Human Networks and Data Science

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, offers the Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS) program, solicitation NSF 23-568. This program is designed to advance the understanding of human behavior by leveraging data science and network science across social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) research domains. The NSF, established in 1950 as an independent federal agency, supports fundamental research and education in all fields of science and engineering. The HNDS program reflects the NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science and improve national health, prosperity, and welfare through data-driven research in human networks. The HNDS program operates with two distinct tracks. The Human Networks and Data Science – Infrastructure (HNDS-I) track funds the development of large-scale databases and analytic tools that enable new types of data-intensive social science research. Projects in this track are expected to deliver tangible, user-friendly research products such as databases, interfaces, or analytic techniques that will benefit a broad community of researchers. The second track, Human Networks and Data Science – Core Research (HNDS-R), focuses on advancing theoretical frameworks within the SBE sciences through applications of data science and network science. Projects in this track should integrate large-scale or complex datasets, employ innovative methods, and contribute to fundamental theory-building in SBE fields. Proposals in HNDS-R require permission for direct submission unless they are listed as a secondary unit of consideration. The anticipated annual funding for HNDS totals approximately $8 million, supporting an estimated 5 to 25 awards across both tracks. A typical HNDS-I award is expected to range from $750,000 to $800,000, while HNDS-R awards typically range from $350,000 to $400,000. Awards may last from one to five years depending on the scope and justification. There are no award ceilings, though proposals requesting funding beyond the typical range must provide exceptional justification. Cost sharing is prohibited, and voluntary committed cost sharing will not be considered. Matching is not required. NSF expects proposals to demonstrate broad and generalizable impacts, ensuring that projects contribute significantly across SBE research communities. The program is open to a wide array of applicants. According to NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), eligible proposers include accredited institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and certain for-profit entities. Unaffiliated individuals may not submit proposals. Each individual may be listed as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on only one HNDS-I proposal per year, but there are no such limits for HNDS-R. Proposals involving human subjects must receive Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or exemption documentation before award, and projects involving vertebrate animals must have Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval. Applications are submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with the NSF PAPPG or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide. All proposals must begin their titles with either HNDS-I or HNDS-R, depending on the track. Required supplementary documents for HNDS-I proposals include a technical plan and a sustainability plan, addressing details such as project milestones, long-term access, governance, and cost estimates. HNDS-R proposals must explicitly state the SBE disciplines involved and include up to five keywords describing the research. Proposals are evaluated according to NSF’s merit review criteria: intellectual merit, reflecting the potential to advance knowledge, and broader impacts, reflecting contributions to societal outcomes. The HNDS program features multiple annual deadlines. For HNDS-I proposals, deadlines are August 3, 2023, and the first Thursday of August annually thereafter, and February 1, 2024, and the first Thursday of February annually thereafter. For HNDS-R, deadlines are July 13, 2023, and the second Thursday of July annually thereafter, and January 11, 2024, and the second Thursday of January annually thereafter. Proposals may only be submitted to HNDS-R directly with program officer permission, while proposals listing HNDS-R as a secondary program do not require special permission. Award notifications are made through NSF’s standard process, with decisions generally communicated within six months of proposal submission. Program officers overseeing HNDS include Amy H. Criss (acris@nsf.gov, 703-292-8740), Nicholas N. Nagle (nnagle@nsf.gov, 703-292-8740), Laneisha Mayo (lmayo@nsf.gov, 703-292-4468), and Cori J. Jacildone (cjacildo@nsf.gov, 703-292-8740). Additional assistance is available through the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726. This program continues NSF’s longstanding investment in advancing fundamental research and scientific infrastructure that strengthens the social sciences and their capacity to address pressing societal challenges.