Biological Anthropology Program - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants

The Biological Anthropology Program - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (BA-DDRIG), offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to enhance dissertation research in biological anthropology. Administered by the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences through the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, this program supports U.S.-based doctoral students in advancing fundamental scientific knowledge. The NSF, a leading federal agency established in 1950 to promote scientific progress, offers these grants to foster innovative, ethically responsible, and impactful research in human and primate biology. The BA-DDRIG program encourages research that addresses biological diversity and evolution in humans and primates. It welcomes proposals across various subfields including molecular biology, population genetics, human adaptation, bioarchaeology, and primate behavior. The supported research must be grounded in biological anthropology and evolutionary theory and engage with interdisciplinary methodologies across field, laboratory, and computational environments. Proposals are expected to demonstrate societal impact, such as contributing to broader participation in STEM or supporting educational and outreach efforts. Eligible applicants must be doctoral students enrolled in Ph.D.-granting U.S. institutions, with the proposal submitted by their faculty advisor as the principal investigator. The student must be the proposal author and either close to candidacy or already advanced to that stage. Each student may submit only once, with one potential resubmission. Institutions face no limit on the number of applications submitted. Proposals must include various documents such as project summaries, ethics statements, and data management plans, and they must address ethical and societal considerations, especially when involving human subjects, animals, or international collaboration. Funding through the BA-DDRIG program is designed to supplement dissertation research rather than replace institutional support. Awards provide up to $25,000 in direct costs (excluding indirect costs) for a maximum period of 24 months. These funds may cover research-specific expenses including travel to field sites or research facilities, purchase of research materials and services, and employment of assistants, but not stipends, tuition, or travel to conferences. The overall anticipated funding per fiscal year ranges from $600,000 to $800,000, with 25 to 40 awards expected annually, subject to budget availability. Applications are submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov during biannual submission windows. The two recurring cycles occur from January 20 to January 31 and July 20 to July 31. An ethics statement and a spreadsheet of project personnel must be submitted, and specific guidance is provided for projects involving Native, Tribal, or Indigenous communities, requiring confirmation of collaboration or permission. The proposal process adheres to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Evaluation follows NSF’s two merit criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. Proposals are peer-reviewed based on their potential to advance scientific understanding and deliver societal benefits. PIs must report annually and upon project completion on progress and data sharing. The program requires that final research data be made publicly accessible within two years of collection unless ethical considerations prohibit this. Questions may be directed to program officers Marta P. Alfonso-Durruty or Rebecca Ferrell, with additional support from Angelica T. Brewer.

Address all ethical considerations explicitly; submit ethics and data plans; use funding to support supplemental research activities only