Chemical Oceanography

The Chemical Oceanography Program, administered by the Division of Ocean Sciences (GEO/OCE) within the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides funding for research that advances understanding of ocean chemistry and its role in global geochemical cycles. The NSF is an independent federal agency tasked with supporting fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. With a longstanding mission to foster scientific discovery and innovation, NSF’s Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) includes several programs that fund research in Earth sciences, among which Chemical Oceanography plays a crucial role. The program supports investigations into the chemical composition, speciation, and transformation of substances in oceanic environments, including seas and estuaries. Projects may focus on chemical interactions between the ocean and other Earth systems such as the atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere, as well as on internal chemical cycling within ocean systems. The program also encourages research that uses measured chemical distributions as tracers for understanding biological, physical, and geological processes in the marine environment. Funded projects typically contribute to a deeper knowledge of the marine chemical environment and often involve fieldwork, laboratory analysis, modeling, and interdisciplinary approaches. The Chemical Oceanography Program issues awards through competitive proposal submission. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) in effect for the relevant due date. Applications can be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov platforms, depending on the applicant’s preference and institutional procedures. The program follows target dates, with the next full proposal submission due on August 17, 2026, and recurring annually on August 15 thereafter. Proposals are evaluated on the basis of intellectual merit and broader impacts, along with alignment to program objectives and NSF’s overall research priorities. There are no explicit restrictions or special matching requirements mentioned in the current program guidance. The program appears open to a broad range of institutional applicants, consistent with NSF’s general inclusivity across U.S.-based research entities. Eligible applicants typically include universities, colleges, and other research institutions capable of carrying out oceanographic research. The opportunity is national in scope, and there are no limitations by geography or institutional type mentioned in the available information. Program officers serve as points of contact for prospective applicants and can provide guidance on proposal fit and technical questions. The listed program officers include Henrietta Edmonds ([email protected]), Elizabeth Canuel ([email protected]), Katsumi Matsumoto ([email protected]), and Rolf E. Sonnerup ([email protected]), all affiliated with GEO/OCE. Prospective applicants are encouraged to reach out for clarification or pre-submission discussions. The program operates on a recurring cycle with annual target dates, making it a reliable funding source for ongoing and new research efforts in chemical oceanography. The consistent schedule allows institutions and researchers to plan their proposal development timelines in advance. Given the agency’s clear deadline structure and the depth of research supported, this program represents a valuable funding opportunity for those investigating the chemical dynamics of oceanic systems.