Division of Environmental Biology (core programs) (DEB) Grant

NSF

About this grant

The Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) Core 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 including Ecosystem Science, Evolutionary Processes, Population and Community Ecology, and Systematics and Biodiversity Science. DEB also encourages interdisciplinary proposals that cross conceptual boundaries and integrate over levels of biological organization or across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Research addressing ecology and ecosystem science in the marine biome should be directed to the Biological Oceanography Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences; research addressing evolution and systematics in the marine biome should be directed to the Evolutionary Processes or Systematics and Biodiversity Science programs in DEB.

Eligibility

Proposals may only be submitted by non-profit, non-academic organizations including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities, and by institutions of higher education (IHEs) including two- and four-year IHEs and community colleges accredited in and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. If a proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution of higher education, the proposer must explain the benefits to the project of performance at the international branch campus and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus.

Key requirements

• ✓Proposals must be submitted to a DEB core cluster: Ecosystem Science, Evolutionary Processes, Population and Community Ecology, or Systematics and Biodiversity Science
• ✓Marine ecology and ecosystem work belongs in NSF Ocean Sciences' Biological Oceanography Program; marine evolution and systematics go to DEB's Evolutionary Processes or Systematics programmes
• ✓Research should advance fundamental principles of evolution and ecology; interdisciplinary and cross-scale proposals are encouraged

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does NSF offer?

Division of Environmental Biology (core programs) (DEB) offers $5,000 – $5M.

Who can apply for Division of Environmental Biology (core programs) (DEB)?

Eligibility covers organisations in US; university, research-institution, nonprofit. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Biodiversity funding backs habitat restoration, species protection, protected areas and nature-positive business. It comes from environment agencies, multilateral nature funds and conservation philanthropy, often through competitive calls with defined regions. Applicants are usually asked for baseline surveys, local partners and indicators that show ecological change.