The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering funding through the Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS) program, which aims to enhance the understanding of human behavior by leveraging data science and network science methodologies. The program is managed by the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences, specifically the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences and the Division of Social and Economic Sciences. HNDS supports research that utilizes dynamic, distributed, or heterogeneous data to answer fundamental questions about individual and group behavior, particularly those that contribute to improved health, prosperity, and security.

The HNDS program is divided into two tracks: Human Networks and Data Science – Infrastructure (HNDS-I) and Human Networks and Data Science – Core Research (HNDS-R). The HNDS-I track funds projects that develop large-scale data resources and analytical techniques that support social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) research. These projects should result in finished products such as comprehensive databases or analytical tools that enable new, data-intensive research. The HNDS-R track funds core research projects that apply data and network science methodologies to enhance theories within core SBE disciplines. These projects leverage large datasets and advanced network analysis to produce transformative insights into human behavior.

The total anticipated funding available for this program is $8 million per year, with an estimated 5 to 25 awards distributed annually. The HNDS-I track expects to fund approximately 4 large infrastructure projects, while the HNDS-R track aims to fund between 5 and 20 core research projects. Typical HNDS-I awards range between $750,000 and $800,000, while HNDS-R awards generally fall within the $350,000 to $400,000 range. The funding is subject to availability and NSF approval.

Eligible applicants include organizations that meet the guidelines outlined in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter I.E.. While there are no restrictions on who may serve as a principal investigator (PI), an individual may only be listed as a PI or co-PI on one HNDS-I proposal per year. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals an organization may submit. Applicants must submit full proposals through Research.gov or Grants.gov. Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Cost sharing is prohibited for this grant.

Proposals are evaluated based on NSF's merit review criteria, which consider both intellectual merit and broader impacts. Reviewers assess the scientific quality, innovation, feasibility, and potential societal benefits of the proposed research. Proposals are generally reviewed by expert panels and NSF program officers, with award decisions subject to further NSF administrative review.

The HNDS program has annual deadlines for proposal submissions. The deadline for HNDS-R (Core Research) proposals is the second Thursday in July each year (July 13, 2023, for the current cycle). HNDS-R proposals submitted as a secondary submission must follow the deadlines of their primary program. HNDS-I (Infrastructure) proposals must be submitted by the first Thursday in August annually (August 3, 2023, for the current cycle). Additional submission cycles for both tracks occur in January and February annually.