Decision, Risk and Management Sciences - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Decision, Risk and Management Sciences (DRMS) program within the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, offers the Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIG) to support dissertation research in the social and behavioral sciences. The DRMS-DDRIG aims to enhance the quality of dissertation research by providing supplemental funding that allows for significant expansion of the research scope, access to additional data sources, or the use of new methodologies. These grants help doctoral students advance their studies and contribute to scientific knowledge by exploring decision-making processes at individual, organizational, and societal levels. The primary objective of the DRMS-DDRIG is to support research that deepens understanding and effectiveness of decision-making across various domains, such as judgment and decision making, decision analysis and aids, risk perception and communication, societal and public policy decision-making, and organizational design. This funding opportunity is explicitly designed for research that is firmly grounded in theoretical frameworks and seeks generalizable insights rather than purely theoretical or algorithmic explorations. Successful proposals must demonstrate clear relevance to social and behavioral science disciplines and articulate potential broader societal impacts. Only Ph.D.-granting institutions in the United States may submit proposals, and applications must be made by the student's dissertation advisor, who will serve as the principal investigator (PI), with the doctoral student listed as a co-principal investigator (co-PI). A second faculty member may be included as an additional co-PI if justified. Proposals are submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov and must comply with both this solicitation and the current version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). DRMS strongly encourages advisors to consult with a program officer before preparing proposals to ensure alignment with program goals. Funding for each award may not exceed $30,000 in total direct and indirect costs, with a project duration capped at 12 months. Proposals may request support for allowable expenses including travel to professional meetings and publication costs, but cannot include stipends, salaries for students or advisors, tuition, or certain travel costs such as for the advisor. Indirect costs must align with the recipient institution’s federally negotiated rate. Between 20 to 30 awards are expected annually, contingent on the availability of funding, which ranges from $450,000 to $675,000 per fiscal year. Proposals are reviewed based on NSF’s standard merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. Applicants must clearly articulate how their project advances theoretical knowledge, addresses societal challenges, and contributes to broader outcomes such as public engagement, workforce development, or inclusion in STEM. Proposers must also include a data management plan indicating that curated data will be deposited into a publicly accessible repository within two years of the final data collection. Annual and final project reporting through Research.gov is required for all grantees. Applications for the DRMS-DDRIG are accepted twice annually, with deadlines on January 18 and August 19. The program is recurring annually on these same dates. Given the time-sensitive nature of dissertation research, NSF advises early submission to allow for administrative review. Program contacts include Claudia Gonzalez-Vallejo and Robert E. O’Connor, both Program Directors at NSF, who can be reached via their listed emails or phone numbers. The program is an excellent opportunity for doctoral students aiming to enhance their research with additional resources and exposure to rigorous review and academic advancement.