Arctic Research Opportunities

The Arctic Research Opportunities grant is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Office of Polar Programs (OPP), located within the Directorate for Geosciences. NSF is a U.S. federal agency dedicated to promoting the progress of science and advancing national health and welfare. The purpose of this solicitation is to invite proposals from U.S. organizations for research focused on the Arctic region, fostering a deeper understanding of its natural, social, and coupled systems, and enhancing the capacity to predict future changes in the Arctic. This program emphasizes a broad, interdisciplinary approach aligned with federal priorities, including the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee’s five-year plan. This funding opportunity encompasses multiple program areas including Arctic Natural Sciences, Arctic Social Sciences, Arctic System Science, Arctic Observing Network, Polar Cyberinfrastructure, and Arctic Research Coordination and Policy Support. Each program area has specific focal points. For example, Arctic Social Sciences supports research on cultural and social systems, while Arctic Natural Sciences targets ecological and physical processes. Arctic System Science promotes studies of interconnected Arctic systems, and the Arctic Observing Network funds long-term field observations. Polar Cyberinfrastructure facilitates data sharing and management, and the Coordination and Policy Support program focuses on enhancing collaborations within the research enterprise and with community stakeholders. Applications must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov following the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Proposals must include supplementary documents such as a Plan for Safe and Harassment Free Working Environments, ethical considerations, and data management plans. While there are no restrictions on the number of proposals per organization or individual, applicants must ensure that their submissions are aligned with the aims of the solicitation. Proposals may involve a range of activities including fieldwork, synthesis studies, and modeling, and can also include collaborations with Arctic Indigenous communities or institutions. The estimated total funding available is approximately $50 million annually, with 75 to 80 awards expected each year, pending fund availability. Award types include standard or continuing grants and cooperative agreements. No cost sharing is required or allowed. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, for-profit entities with research capacities, tribal governments, and certain federal agencies and research centers. However, only U.S. organizations are eligible to submit proposals directly. Target dates vary depending on the program area. For Arctic Natural Sciences and Arctic Social Sciences, full proposals are due annually on January 15. For all other program areas, proposals are accepted any time. The review process evaluates both intellectual merit and broader impacts, and specific attention is paid to ethical considerations, data sharing, and safe research environments. Primary contacts for this grant include several program directors such as Rainer Amon (ramon@nsf.gov), Liam Frink (lfrink@nsf.gov), Lauren Culler (lculler@nsf.gov), and Colleen Strawhacker (colstraw@nsf.gov), among others. For general inquiries and assistance with submission platforms, applicants may also contact the NSF Help Desk.