Perception, Action Cognition

The Perception, Action & Cognition (PAC) program offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) supports innovative, theoretically grounded research that advances the understanding of human perceptual, motor, and cognitive processes. This program encourages empirically rigorous and methodologically sophisticated projects that aim to investigate the interactions between these domains. It is part of the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences under the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) at the NSF, a federal agency committed to advancing scientific discovery and education across disciplines in the United States. The PAC program welcomes a broad spectrum of scientific inquiries, including but not limited to traditional cognitive psychology, experimental perception and action studies, and computational modeling approaches. However, the program places a strong emphasis on research that examines human behavior in realistic or real-world scenarios and includes diverse subject populations. It prioritizes studies that demonstrate a clear trajectory toward societal benefit. PAC is particularly supportive of cross-disciplinary collaborations and is open to co-reviewing proposals submitted to other NSF programs within and beyond the SBE directorate. There are specific types of research that fall outside the PAC program’s scope. These include studies primarily focused on structure-function mappings between cognition/perception and neural activity, clinical populations as the main focus, and investigations involving non-human animals that do not clearly enhance understanding of human processes. Prospective applicants are advised to send a one-page summary of their proposed research to [email protected] to confirm the project’s fit with the program. Sharing of data and research materials is expected for all funded projects, following NSF’s guidelines on data management and transparency. PAC accepts full proposals via Research.gov or Grants.gov, adhering strictly to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) in effect at the time of submission. No pre-application steps such as letters of intent or concept papers are mandated, but investigators are encouraged to provide suggested reviewer lists. Application submission occurs during two recurring annual windows: July 15–August 1 and January 15–February 1. Each cycle is dedicated solely to research proposals. Proposal submission closes at 5:00 p.m. local time of the submitting organization. The estimated annual funding pool ranges between $5 million and $7.3 million, subject to appropriations. Individual research awards generally range from $350,000 to $600,000 in total funding, while CAREER awards span $500,000 to $715,000. Community-building efforts like conferences or group travel may be funded between $20,000 and $50,000. In total, PAC expects to make between 25 and 35 awards annually, including 20–30 regular research awards, up to 5 CAREER awards, and 1–3 conference-related awards. Larger awards may be available under special circumstances such as co-funding or EPSCoR participation. Key contact for the PAC program is available via the central email [email protected] or by phone at (703) 292-8740. Additional information and updates—including Dear Colleague Letters and program-specific newsletters—can be accessed through the NSF’s official website. Proposers are urged to carefully review the program synopsis, eligibility limitations, and submission windows before applying, and to reach out early for clarification if needed. With its focus on rigorous, inclusive research that bridges theory and application, the PAC program continues to play a vital role in advancing cognitive and behavioral sciences.

Contact program staff with one-page summary before applying; data sharing required.