OpenFederal grant21-544

Long Term Research in Environmental Biology

U.S. National Science FoundationNo deadline listedUp to $600,000

Does this fit your business?

This is an NSF program for scientists at US accredited colleges, universities, and non-profit research organizations who need a decade or more of continuous ecological or evolutionary data collection. Small-business owners should not bother applying: for-profit businesses of any size are ineligible, and the money funds long-term research, not operations or product development. If your organization is not a research institution or you cannot commit to a decadal data plan, this is not your grant.

Best for
US accredited two- and four-year colleges and universities, including community colleges, applying on behalf of faculty, US non-profit, non-academic research organizations such as museums, observatories, research laboratories, and scientific, Ecology, evolutionary biology, and ecosystem science researchers with existing long-term data
Not for
For-profit businesses of any size, including small businesses and sole proprietors, Marine ecology research on populations, communities, or ecosystems (directed to Biological Oceanography instead), Individual researchers applying outside an eligible institution
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Environment & ConservationMatches your industry (environment)
78
Strong Match
Education & TrainingMatches your industry (stem)
63
Good Match
Social Services & NonprofitMatches your industry (community)
59
Good Match
Arts & CultureLimit: Nothing in this notice points to arts & culture
54
Possible Match
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Finance & BankingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Food & BeverageLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
ManufacturingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Technology & SoftwareLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
Research, Operating support
Who can apply
Nonprofits, Colleges and universities
Award range
Up to $600,000

Questions about this grant

How much funding can an applicant receive?
Initial awards run up to $600,000 over a five-year period, with the program intending to support decadal projects. Renewal proposals cover the second five years, and continuing beyond ten years requires a new proposal.
Who can apply for this grant?
Only US accredited institutions of higher education (including community colleges) acting on behalf of faculty, and US non-profit, non-academic research organizations such as museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies. Businesses and individuals are not eligible.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
No. For-profit businesses, including sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs, cannot apply. Only accredited US institutions of higher education and US non-profit, non-academic research organizations may submit proposals.
Can a nonprofit apply?
Yes, but only non-profit, non-academic research organizations directly associated with educational or research activities, such as museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies. Nonprofits outside research or education do not fit.

Summary

NSF LTREB funds extended time-series research in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science, typically decadal projects with 5-year initial awards up to $600,000. Only US accredited institutions of higher education and US non-profit, non-academic research organizations (museums, observatories, labs, societies) may submit; businesses and individuals are not eligible.

About this grant

The Long Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB) Program supports the generation of extended time series of data to address important questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science. Research areas include, but are not limited to, the effects of natural selection or other evolutionary processes on populations, communities, or ecosystems; the effects of interspecific interactions that vary over time and space; population or community dynamics for organisms that have extended life spans and long turnover times; feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes; pools of materials such as nutrients in soils that turn over at intermediate to longer time scales; and external forcing functions such as climatic cycles that operate over long return intervals.

All proposals submitted through the LTREB solicitation are processed by 1 of the 3 clusters in the Division of Environmental Biology: Ecosystem Science, Population and Community Ecology, and Evolutionary Processes. Proposals must address topics supported by these clusters. Researchers who are uncertain about the suitability of their project for the LTREB Program are encouraged to contact the cognizant Program Officer.

Ecological research on marine populations, communities and ecosystems is not supported by LTREB and should be directed to the Biological Oceanography Program: ( https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/biooce-biological-oceanography ). However, research that examines the evolutionary dynamics of marine populations or communities will be accepted. Investigators who are uncertain about the suitability of their research for LTREB are strongly encouraged to contact the managing Program Officers listed in this solicitation.

Examples of current LTREB awards can be viewed at https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ by including 'LTREB' in a title search.

The Program intends to support decadal projects. Funding for an initial, 5-year period requires submission of a proposal that includes a 15-page project description containingtwo essential components: a decadal research plan and a description of core data. Proposals for the second five years of support (renewal proposals) are limited to a ten-page project description.

Continuation of an LTREB project beyond an initial ten-year award will require submission of a new proposal that presents a new decadal research plan.

Specific review criteria for LTREB proposals and renewals are explained within this solicitation. Prospective proposers are advised to read this solicitation carefully.

Who can apply

Our reading of the listing: for-profit businesses are not eligible for this one.

Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.

Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Science
  • Environment
  • Research

Program contact

U.S. National Science Foundationgrantsgovsupport@nsf.gov703-292-4203

Open opportunities funding similar work, from the same funder or in the same place.

  • OpenFederal grantOpen to businesses

    Mathematical Biology

    NSF Mathematical Biology Program funds research at the intersection of mathematics and biology, including theory, methods, tools, conferences, workshops, and supplements. Eligibility is unrestricted, so universities,…

    Agency
    U.S. National Science Foundation
    Deadline
    Closes Oct 14, 2026 · 1 day left
  • OpenFederal grant

    Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science

    NSF funds accredited US two- and four-year institutions of higher education, including community colleges, to host summer research experiences for K-14 educators in engineering and computer science. Teachers build…

    Agency
    U.S. National Science Foundation
    Deadline
    Closes Oct 14, 2026 · 1 day left
    Award
    From $600,000
  • OpenFederal grant

    Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)

    NSF grants to federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions for STEM education, research, faculty development, cyberinfrastructure, and community…

    Agency
    U.S. National Science Foundation
    Deadline
    Closes Oct 14, 2026 · 1 day left
    Award
    $100,000 – $3,500,000
  • OpenFederal grant

    NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF)

    Fellowships for U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents who earned a doctorate within the past five years to carry out up to three years of independent research plus an education plan in astronomy or…

    Agency
    U.S. National Science Foundation
    Deadline
    Closes Oct 15, 2026 · 2 days left
    Award
    From $110,000
  • OpenFederal grant

    Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program

    Grants to federally recognized tribes, local governments, and qualified 501(c)(3) conservation nonprofits to acquire private forestland in fee simple to establish publicly accessible community forests, protecting land…

    Agency
    Forest Service
    Deadline
    Closes Oct 13, 2026 · Closes today
    Award
    $1 – $600,000