The Developmental Sciences programme, offered by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), supports basic research that increases understanding of perceptual, cognitive, linguistic, social, cultural, and biological processes related to human development across the lifespan. Research supported by this programme adds to knowledge of the underlying developmental processes that support social, cognitive, and behavioral functioning.

Overview

The Developmental Sciences programme supports research addressing developmental processes within the domains of perceptual, cognitive, social, emotional, language, and motor development across the lifespan. Research may involve any appropriate populations, including infants, children, adolescents, adults (including aging populations), and non-human animals. The programme also supports research investigating factors that affect developmental change, including family, peers, school, community, culture, media, physical, genetic, and epigenetic influences. The programme funds research that incorporates multidisciplinary, multi-method, and/or longitudinal approaches; develops new methods, models, and theories for studying development; and integrates different processes (e.g., memory, emotion, perception, cognition), levels of analysis (e.g., behavioral, social, neural), and time scales. The programme funds basic research that advances understanding of developmental processes and mechanisms; it does not fund clinical trials or research focused primarily on health outcomes.

Funding and Benefits

Budgets and durations of supported projects vary widely and are greatly influenced by the nature of the project. A typical project funded through the Developmental Sciences programme is approximately three years in duration with a total cost budget, including both direct and indirect costs, between $100,000 and $200,000 per year. Proposals with budgets significantly beyond this range may be returned without review. The programme also considers proposals for workshops and small conferences on a case-by-case basis, which typically have total cost budgets of approximately $35,000. Conference proposals may only be submitted following an invitation from the Program Directors. The total programme funding is $6,500,000.

Eligibility

Proposals may be submitted by the following types of organisations:

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in, the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members.
• Non-profit, non-academic organisations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organisations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.
• For-profit organisations: U.S.-based commercial organisations, including small businesses, with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education.
• State and Local Governments.
• Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe.
• Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs).
• Foreign organisations: For cooperative projects involving U.S. and foreign organisations, support will only be provided for the U.S. portion.

PIs and co-PIs must be researchers who have a Ph.D. or equivalent education and experience sufficient to allow them to carry out independent basic research. PIs are encouraged to include undergraduate and graduate students in their research projects, but not as PI/co-PI or senior/key personnel.

Application Process

Interested proposers are urged to explore the NSF awards database for the Developmental Sciences programme to review examples of awards that have been made. It is often useful for interested proposers to submit (via email) a summary of no more than one page so that a program director can advise on the fit of the project before preparation of a full proposal. New investigators are encouraged to solicit assistance in the preparation of their project proposals via consultation with senior researchers, pre-submission review by colleagues, and attendance at symposia and events at professional conferences. The Developmental Sciences programme is always interested in identifying new reviewers. Potential reviewers should have a Ph.D. in psychology or a related field and a demonstrated area of expertise relevant to developmental science. Individuals interested in reviewing for the programme should complete an expression of interest form.

Deadline and Timeline

Closing: July 30, 2026

Posted Date: February 15, 2024

Archive Date: August 29, 2035

Contact Information

For problems linking to this funding announcement, contact: grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

Additional information is available at: NSF Publication 24-544