Work with US-based researchers on environmental science: NERC-NSF lead agency
Work with US-based researchers on environmental science: NERC-NSF lead agency supports UK and US researchers in joint environmental science projects, linking teams through existing programmes and a single review.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: Rolling (lead agency agreement) | Scheme-specific deadline (NERC-led expression of interest) | Within one year of EoI approval (full application)
Funding Amounts: NERC funds 80% of UK full economic costs; NSF-led UK requests up to £300,000 FEC; NERC-led NSF BIO contribution up to $500,000
Summary: Supports joint UK–US environmental science research through existing NERC and NSF programmes with a single review.
Key Information: An approved expression of interest is required before submitting a full application.
Description
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation, operates this lead agency agreement with the US National Science Foundation’s Geosciences (GEO) and Biological Sciences (BIO) directorates. UK and US researchers submit one collaborative application for a single review, with NERC supporting the UK team and NSF supporting the US team. This is not a separate funding scheme: applications use NERC’s Pushing the Frontiers scheme or relevant NSF GEO and BIO core programmes.
Disciplinary and interdisciplinary projects are supported where the majority of the research falls within both agencies’ remits. Participating NSF areas include atmospheric and geospace sciences, Earth sciences, ocean sciences, polar programmes, ecosystem science, evolutionary processes, population and community ecology, and systematics and biodiversity science. Teams choose the lead agency according to where most research will occur or which agency will provide most funding.
