Eligibility - **Who may apply:** Proposals must be submitted by U.S. institutions of higher education (two- or four-year colleges and universities, including community colleges) on behalf of doctoral students. - **PI requirements:** The principal investigator (PI) must be the doctoral advisor or another eligible faculty member at the student’s institution; the doctoral student must be listed as co-PI. - **Student eligibility:** Doctoral students are limited to two DDRI submissions during their graduate career. - **International branch campuses:** Proposals involving international branch campuses must justify why activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus. --- ## Application Process - **Submission platforms:** [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/) or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/) - **Proposal requirements:** - Project summary and description (10 single-spaced pages for description) - Biographical sketches for both the student and advisor(s) - Data management plan (max 2 pages) - Signed statement from the PI affirming student’s readiness - Budget justification - Letters of collaboration (if applicable) - **Budget restrictions:** No student stipend, tuition, or advisor salary; allowable costs include research travel, data collection, equipment, participant payments, and materials. Up to $1,000 may be budgeted for student travel to one domestic professional conference. - **Cost sharing:** Not required or permitted. --- ## Additional Information - **Review criteria:** NSF’s Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria apply. - **Reporting:** Annual and final project reports required. - **Special note:** Proposals for documentation of endangered languages should be submitted to the [Dynamic Language Infrastructure (DLI-DDRI) Program](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf19607). --- ## External Links - [NSF Program Solicitation (NSF 20-538)](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf20538) - [Program Opportunity on Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/323597) - [Linguistics DDRI Program Page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/ling-ddri-linguistics-program-doctoral-dissertation-research) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role/Area | Email | Phone | |---------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------| | Rachel M. Theodore | Program Director | rtheodor@nsf.gov | 703-292-4770 | | Wilson De lima Silva | Program Director | widelima@nsf.gov | 703-292-7096 | | Jorge Valdes Kroff | Program Director | jvaldesk@nsf.gov | 703-292-7920 | | Kenyatta Johnson | Business Operations | kenjohns@nsf.gov | 703-292-4850 | | NSF Grants.gov Support | Technical Assistance | grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov | | For technical questions about submission platforms, contact [Research.gov Help Desk](mailto:rgov@nsf.gov) or [Grants.gov Contact Center](mailto:support@grants.gov). ---

Linguistics Program - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants

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