Dynamic Language Infrastructure-Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants

The Dynamic Language Infrastructure – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DLI-DDRI) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides financial support for doctoral students conducting research in linguistics, language documentation, and related fields. Operated under the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences and the Directorate for Geosciences, this program particularly supports projects that advance the understanding and preservation of endangered languages. These languages, many of which are under-documented and at risk of extinction, represent an irreplaceable resource for scholars and the communities who speak them. The DLI-DDRI initiative seeks to enhance linguistic theory through innovative research, digital tools, and archiving methods, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of human cognition and cultural diversity. The program offers grants to support dissertation projects that fall within three core emphasis areas: Language Description, Infrastructure, and Computational Methods. Under Language Description, students can receive support for fieldwork to record endangered languages, prepare foundational linguistic materials like lexicons and grammars, and analyze data in light of modern linguistic theory. Infrastructure projects focus on digitizing, preserving, and sharing existing or newly collected linguistic data. The Computational Methods emphasis supports the creation of tools and standardized databases to make linguistic data more accessible and interoperable. Projects that aim solely at language revitalization are not eligible; instead, those efforts are supported by other agencies like the Administration for Native Americans. Each DLI-DDRI grant offers up to $15,000 in direct costs for a project period of up to 24 months. This funding is not intended to cover the full cost of the dissertation research but to supplement university resources. Allowable costs include travel for fieldwork or conference presentations, equipment, data collection and archiving, and payments to language informants. Costs such as student stipends, tuition, or advisor travel are not covered. Indirect costs may also be included, subject to institutional negotiation with NSF. No cost sharing or matching is required or permitted. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-accredited Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education, which must apply on behalf of faculty members. The proposal must be submitted by the doctoral advisor (PI) and list the student as co-PI. A student may only submit twice during their graduate career. The proposal must be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov, and must adhere to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Key required components include a detailed project description, biographical sketches of both the student and advisor, data management and archiving plans, and letters of collaboration or support, as applicable. Notably, proposals must demonstrate how the research will contribute to basic scientific knowledge in linguistics and language documentation. The program has target dates of February 15 and September 15 annually. The next open cycle will occur on February 15, 2026, with proposals accepted through Research.gov or Grants.gov. The review process involves peer evaluations based on intellectual merit and broader impacts. Proposals must also align with the goals of the DLI-DDRI program. Notification of awards is provided by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer, and standard NSF reporting requirements apply. Annual progress reports and final reports must be submitted via Research.gov. For further information or to confirm application requirements, applicants may contact the program directors Rachel M. Theodore, Wilson De lima Silva, or Kenyatta Johnson. Their email addresses and phone numbers are provided in the solicitation. The full solicitation, NSF 22-616, is archived but remains accessible for reference. Interested applicants should refer to the latest version of the PAPPG for submission compliance and consult with their institutions to ensure proper routing and administrative preparation.