The Perception, Action & Cognition (PAC) program, managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports theoretically driven, empirically based, and methodologically sound research aimed at advancing understanding of human perception, action, and cognition and their interrelations. The program welcomes proposals from a broad spectrum of perspectives and encourages a variety of methodologies, including computational modeling, particularly when used to develop explanatory theories of human behavior. The goal is to foster research that not only expands theoretical frameworks but also applies knowledge to real-world human scenarios with diverse populations.

NSF, an independent federal agency, operates under the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) and the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (SBE/BCS). Through the PAC program, NSF seeks to fund research with tangible societal benefits and promotes the sharing of data and materials generated from funded projects. Proposals should not focus primarily on understanding the neural basis of PAC processes, clinical populations without broader implications for human cognition, or non-human animal behavior unless clearly linked to human understanding.

Applicants must follow the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) applicable to the submission deadline. Proposals that do not comply may be returned without review. It is recommended that potential applicants send a one-page summary of their proposed research—including intellectual merit and broader impacts—to the PAC program contact email (sbe-pac@nsf.gov) to verify fit with the program. Additionally, principal investigators are encouraged to include a Single Copy Document listing suggested reviewers with their proposal submissions.

The program has two annual submission windows: July 15 to August 1 and January 15 to February 1. These windows apply only to research proposals. Proposals for conferences require prior consultation with the PAC program officers, including submission of a summary describing the conference scope, speaker list, and anticipated budget.

NSF expects to allocate between $5,000,000 and $7,300,000 annually for all new and continuing PAC awards, contingent on funding availability. Standard research project awards typically range from $350,000 to $600,000, while CAREER awards may range from $500,000 to $715,000. Awards supporting conferences or community-building activities generally range from $20,000 to $50,000. Annually, 25 to 35 awards are anticipated, including 20 to 30 regular research projects, up to 5 CAREER awards, and 1 to 3 conference or community-related projects.

For more information or pre-application discussions, interested parties should contact the PAC program via email at sbe-pac@nsf.gov or phone at (703) 292-8740. Full proposals can be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov under Program Solicitation PD 09-7252, adhering to the appropriate submission guides. The program emphasizes careful revision of declined proposals, as those not substantially altered will be returned without further review.