Arctic Research Opportunities

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Office of Polar Programs within the Directorate for Geosciences, invites proposals for the Arctic Research Opportunities program (NSF 23-572). This funding opportunity supports scientific investigations that enhance our understanding of the Arctic region. The Arctic Sciences Section funds projects that explore the region’s natural, social, and environmental systems, focusing on how these systems interact with lower latitudes. With a robust annual budget of approximately $50 million and an estimated 75 to 80 awards issued each year, this solicitation underpins NSF’s strategic efforts to foster multidisciplinary, collaborative research that addresses key scientific and societal challenges in the Arctic. This solicitation includes several programmatic areas: Arctic Natural Sciences, Arctic Social Sciences, Arctic System Science, Arctic Observing Network, Polar Cyberinfrastructure, and Arctic Research Coordination and Policy Support. The scope of research spans from ecosystem science and climate dynamics to Indigenous knowledge systems and sustainable development. Proposals may be disciplinary or interdisciplinary in nature and are encouraged to align with priorities outlined in the federal Arctic Research Plan and the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) five-year plan. Applicants are urged to emphasize system-level understanding and engage Arctic communities through outreach, ethical collaboration, and community-based research. Eligibility is open to a broad range of U.S.-based entities, including institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, tribal governments, and federally recognized research centers. While foreign organizations may participate, funding will only be provided for the U.S.-based portion of cooperative projects. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals that may be submitted by organizations or individuals. All proposals must comply with NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), and certain programs have specific requirements such as safe research environment plans, ethical consideration statements, and community engagement letters. Proposal submissions must be made via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Arctic Natural Sciences and Arctic Social Sciences proposals follow target dates of January 15 annually, while proposals to other programs are accepted anytime. This structure allows researchers flexibility in planning and submitting applications. Notably, Arctic Sciences proposals require supplementary documents addressing safe and harassment-free research environments, ethical research approaches, and data management in alignment with NSF’s open-access policy. Proposals are evaluated using NSF’s merit review criteria, emphasizing both intellectual merit and broader societal impacts. Reviewers assess factors such as the potential to advance knowledge, the qualifications of the research team, feasibility, and the extent of integration with Arctic communities. Special criteria also apply to individual programs, such as the Arctic Observing Network, which must ensure broad utility of collected data, and ARCSS proposals, which must demonstrate contribution to system-level understanding. Interested applicants should consult with program officers listed for each focus area, all of whom can be reached at (703) 292-8030 or via the respective program emails (e.g., ARCSS@nsf.gov, ASSP@nsf.gov). Given the collaborative nature of this work and the specialized support infrastructure, proposers are also encouraged to engage with logistical support teams well in advance of field deployments. This solicitation reflects NSF’s commitment to research excellence, ethical collaboration, and inclusive knowledge production in the Arctic.

Applicants should consult the relevant program officer before submitting and allow sufficient time for collaboration letters, particularly with Indigenous or community-based organizations.