Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Indicators, Statistics, and Methods (NCSES S)

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences and the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), has issued a funding opportunity titled "Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Indicators, Statistics, and Methods (NCSES S&T)." This grant initiative supports research projects that analyze, expand, or refine the statistical data collection and methodological work done by NCSES in the realm of science and technology (S&T). The NCSES is one of the thirteen principal federal statistical agencies in the U.S. and is responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of objective data on S&T activities both domestically and internationally. The purpose of the program is to promote analytic and methodological research that can strengthen NCSES's surveys, promote better usage of large-scale datasets, and enhance the development of S&T indicators. It encourages the academic and research community to engage with NCSES datasets or other relevant data to conduct research on the S&T enterprise, improve survey methodologies, integrate alternative data sources, create or refine indicators, and enhance methods of communicating S&T statistics. Proposals may focus on individual or multi-investigator research, doctoral dissertation improvement, conferences, survey experiments, or data dissemination initiatives. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (both two- and four-year U.S. institutions), non-profit non-academic organizations such as museums and professional societies, and federally recognized Tribal Nations. Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (DDRIG) proposals are limited to doctoral-degree granting institutions with faculty submitting on behalf of the student, who is listed as co-PI. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals submitted by institutions or investigators. However, proposals must explicitly align with NCSES's core mission areas, including statistical data collection and analysis, methodological innovation, and education in large-scale dataset usage. The funding opportunity offers approximately $1.5 million annually, with NSF anticipating 5 to 10 awards each year, depending on proposal quality and funding availability. Awards can be either standard or continuing grants. Dissertation awards are generally capped at $15,000 for direct research-related costs. No voluntary committed cost sharing is permitted, and funds cannot be used for tuition, salary, or stipends for the dissertation PI or co-PI. All data developed during the award period must adhere to NSF’s Data Management and Sharing Plan requirements, especially if restricted-use NCSES microdata are involved. Applications must be submitted via either Research.gov or Grants.gov and comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The next deadlines are January 21, 2025, and June 17, 2025. These deadlines recur annually on the third Tuesday of January and June. The application process does not require a letter of intent or preliminary proposal. Proposals are evaluated based on the NSF merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts, as well as their alignment with NCSES program goals. For further information or assistance, applicants can contact the program’s cognizant officer, Sharon A. Boivin, at sboivin@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-4263. More detailed information on datasets, licensing for restricted use, and proposal preparation is available on the NCSES website and the SAP Portal.

Applicants are advised to clearly state research questions, use accessible language, and follow the PAPPG guide closely. Dissertation applicants should avoid jargon, provide expected findings, and specify analytic procedures.