Arctic Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (Arctic DDRIG) Arctic Social Sciences, Arctic System Sciences, and Arctic Observing Network

The Arctic Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (Arctic DDRIG) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports dissertation-level research focused on the Arctic. This program is managed through the Directorate for Geosciences' Office of Polar Programs. Its purpose is to enhance the quality of dissertation research for doctoral students enrolled at U.S. institutions of higher education, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of Arctic social, environmental, and systemic processes. Through this solicitation, NSF encourages fundamental, process-based, and systems-level investigations of the Arctic, its natural and cultural dynamics, and its connectivity with lower latitudes. The Arctic DDRIG supports research under three core NSF programs: Arctic Social Sciences (ASSP), Arctic System Science (ARCSS), and Arctic Observing Network (AON). Each focuses on different aspects of the Arctic: ASSP emphasizes socio-cultural systems and Indigenous knowledge; ARCSS prioritizes interdisciplinary, systemic Arctic studies across ecological and socio-economic components; and AON backs long-term observation systems and infrastructure. Proposals are expected to align with strategic frameworks such as the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee’s five-year Arctic research plan and should follow the IARPC Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic. The grant offers up to $40,000 in direct research funding per project with additional indirect costs permissible as per the awardee’s negotiated rate. While up to 25 grants may be issued annually, actual awards depend on funding availability. Proposals must be submitted by the student’s dissertation advisor (as PI) on behalf of the student (as Co-PI). The student must be enrolled at a U.S.-based institution and must be the primary author of the proposal. There are no limitations on how many proposals an organization or advisor may submit overall, but only two submissions per student are allowed without special permission. Proposals are submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov and must follow the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Requirements include a clear project description, a signed PI statement, biographical sketches, a data management plan, and supplementary documents like community collaboration letters and field logistics plans. Letters of recommendation and transcripts are not accepted. The project title must begin with “Doctoral Dissertation Research:” followed by a descriptive subtitle. DDRIG funding cannot be used for student or advisor stipends, tuition, or unrelated publication expenses. Applications are accepted twice annually, with deadlines on May 15 and December 15. The program is recurring, with reviews taking approximately six months post-submission. Evaluation is based on NSF’s two principal criteria: intellectual merit and broader societal impacts. Awardees must comply with reporting requirements and NSF fieldwork policies, including environmental and community engagement considerations. Contacts for specific program areas include Roberto Delgado (AON), Erica Hill (ASSP), and Colleen Strawhacker (ARCSS), each available via their NSF emails and phone numbers provided in the solicitation.