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

Proposals accepted anytime | July 15, 2025 (CAREER)

~$7.07M total program funding annually; typical awards up to 3 years; CAREER awards 5 years

Supports engineering research to develop sustainable systems that balance human well-being, ecological protection, and economic stability.

CAREER proposals due July 15, 2025; all other proposals accepted anytime.

--- ## Description The Environmental Sustainability program, part of NSF's Environmental Engineering and Sustainability cluster, funds engineering research that advances sustainable systems supporting human well-being while preserving environmental integrity. The program emphasizes projects that balance ecological protection and stable economic conditions. Supported research may consider long time horizons and can integrate social sciences and ethics. Four main research areas are emphasized: - **Industrial Ecology:** Modeling and metrics for sustainable systems, including life cycle assessment, materials flow analysis, and innovations in industrial ecology. - **Green Engineering:** Sustainability in manufacturing, green buildings, infrastructure, and holistic or systems approaches to environmentally benign processes and smart growth strategies. - **Ecological Engineering:** Restoration of ecological function in natural systems and enhancement of natural capital to foster sustainable development. - **Earth Systems Engineering:** Large-scale engineering addressing greenhouse gas mitigation, climate change adaptation, and other global environmental challenges. Proposals should be grounded in engineering principles and explicitly address environmental sustainability. Projects must involve at least one graduate student (and undergraduates are encouraged). Interdisciplinary research, including social, behavioral, and economic sciences, is welcomed. Note: Proposals focusing on water or air treatment, soil remediation, or solid waste treatment should be submitted to the Environmental Engineering program (CBET 1440). --- ## Due Dates - **Proposals accepted anytime** for standard, RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals. - **CAREER program proposals:** July 15, 2025. --- ## Funding Amount - **Estimated total program funding:** ~$7,066,000 annually. - **Expected number of awards:** ~103 per year. - **Award duration:** - Standard awards: up to 3 years. - Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) awards: 5 years. - **Typical single-investigator budgets:** Support for one graduate student and up to one month of PI time per year; larger budgets for multi-investigator projects, but consult program director for unusually large requests. --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible applicants:** Unrestricted. Open to all types of organizations (universities, nonprofits, industry, etc.), subject to NSF policies. - **Special notes:** - International research must clearly benefit the United States. - Proposals outside the four core areas may be considered but should be discussed with the program director before submission. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Proposals must comply with the NSF [Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1). - **How to apply:** Submit via [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359538) or [NSF FastLane/Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/research-web/). - **Types of proposals accepted:** - Standard research proposals (anytime) - Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposals (annual July deadline) - RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals (anytime, but discuss with program director before submission) - Conference, workshop, and supplement proposals (discuss with program director before submission) - **Compliance:** Proposals not compliant with PAPPG will be returned without review. --- ## Additional Information - **Budget guidance:** Proposals with budgets much larger than typical should be discussed with the program director prior to submission. - **Recent awards:** [Browse funded projects](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=764300&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) - **Indirect costs:** NSF has implemented a standard 15% indirect cost rate policy; see [policy notice](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/document/indirect-cost-rate). --- ## External Links - [NSF Program Description PD-21-7643](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505695) - [NSF Environmental Sustainability Program Page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/environmental-sustainability/505695/pd21-7643) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359538) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [NSF CAREER Program Description](https://www.nsf.gov/career) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | |---------------------|-------------------------------------|---------------| | Bruce K. Hamilton | [bhamilto@nsf.gov](mailto:bhamilto@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-7066 | | NSF Grants.gov Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | — |

Environmental Sustainability

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