The National Science Foundation (NSF) awards funding to researchers affiliated with institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and state and local governments to conduct research relevant to engineering, natural, and social sciences. These grants allow researchers to undertake significant data-gathering projects and to conduct field research in settings away from their campus that would not otherwise be possible. Proposals are judged based on their scientific merit, including the theoretical importance of the research question and the appropriateness of the proposed data and methodology to be used in addressing the question.
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NSF offers funding through several ongoing and special programs. See NSF General Program and Due Dates for a running list of annual programs and explore NSF's funding search for special programs.
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Planning Time Required for an NSF Proposal
The Syracuse University Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) requests the final, complete application by no later than three business days before the application due date. The OSP Service Guidelines page gives other key timeframes leading up to submission.
As a general rule, preparing an NSF application takes a minimum of four to six weeks lead time. In addition to time devoted to writing your project description and other narrative components that comprise your proposal, you should plan for two weeks ahead of the submission deadline to work with University staff to finalize the complex paperwork required to submit your application. Please
Please note that the same work cannot be funded twice. Nevertheless, the applicant indicate that they would like to have their proposal reviewed by more than one program on their cover sheet. Concurrent submission of duplicated or similar proposals for review by more than one program without prior NSF approval will result in the return of these submissions.
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- You and your co-writers will need NSF IDs in order to access the FastLane system (see Registering for an NSF ID).
Proposal Development Steps
1. Review the program solicitation from the applicable NSF program. Talk with your colleagues and collaborators to determine which program is a good fit for your research interests.
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4. Prepare a 1-page summary of your project to send by email to the NSF program officer(s) for your chosen program. Request a phone call to discuss your project, including its fit with the program, or feedback by email.
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