The Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) Core Track supports research and training on evolutionary and ecological processes acting at the level of populations, species, communities, ecosystems, macrosystems, and biogeographic extents. DEB encourages research that elucidates fundamental principles that identify and explain the unity and diversity of life and its interactions with the environment over space and time. Research may incorporate field, laboratory, or collection-based approaches; observational or manipulative studies; synthesis activities; phylogenetic discovery projects; or theoretical approaches involving analytical, statistical, or computational modeling.
Proposals should be submitted to the core clusters
- Ecosystem Sciences
- Evolutionary Processes
- Population and Community Ecology
- Systematics and Biodiversity Sciences
DEB also encourages interdisciplinary proposals that cross conceptual boundaries and integrate over levels of biological organization, or across multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Special Categories Included in the DEB Core Track
1) STAR Grants
The Division welcomes proposals for STAR (Special Targeted Awards for Research) Grants to the core programs via this solicitation. Projects with total budgets of $400,000 or less may be identified as such with the designation "STAR:" as a pre x to the project title in the full proposal. STAR Grants may address any topic appropriate for DEB core programs and could include a variety of important research activities that entail a narrower scope and/or reduced costs (e.g., analysis of existing data (including NEON data), theoretical research, synthesis projects, fieldwork projects, etc.). The STAR track should not be used predominately for the collection of preliminary data. STAR Grants may be useful for targeted research projects, including ideas initiated by postdoctoral researchers. The project description for STAR Grants is limited to 10 pages. STAR Grant projects will be assessed based on the same merit review criteria as all other proposals. If funds for educational supplements are requested, those can be in addition to the $400,000 funding limit for STAR projects.
2) NERC and BSF International Collaborative Proposals
The core programs will accept proposals for international collaborative research under two separate agreements for joint review between: 1) NSF and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and 2) NSF and the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF). Submission instructions for both opportunities are detailed below.
International collaborative proposals are expected to adhere to the eligibility requirements, remit, funding limits, and grant durations for the agency from which funding is sought (NSF, BSF, or NERC) and must represent an integrated collaborative effort.
In addition to the regular research proposals sought under this solicitation, the clusters/programs support a variety of other Foundation-wide activities:
- Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) proposals may be submitted to any of the clusters/programs described in this solicitation but must be submitted by the deadlines listed in the CAREER solicitation and follow the proposal preparation guidance in that solicitation.
- Mid-Career Advancement program (MCA) proposals may be submitted to any of the clusters/programs described in this solicitation but must be submitted by the submission window for the MCA program. This is another opportunity available to mid-career researchers to advance their career trajectory.
- Research Coordination Networks (RCN), and Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) proposals may be submitted at any time, to any of the clusters/programs described in this solicitation but must follow the proposal preparation guidance in those solicitations.
- This solicitation will accept Renewal and Accomplishment Based Renewal (ABR) Proposals. Information on eligibility, scope, and format for Renewal and ABR submissions can be found in the PAPPG. If you are considering an ABR submission you are strongly advised to contact a Program Officer prior to submission.
- Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID), Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE), Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI), Planning proposals, and proposals for Travel or Conferences support, including workshops, can be submitted at any time to any of the clusters/programs described in this solicitation. These types of proposals should be submitted in accordance with the guidance in the PAPPG. Conference and Travel proposals should be submitted at least 6 months before the start date of the conference or workshop. You are strongly advised to contact a Program Officer prior to submission; also see guidance at https://www.nsf.gov/bio/deb/confrapideagerguidance.jsp. Note that for RAPID, EAGER, RAISE, or Planning proposals, a concept outline must be submitted prior to submission of a full proposal.
Proposals are welcome in all areas of science supported by the Division of Environmental Biology.
All DEB programs also encourage proposals that leverage NSF-supported data networks, databases, centers, and other forms of scientific infrastructure, including but not limited to the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), Environmental Data Initiative (EDI), and Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio).