Plant Genome Research Program

The Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Integrative Organismal Systems. The PGRP funds genome-scale plant research that tackles fundamental biological questions and addresses issues of societal and economic importance. The program focuses on developing new tools, technologies, and resources to empower the plant research community and seeks to foster data that is accessible, integrable, and high-impact. Projects must also incorporate training, broadening participation, and career development. PGRP offers two primary funding tracks. The RESEARCH-PGR track supports genome-scale research to explore biological questions with societal relevance, while the TRTech-PGR track funds the development of tools, resources, and technological breakthroughs to advance plant functional genomics. The program emphasizes integrative and transdisciplinary approaches and encourages proposals that generate large-scale, reusable data. Proposals should outline hypothesis-driven research and may include collaborations across disciplines and international borders, provided these are well justified. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S.-based institutions of higher education and nonprofit non-academic organizations like research labs and museums. Proposals can be submitted at any time, and there are no limits on the number of proposals per organization or individual. Full proposals must adhere to the guidelines of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide and be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov. All proposals involving off-campus or off-site research must include a Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plan. Additional considerations include public access to data, meaningful broader impacts, and plans for managing collaborative efforts. Proposal budgets should be scaled appropriately, with large consortia rarely exceeding $5 million and smaller projects generally below $2 million. NSF anticipates making 15 to 20 awards with an estimated total funding of $30 million. Award types include standard or continuing grants. The merit review process evaluates both intellectual merit and broader societal impacts. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact program officers with proposal ideas or questions prior to submission. For further assistance, applicants can contact Diane Jofuku Okamuro (dokamuro@nsf.gov, 703-292-4508), Gerald Schoenknecht (gschoenk@nsf.gov, 703-292-5076), Pankaj Jaiswal (pjaiswal@nsf.gov, 703-292-4594), or Shin-Han Shiu (sshiu@nsf.gov, 703-292-4400).