Perception, Action Cognition

The Perception, Action, & Cognition (PAC) program offered by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is dedicated to advancing the theoretical and empirical understanding of human perceptual, motor, and cognitive processes. This grant initiative is part of the Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Division within the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). The NSF is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with a strong emphasis on scientific innovation that contributes to societal well-being. The PAC program furthers this mission by investing in high-quality research exploring how humans perceive, act, and think, and how these processes interact in naturalistic settings. PAC encourages proposals that are empirically grounded, theoretically rich, and methodologically rigorous. The scope of funded research is broad, encompassing computational modeling, experimental psychology, behavioral studies, and interdisciplinary approaches, as long as the research seeks to expand explanatory theories of perception, action, or cognition. The program is especially interested in studies that involve human behavior in realistic contexts and draw from diverse subject populations. Proposals may integrate various methodologies, but the central objective must be to enhance scientific understanding of human processes—not to focus on clinical populations, non-human animals, or neural mapping unless these contribute directly to the understanding of human PAC functions. Importantly, PAC sets boundaries on the types of research it supports. Proposals that primarily focus on structure-function mappings in the brain, clinical conditions without a broader theoretical impact, or research using non-human animals without clear translational relevance to human PAC processes may be returned without review. Applicants are therefore advised to ensure their research objectives align closely with the program’s core focus. Investigators are encouraged to submit a one-page summary of their proposed research—structured like the NSF Project Summary page and including Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts—prior to formal submission. This step helps determine fit and avoids misaligned proposals. While the PAC program does not list a fixed set of allowable expenses, it expects awardees to share data and related materials as part of effective scientific practices. The inclusion of a “List of Suggested Reviewers” is also strongly recommended in submitted proposals. All submissions must comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) relevant to the proposal’s due date. Funding is awarded through Research.gov or Grants.gov, depending on applicant preference, and must follow each platform’s applicable guidelines. The program is currently listed as awaiting a new publication, with no specific due dates available, indicating either an upcoming revision or expected continuation of previous cycles. There is no indication of required cost sharing or matching funds, and the program does not provide detailed funding tiers or performance periods in the overview. However, researchers are encouraged to consult related resources such as the NSF Dear Colleague Letter on Effective Practices for Data, and to remain attentive to updates in NSF research security policies. Award decisions are subject to rigorous peer review, with proposals evaluated based on Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria. Questions or preliminary proposal summaries can be directed to the PAC program contact at [email protected] or by calling (703) 292-8740.

Submit one-page summary to confirm proposal fit; include “List of Suggested Reviewers” with proposal.