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

Proposals accepted anytime

No specified minimum or maximum; typical NSF research awards range from $100,000–$500,000 over 1–5 years

Supports research to understand long-term climate variability and trends through studies of past climate, proxies, and modeling.

Proposals eligible for P4CLIMATE are not eligible for this program—contact program officers for guidance.

--- ## Description The program supports research that advances understanding of the Earth's climate system over long timescales. Its goals are to: - Provide a scientific baseline for present climate variability and future climate trends. - Improve understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes influencing climate variability and trends. Research areas include: - Observational and modeling studies of past climate variability and its drivers. - Development of new paleoclimate proxies and records. - Investigations addressing specific scientific uncertainties in paleoclimate research. The program is part of the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences and collaborates with other divisions in the Geosciences Directorate. It also coordinates with the annual Paleo Perspectives on Present and Projected Climate (P4CLIMATE) competition, which supports studies on past regional and seasonal climate, and past climate forcing, sensitivity, and feedbacks. Researchers should contact program officers to determine the most appropriate program for their proposals, as proposals eligible for P4CLIMATE are not eligible for this program. Proposals are encouraged from: - Researchers at all career stages, including postdoctoral fellows. - All institution types, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), non-R1 institutions, and institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions. - Researchers from traditionally underrepresented groups in paleoclimate science. --- ## Due Dates - Proposals accepted anytime Researchers may submit proposals at any time; there is no fixed annual deadline. --- ## Funding Amount - No specified minimum or maximum award amount. - Typical NSF research grants in this area range from $100,000–$500,000, with project durations of 1–5 years. - No cost sharing or matching requirement. --- ## Eligibility - Open to all applicants ("Unrestricted"), including universities, colleges, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, and government entities. - International collaborations may be included, but funding is typically for U.S.-based institutions. - Strong encouragement for participation from early-career researchers, underrepresented groups, and a wide range of institution types. --- ## Application Process - Submit proposals through [NSF FastLane](https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/), [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/), or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359471). - Proposals must adhere to the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1). - Researchers are strongly encouraged to contact program directors to discuss the suitability of their proposed research for this program versus other NSF opportunities, such as P4CLIMATE. - Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis. --- ## Additional Information - Proposals eligible for the P4CLIMATE competition are not eligible for funding through this program. - New indirect cost policies apply for awards made on or after October 1, 2024; see [NSF Indirect Cost Policy](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/document/indirect-cost-rate). - For more details and program updates, see the [NSF program description](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12727). --- ## External Links - [Paleoclimate program at NSF](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12727) - [Program listing on Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359471) - [P4CLIMATE competition information](https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/paleo-perspectives-present-projected-climate) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [Browse recent NSF awards in this program](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=153000&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | Division/Program | |-------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------------------| | David J. Verardo | [dverardo@nsf.gov](mailto:dverardo@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-8527 | NSF AGS/Paleoclimate | | Mea S. Cook | [mcook@nsf.gov](mailto:mcook@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-7306 | NSF GEO/AGS | | NSF Grants.gov Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | | General inquiries |

Paleoclimate

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