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

Proposals accepted anytime

$200,000–$350,000 per award (up to 2 years); estimated total program funding is $3,000,000; ~8–15 awards/year

Supports later-career researchers in synthesizing their prior research into integrated products valuable to the scientific community.

--- ## Description The Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis (OPUS) program, managed by the Division of Environmental Biology at the National Science Foundation (NSF), is designed to enable later-career researchers to revisit and synthesize their significant prior research. The goal is to create unique, integrated products—such as papers, monographs, data repositories, or software—that provide novel insights and lasting value to the scientific community. The program encourages proposals from all four clusters within the Division of Environmental Biology: Ecosystem Science, Evolutionary Processes, Population and Community Ecology, and Systematics and Biodiversity Science. OPUS awards are intended to support the synthesis of existing research and data, not the generation of new data (except for a minor, well-justified scope). Proposals should demonstrate how the synthesis will yield new understanding, questions, or emergent insights that could not be achieved without this integrative effort. --- ## Due Dates - Proposals accepted anytime --- ## Funding Amount - Typical award size: $200,000–$350,000 - Duration: Up to 2 years - Estimated total program funding: $3,000,000 per year - Expected number of awards: 8–15 annually - No cost sharing or matching required Specific budgetary notes: - PI salary up to a total of 6.5 months (over the two-year period, not annually), which may be distributed among co-investigators or modestly to support staff if justified. - Up to $25,000 in direct costs for items such as travel, publications, or materials. --- ## Eligibility Proposals may be submitted by: - U.S.-based Institutions of Higher Education (two- and four-year, including community colleges) accredited in the U.S. and acting on behalf of their faculty members. - Non-profit, non-academic organizations in the U.S. directly associated with educational or research activities (e.g., independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies). - For international branch campuses of U.S. institutions, proposals must justify why project activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus. There are no restrictions on who may serve as PI or co-PI, nor on the number of proposals per organization or individual. --- ## Application Process - Proposals must be submitted via [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov) or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov). - Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. - Full proposals must follow the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg) or the [NSF Grants.gov Application Guide](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide). - The project description is limited to 10 pages and must include sections on past research, the synthesis plan, and broader impacts. - A robust data management plan is required, with clear plans for data archiving, sharing, and use of community-accepted repositories. - Cost sharing is not allowed. --- ## Additional Information - Proposals are reviewed using NSF’s standard merit review criteria (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts), with additional attention to the potential for generating new understanding and impactful synthetic products. - Projects should focus on synthesis and integration, not just summarization or meta-analysis. - For details on required proposal components and budgetary specifics, consult the [full solicitation](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22591). - Proposers are encouraged to contact the cognizant program officer and review abstracts of previously funded OPUS projects for guidance. --- ## External Links - [Program Solicitation & Details](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22591) - [Program Page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/opus-opportunities-promoting-understanding-through-synthesis/nsf22-591/solicitation) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg) - [Research.gov Submission Portal](https://www.research.gov) - [Grants.gov Submission Portal](https://www.grants.gov) --- ## Contact Information | Name/Office | Email | Phone | |----------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------| | Leslie J. Rissler (Program Officer) | lrissler@nsf.gov | (703) 292-4628 | | NSF Grants.gov Support | grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov | 1-800-518-4726 | | NSF Information Center | info@nsf.gov | 1-703-292-5111 | | Research.gov Help Desk | rgov@nsf.gov | 1-800-673-6188 |

Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis

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