Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics

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Description

The Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics (MMS) Program is an interdisciplinary initiative within the NSF Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. It aims to advance the development of innovative analytical and statistical methods and models that benefit multiple fields within the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. The program encourages methodologically innovative, theory-grounded proposals with broad utility, and supports a range of activities including research projects, conferences, doctoral dissertation research, and undergraduate research experiences.

MMS also collaborates with a consortium of federal statistical agencies to support research that enhances the production and use of official statistics. The program welcomes interdisciplinary collaborations and infrastructure projects that facilitate methodological research.

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Due Dates

• Full Proposal Deadlines:
  • August 28, 2025 (Last Thursday in August, Annually)
  • January 29, 2026 (Last Thursday in January, Annually)
• REU Supplement Requests: Accepted at any time (contact program officer before submission).

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Funding Amount

• Total Program Funding: Approximately $3,760,000 awarded annually (subject to availability of funds).
• Number of Awards: 15–35 per year.
• Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement (DDRI) Grants: Up to $18,000 (direct + indirect costs).
• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Supplements: Up to $8,000 per student (max two students per award).
• Project Budgets: Should be appropriate to the scope of work; additional funds may be available from federal statistical agencies for relevant projects.

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Eligibility

• Eligible Applicants:
  • U.S. institutions of higher education and other organizations as defined in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
  • Unaffiliated individuals are not eligible.
• Who May Serve as PI:
  • DDRI Grants: PI must be the doctoral advisor or faculty at the student's U.S. institution; co-PI must be the doctoral student.
  • Other Awards: No restrictions on PI eligibility.
• No limits on the number of proposals per organization or per PI/co-PI.

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Application Process

• Submission Platforms:
  • Research.gov
  • Grants.gov
• Letters of Intent/Preliminary Proposals: Not required.
• Full Proposal Requirements:
  • Follow the NSF PAPPG or NSF Grants.gov Application Guide.
  • All proposals must include a Data Management Plan (max 2 pages).
  • DDRI proposals require a signed statement from the PI (template provided in the solicitation).
  • For multi-organization projects, submit a single proposal with subawards.
• Budgetary Notes:
  • No voluntary committed cost sharing allowed.
  • Indirect costs as per institutional policy (except on REU participant support).
• Review Criteria:
  • Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, as defined by NSF.

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Additional Information

• Types of Supported Activities:
  • Regular research projects (including infrastructure and methodological innovation)
  • Conferences and community-development activities
  • Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement (DDRI) grants
  • Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) supplements
  • Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) awards (see CAREER Program)
• Priority:
  • Interdisciplinary, theory-driven, and broadly applicable methodological research.
  • January deadline proposals are guaranteed full consideration by federal statistical agencies.
• Reporting:
  • Annual and final project reports required via Research.gov.

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External Links

• NSF MMS Program Solicitation
• NSF MMS Program Page
• NSF PAPPG
• NSF CAREER Program
• NSF REU Program
• Grants.gov Opportunity Listing

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Contact Information

For the most current contacts and updates, visit the NSF MMS program page.