Biological Anthropology Program - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants
This funding opportunity supports U.S. doctoral students in biological anthropology to enhance their dissertation research on human and primate evolution, biological variation, and the interplay of biology, behavior, and culture.
Description
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering funding through the Biological Anthropology Program - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (BA-DDRIG) to support doctoral dissertation research in the field of biological anthropology. The program aims to enhance and improve the quality of dissertation research by providing funding for projects that explore human and primate evolution, biological variation, and interactions between biology, behavior, and culture. The research must demonstrate engagement with biological anthropological and evolutionary theory, employ diverse and interdisciplinary methodologies, and consider ethical implications and societal impacts.
The grant is designed specifically for doctoral students enrolled at U.S. institutions, with proposals submitted by their dissertation advisors. The funding is intended to supplement, rather than replace, institutional support and may cover costs such as travel to research sites, data collection, research supplies, field assistants, and specialized research equipment. The maximum funding request allowed for direct costs is $25,000, with additional indirect costs determined by the applicant institution’s federally negotiated rate. The duration of the award is up to 24 months.
Eligibility for this grant is limited to Ph.D.-granting institutions in the U.S. The dissertation advisor serves as the principal investigator (PI), while the doctoral student is listed as a co-principal investigator (Co-PI). While there are no restrictions on the number of applications an institution may submit, an individual student may submit a proposal twice—once initially and once as a resubmission, if necessary. Applicants are encouraged to ensure their proposals align with the program’s focus and may seek guidance from program officers before submission.
Proposals must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov following NSF's Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Required elements include a project description (limited to 10 pages, with an additional five pages for graphics), a well-developed broader impacts section, an ethics statement, and a data management and sharing plan. Additionally, a project personnel spreadsheet must be submitted via email after proposal submission. The program requires that data be shared within two years of final data collection, subject to ethical considerations.
Applications are reviewed based on NSF’s merit review criteria, which assess intellectual merit and broader impacts. Intellectual merit includes advancing knowledge and engaging with evolutionary and anthropological theory, while broader impacts evaluate contributions to society, STEM education, and diversity and inclusion. Review panels may also consider project feasibility, ethical considerations, and integration of educational and outreach activities.
The application deadlines for BA-DDRIG follow an annual cycle, with submission windows from January 20-31 and July 20-31 each year. The program anticipates funding approximately 25 to 40 awards annually, with a total program budget between $600,000 and $800,000 per fiscal year. For more information, applicants can contact program officers Marta Alfonso-Durruty, Rebecca Ferrell, or Angelica Brewer at the NSF.