Environmental System Science (ESS)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, under its Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, has announced funding opportunities for research under the Environmental System Science (ESS) program. This program aims to develop a comprehensive and predictive understanding of terrestrial ecosystems and their interconnected microbial, biogeochemical, hydrological, and ecological processes. The program's focus is on understudied ecosystems and includes a systems approach for improving knowledge across multiple scales. Applicants are invited to propose research within three specific Science Research Areas (SRAs): (1) plant-soil-microbe interactions and their effects on belowground biogeochemical processes; (2) synthesis studies addressing knowledge gaps in U.S. southeast coastal systems; and (3) synthesis studies on the contributions and vulnerabilities of marginal and degraded lands. The total expected funding for this opportunity is $6 million, with individual awards ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000, depending on the research area and scope. The primary purpose of the ESS program is to address fundamental scientific gaps related to the processes that govern ecosystem and watershed functions. This research supports DOE’s mission to enhance environmental understanding and integrate findings into models to improve their predictive capability across scales, from localized processes to global Earth-system dynamics. Funded research is expected to deliver new insights into ecosystem and watershed behaviors under changing environmental conditions, leveraging experimental, field-based, and modeling approaches. This funding opportunity is open to a wide range of domestic applicants, including universities, nonprofits, and private organizations, but excludes nonprofit organizations classified under Section 501(c)(4) that engage in lobbying. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories are ineligible as lead applicants or subrecipients. Individuals, including those from underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply, but individual applicants must demonstrate sufficient resources and expertise to accomplish the proposed work. International applicants must justify their unique capabilities not available domestically. Cost-sharing is not required for this funding opportunity, and applicants are limited to one submission per Principal Investigator (PI). Applications for SRA 1 must focus on experimental research, combining field measurements and laboratory data to elucidate plant-soil-microbe interactions and their influence on nutrient cycling and ecosystem responses to environmental changes. SRA 2 and SRA 3 prioritize synthesis studies using existing data to identify and address critical knowledge gaps in southeast coastal systems and marginal/degraded lands, respectively. For SRA 2, research should tackle biogeochemical processes, system connectivity, and responses to disturbances in coastal systems, while SRA 3 seeks insights into ecosystem functions and climate vulnerabilities of transitional lands. Applications proposing new data collection or unrelated research areas, such as agriculture or engineering, will not be considered. Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and full application by the deadlines specified in the announcement. Applications must include detailed research plans, budgets, and data management strategies, adhering to open science principles. Data and metadata generated must be deposited in the ESS-DIVE repository or other approved public archives, ensuring broad accessibility. Applicants conducting fieldwork at external sites must provide letters of authorization from site managers. Funded researchers are required to participate in annual ESS Principal Investigator meetings. Evaluation criteria include the significance of the proposed research in advancing ESS goals, the quality and feasibility of the research approach, the qualifications of the research team, and the alignment of the proposal with DOE’s scientific priorities. Final funding decisions will also consider programmatic priorities and the availability of funds. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to submit pre-applications and consult the ESS program’s resources for further guidance. Additional information and support can be accessed through DOE’s contact points and the ESS program website.