The Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is actively engaging with the research community and reaffirming its commitment to ecological discovery, innovation and public service. As always, check the NSF website frequently for the most recent information; policies, including indirect cost information, are in flux due to ongoing court cases. Below are key updates and insights from recent communications that the ecological research community should know.
DEB and NSF: Mission-Focused
Even amid capacity constraints and evolving funding landscapes, DEB and NSF remain committed to their core mission:
- advancing fundamental research,
- supporting the scientific community, and
- serving the public through groundbreaking environmental science and discovery.
Supporting the Community
To enhance accessibility and transparency virtual office hours are resuming, giving researchers a direct line to program officers and funding guidance.
DEB Engagement at the Annual Meeting
NSF will be exhibiting at the upcoming Annual Meeting, and program officers will attend. DEB program officers will participate in sessions including this special session focused on DEB funding, 10–11:30 a.m., Wed., August 13. There is also an NSF “Endless Frontier” for ecology session 1:30–3 p.m., Wed., August 13.
Funding and Support Highlights
Despite staffing and operational challenges (more on that below), NSF continues to invest in foundational research and workforce development:
- 500 additional Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFPs) have been funded, bringing the total to 1,500
- Ongoing support for CAREER awards
- Continued funding for the LTERs, NEON and big data initiatives
- Sustained investment in global change research
Proposal Opportunities Across DEB
While the RCN program and DEI programs are archived, there is still opportunity for proposals to DEB to be funded if they align with NSF priorities and polices (notably the equal access for all provisions). Most DEB grants remain active.
DEB program officers recognize that discovery research underlies much of technology and innovation, including biotech, which is a priority for NSF. The best way to determine if a proposal topic aligns with NSF priorities is to communicate with a DEB program officer and discuss possible research before submitting a proposal.
Visit the NSF FAQ page for more information, including proposal updates and indirect cost information.
DEB is currently accepting:
- Research proposals spanning DEB’s core areas are encouraged: evolutionary processes, population ecology, systematics and ecosystem science that align with NSF current priorities and polices. NSF will continue to support the academic community and peer review is ongoing.
- Workshop proposals will be considered.
- Among other NSF priorities, of special note is the intersection of artificial intelligence and the power of ecological data.
- As noted in NSF’s official priorities, artificial intelligence is a top agency-wide focus, with more than $700 million invested annually.
- Ecological research has a critical role to play here:
- Large ecological datasets — like those from NEON and the LTER program — are essential for developing reliable and unbiased generative AI models.
- Therefore, all ecology-related datasets and proposals are relevant and potentially high-impact within NSF’s broader AI and data science strategy.
There is no formal deadline for proposals and DEB accepts them on a rolling basis. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit as soon as possible to align with the FY25 federal budget cycle. In the federal budget cycle, NSF usually must obligate FY25 funds by September 30, 2025. Proposal submissions by late July 2025 are ideal to ensure smooth grant administration
NSF’s Commitment to Good Governance
NSF continues to uphold its responsibilities under all Executive Orders and administrative directives, ensuring its programs, policies and procedures remain transparent and accountable.
As part of this, Dear Colleague Letters continue to be a key communication tool. These letters highlight funding opportunities, program priorities and strategic initiatives — stay updated by visiting the NSF Dear Colleague webpage.
Operational Constraints and Review Capacity
NSF is navigating internal staffing challenges, including a hiring freeze and a wave of early retirements. Fewer staff are managing a growing workload, which may cause slower processing times for proposal review and administrative actions. Nonetheless, peer review panels are underway, and proposal evaluations are actively moving forward.
