Archaeology Program - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences and the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, administers the Archaeology Program – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (Arch-DDRIG). This program is designed to support anthropologically relevant archaeological research conducted by doctoral students enrolled in U.S. institutions. While the NSF does not prioritize specific regions, time periods, or theoretical orientations, it requires that proposals convincingly demonstrate their anthropological relevance and potential to contribute to broader knowledge in the field. The primary objective of the Arch-DDRIG program is to support doctoral dissertation research that necessitates funding beyond what is typically available from a student’s academic institution. Funding is provided for essential research activities such as fieldwork, laboratory analysis, materials and supplies, and data archiving, among others. However, the program explicitly prohibits the use of funds for stipends, tuition, textbooks, or expenses related to thesis writing or production. Each proposal must adhere strictly to the solicitation guidelines, as non-compliance may lead to the proposal being returned without review. Eligibility is restricted to doctoral-degree-granting U.S. institutions that submit proposals on behalf of their faculty members. The dissertation advisor must serve as the Principal Investigator (PI), while the doctoral student is designated as the co-Principal Investigator (co-PI). The student, who must be the proposal's author, is responsible for executing the research. While U.S. citizenship is not a requirement, the student must be enrolled in a U.S.-based institution. There are no restrictions on the number of submissions per organization or individual advisor. Proposals are accepted at any time via Research.gov or Grants.gov and must comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Proposals must include a detailed project description (up to 10 single-spaced pages plus up to 5 pages of figures), a data management plan, a PI/Advisor statement, and a budget justification. The project title must begin with "Doctoral Dissertation Research:" and reflect the general scientific inquiry being pursued. Letters of reference are not required, and letters of collaboration must adhere to NSF-specified formats. The proposal evaluation process involves an NSF merit review based on intellectual merit and broader impacts. Intellectual merit refers to the potential to advance anthropological knowledge, while broader impacts concern the societal benefits and outreach potential of the project. Reviews may involve both ad hoc reviewers and panelists. Final decisions are based on merit, program priorities, and available funding. Contact for program inquiries includes Program Director John E. Yellen (jyellen@nsf.gov, 703-292-8759) and Business Operations Analyst Don Rimon (drimon@nsf.gov, 703-292-2960). Proposals may take up to six months for review and funding decisions, and NSF recommends allowing this timeframe when planning submissions.