NSF Integrative Paleoanthropology Grants

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) announces an Integrative Paleoanthropology Grants Competition for which the application deadline is April 2, 2015. It is expected to result in a single award of a maximum of $1,000,000. While eligible applicants must be affiliated and submit their proposal through a US institution, the competition is of potential interest to many Paleoanthropology Society members. Relevant information from the NSF website (www.nsf.gov) is appended below.

Integrative Paleoanthropology Grants (IPG)


CONTACTS

 

Name Email Phone
Rebecca Ferrell rferrell@nsf.gov (703) 292-7850
John E. Yellen jyellen@nsf.gov (703) 292-8759

 

PROGRAM GUIDELINES
Apply to PD 15-1392 as follows:

For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard Grant Proposal Guide proposal preparation guidelines apply.

For full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide; A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines applies. (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide)

Important Information for Proposers
A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 15-1), is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after December 26, 2014. The PAPPG is consistent with, and, implements the new Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) (2 CFR § 200). NSF anticipates release of the PAPPG in the Fall of 2014. Please be advised that, depending on the specified due date, the guidelines contained in NSF 15-1 may apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.

DUE DATES
Full Proposal Deadline Date: April 2, 2015

SYNOPSIS
The Biological Anthropology and Archaeology Programs are pleased to announce the continuation in 2015 of the Integrative Paleoanthropology Grants (IPG) competition. Prior competitions were held in 2012 and 2013. In 2015, contingent on availability of funds, the Programs plan to make a single award for a maximum total cost of $1,000,000 to support a multi-year project of up to five years in duration.

The goal of the competition is to further innovative, integrative research to elucidate hominin biological and behavioral evolution. The particular focus is on long term processes within hominin evolution and how they relate to major questions of paleoanthropological significance. While the intellectual scope of the competition is thus constrained, the potential methodologies and disciplines are not. It is understood, for example, that fields such as (but not limited to) cognitive science, genetics, and spatial or mathematical modeling may be directly relevant to such an endeavor.

Competition organizers recognize that much paleoanthropological research is currently interdisciplinary and integrative in nature. However, the competition is intended to stimulate research that is integrative and crosses intellectual/disciplinary boundaries in novel ways, above and beyond current practice. As general examples, an integrative and interdisciplinary project might: 1) encompass broader perspectives, not previously synthesized, on regional and large-scale comparative issues, or 2) result in the development and application of an innovative method informed by multiple disciplines. Proposals are required to address this issue directly in the project description by using up to two pages of the 15 to specifically speak to how the proposed research is both integrative and novel beyond norms currently in practice and how the proposed research could not be accomplished otherwise. Reviewers and Program Officials will place significant weight on this criterion.

Applicants must submit their proposal to either the Biological Anthropology or Archaeology Program by 5:00 PM local time on April 2, 2015. Proposals should follow standard Program guidelines (except for the listed submission dates) that are available on the Programs’ web sites. The prefix “IPG” should be included in the application title. Proposals will be reviewed through both outside review and a specially constituted panel. In addition to the specifics discussed above, standard NSF review criteria apply.

For questions, please feel free to contact:
Rebecca Ferrell (Program Director, Biological Anthropology): rferrell@nsf.gov; 703-292-7850 John Yellen (Program Director, Archaeology): jyellen@nsf.gov; 703-292-8759