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

January 15, 2026 (Full proposals)

No specified ceiling or floor; typical NSF awards range from $50,000–$500,000 per year for 1–5 years, depending on project scope.

Supports theoretically focused empirical research advancing fundamental social psychological explanations of human behavior, attitudes, and experience.

--- ## Description The Social Psychology Program at the NSF funds research and infrastructure proposals that advance knowledge of how human behavior is shaped by social forces at both macro and micro levels. The program encourages projects exploring the influence of thought, motivation, emotion, neural, and physiological processes on social interactions and self-perception. Proposals should have strong potential for groundbreaking discoveries about the power of social dynamics, and basic research addressing global challenges is especially welcome. The program prioritizes: - Theoretically grounded, empirically validated research. - Development of new theories or methods. - Interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and convergent research approaches. Proposals involving non-human animals are only considered if they provide clear, direct contributions to understanding human social behavior. Projects primarily focused on clinical practice, disease-related goals, or medical interventions are not eligible. A proactive plan for sharing results and open science practices is expected. Proposals that enhance societal benefits, national security, STEM talent development, research infrastructure, and public engagement are strongly encouraged. --- ## Due Dates - **Full Proposals:** January 15, 2026 *All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).* --- ## Funding Amount - **Award Size:** No specified minimum or maximum. NSF awards in this area commonly range from $50,000 to $500,000 per year, with project durations typically between 1 and 5 years. Budget should be appropriate to the project scope. - **Cost Sharing:** Not required. --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible Applicants:** Unrestricted. Open to all types of institutions and organizations, including universities, colleges, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and unaffiliated researchers, subject to NSF policies. - **Not Eligible:** Proposals for doctoral dissertation improvement awards or mid-career advancement (MCA) awards are not accepted. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Proposals must be submitted via [NSF FastLane](https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/), [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/), or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/). - **Solicitation Number:** PD-22-1332 (must be selected on the proposal cover sheet). - **Required Documents:** Proposals must follow the NSF PAPPG, including a Data Management and Sharing Plan addressing open science best practices. - **Suggested Reviewers:** Strongly encouraged to submit a "List of Suggested Reviewers" as a Single Copy Document. - **Pre-submission Contact:** Investigators are encouraged to contact a Social Psychology program director before submitting, ideally with a one-page summary of the planned proposal (including intellectual merit, broader impacts, and references). --- ## Additional Information - Proposals with the primary goal of improving clinical practice or addressing disease-related questions (etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of illness) will be returned without review. - The program accepts various types of proposals, including: - Regular research proposals - Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposals - Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) - Rapid Response Research (RAPID) - Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) - Small conference proposals (for events planned one year or more after submission) - Methods, measures, and data resulting from funded research are expected to be openly shared. --- ## External Links - [NSF Social Psychology Program Page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/social-psychology) - [NSF Program Description PD-22-1332](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5712) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [Apply via Grants.gov](https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/jsf/workspace/createWorkspace.faces?activityID=CreateWorkspace&cleanSession=1&oppId=344634) - [NSF Broader Impacts Guidance](https://new.nsf.gov/funding/learn/broader-impacts) - [Data Management for NSF SBE Directorate Proposals and Awards](https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/DMP/SBE_DataMgmtPlanPolicy_RevisedApril2018.pdf) - [Browse Projects Funded by This Program](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=133200&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | Organization | |---------------------|------------------------------------|---------------|-----------------| | Jessi L. Smith, Program Director | [jlsmith@nsf.gov](mailto:jlsmith@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-8740 | SBE/BCS | | NSF Grants.gov Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | — | NSF | For appointments or additional contacts, see the [program contact page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/social-psychology). ---

Social Psychology

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