Opportunity Information: Apply for 19 538
The Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science (MSB-NES) opportunity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant program focused on understanding biological systems at very large spatial scales, from regional to continental. The core idea is to support projects that treat ecosystems and the biosphere as interconnected systems, using quantitative approaches to explain and predict how broad-scale ecological and biological processes work and how they change over time. The program is explicitly aimed at research that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries, bringing together expertise such as ecology, biology, climatology, remote sensing, biogeochemistry, data science, modeling, and other related fields to address questions that cannot be answered with small, local studies alone.
A central theme of the program is the interaction between biosphere processes and major drivers of change, especially climate, land use, and invasive species. Competitive projects typically examine complex feedbacks and linkages, such as how climate variability influences species distributions, how land-use change alters ecosystem functioning and connectivity, or how invasive species reshape community dynamics and ecosystem services across large areas. Because the program emphasizes systems-oriented science, it is well aligned with research that integrates multiple data streams, develops or applies mechanistic or statistical models, and produces generalizable insights that can scale across landscapes or regions rather than being limited to a single site.
The opportunity strongly encourages the use of NEON, the National Ecological Observatory Network, and it makes clear that proposals featuring substantive and innovative NEON-enabled research will be prioritized for funding. In practice, "NEON-enabled" work means the project is not just loosely related to NEON, but depends on NEON in a meaningful way. That can include relying on NEON data products and long-term measurements, using NEON-collected samples, coordinating field or experimental activities at NEON sites (co-locating research so that new work can be directly linked with NEON observations), or building tools and workflows that improve how NEON data or collections are processed, analyzed, and used. The emphasis is on using NEON to ask macrosystems-scale questions, such as synthesizing patterns across many NEON sites, combining NEON observations with other large-scale datasets, or developing new analytical methods that make NEON data more powerful for continental-scale inference.
In addition to research awards, the program also supports training activities designed to help research teams carry out Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science work. This reflects the reality that macrosystems projects often require collaborative teams, shared data standards, advanced quantitative skills, and coordinated sampling and modeling. Training elements may focus on building capacity in areas like data integration, reproducible workflows, cyberinfrastructure-enabled analysis, or interdisciplinary collaboration, all with the goal of enabling groups to conduct stronger, more scalable macrosystems research.
Administratively, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, listed under CFDA 47.074. The funding opportunity title is "Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science" and the opportunity number is 19-538. The agency is the National Science Foundation, and the original solicitation information shows a creation date of November 27, 2018, with an original closing date of February 25, 2019. The expected number of awards is 21, and the listed award ceiling is 0, which typically indicates that a fixed maximum was not specified in the summary field and that applicants should rely on the detailed solicitation or program guidance for budget expectations and constraints. Eligibility is noted broadly as "Others" with clarification in the solicitation text, indicating that prospective applicants need to consult the official eligibility section to confirm which organizations or applicant types qualify.
Overall, the MSB-NES program is designed to push biology and ecology toward predictive, cross-scale understanding by funding interdisciplinary teams that can connect processes and patterns across large spatial extents, while leveraging NEON as a shared national platform for data, samples, and site-based infrastructure. Projects that make NEON central to the science, rather than peripheral, are positioned as the highest priority for funding under this opportunity.Apply for 19 538
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 27, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 25, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 21 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science (MSB-NES) - FAQs
What is the MSB-NES funding opportunity?
Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science (MSB-NES) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant program focused on understanding biological systems at very large spatial scales, from regional to continental. It supports projects that treat ecosystems and the biosphere as interconnected systems and use quantitative approaches to explain and predict broad-scale ecological and biological processes and how they change over time.
What kinds of scientific questions is MSB-NES designed to support?
The program targets questions that cannot be answered with small, local studies alone. Typical topics include broad-scale processes and feedbacks involving climate, land use, and invasive species, such as how climate variability affects species distributions, how land-use change alters ecosystem functioning and connectivity, or how invasive species reshape communities and ecosystem services across large areas.
What does "macrosystems biology" mean in this program context?
In this context, macrosystems biology refers to research that operates at large spatial extents (regional to continental) and emphasizes systems-oriented science. The goal is to build generalizable, scalable understanding of how ecosystems and biosphere processes are linked across landscapes or regions, rather than focusing on a single site.
What makes a proposal "systems-oriented" for MSB-NES?
MSB-NES emphasizes projects that treat ecological systems as connected and interacting, often involving complex linkages and feedbacks. Competitive projects commonly integrate multiple data streams and use quantitative methods (for example, mechanistic or statistical modeling) to produce insights that generalize across large spatial areas.
Which disciplines and expertise areas are relevant to MSB-NES proposals?
The program is explicitly interdisciplinary and encourages research that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries. Examples of relevant expertise include ecology, biology, climatology, remote sensing, biogeochemistry, data science, modeling, and other related fields that help address large-scale, cross-system questions.
How central is NEON to this opportunity?
NEON (the National Ecological Observatory Network) is strongly encouraged, and proposals featuring substantive and innovative NEON-enabled research are prioritized for funding. In practical terms, the program expects NEON to be meaningful to the project, not just a minor or indirect connection.
What does "NEON-enabled" research mean for MSB-NES?
"NEON-enabled" means the project depends on NEON in a meaningful way. This can include relying on NEON data products and long-term measurements, using NEON-collected samples, coordinating field or experimental activities at NEON sites (co-locating research so results can be directly linked with NEON observations), or developing tools and workflows that improve how NEON data or collections are processed, analyzed, and used.
How might a project use NEON data in a way that fits MSB-NES priorities?
Examples described by the opportunity include synthesizing patterns across many NEON sites, combining NEON observations with other large-scale datasets, and developing new analytical methods that make NEON data more powerful for continental-scale inference. The common thread is using NEON to support macrosystems-scale questions, not just site-specific work.
Are projects that only loosely reference NEON likely to be competitive?
Based on the description, the highest priority is given to projects where NEON is central rather than peripheral. The opportunity states that NEON-enabled work should be substantive and that proposals with innovative NEON-enabled research will be prioritized for funding.
What major drivers of change does the program emphasize?
A central theme is the interaction between biosphere processes and major drivers of change, especially climate, land use, and invasive species. Competitive proposals often examine how these drivers influence ecosystems over large areas and how feedbacks emerge across connected systems.
What types of methods and approaches are emphasized?
The program highlights quantitative approaches and systems-level analysis. It is well aligned with research that integrates multiple data streams, uses advanced modeling (mechanistic or statistical), and aims to explain and predict broad-scale ecological and biological dynamics over time.
Does MSB-NES support training activities, or only research awards?
In addition to research awards, the program supports training activities designed to help research teams carry out Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science work. These training elements reflect the collaborative, data-intensive nature of macrosystems projects.
What kinds of training activities are supported under MSB-NES?
Training may focus on building capacity in areas such as data integration, reproducible workflows, cyberinfrastructure-enabled analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The stated goal is to enable teams to conduct stronger, more scalable macrosystems research.
What is the NSF opportunity number and title for this program?
The opportunity title is "Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science" and the opportunity number is 19-538.
Which agency administers MSB-NES?
The program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 47.074.
How many awards are expected under this opportunity?
The expected number of awards is 21.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The summary field lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that a fixed maximum was not specified in that summary field. Applicants are expected to rely on the detailed solicitation or program guidance for budget expectations and constraints.
What is the listed category for this grant opportunity?
Administratively, it is described as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" category.
What are the original solicitation dates shown in the opportunity summary?
The original solicitation information shows a creation date of November 27, 2018, and an original closing date of February 25, 2019.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is noted broadly as "Others" with clarification in the solicitation text. Prospective applicants are expected to consult the official eligibility section in the solicitation to confirm which organizations or applicant types qualify.
What types of project outcomes does MSB-NES aim to produce?
Overall, the program aims to push biology and ecology toward predictive, cross-scale understanding. It supports interdisciplinary teams that connect processes and patterns across large spatial extents, often leveraging NEON as a shared national platform for data, samples, and site-based infrastructure.
What makes a project especially well aligned with MSB-NES priorities?
Projects are positioned as highest priority when they (1) address macrosystems-scale questions, (2) use quantitative and integrative approaches to generate generalizable insights, and (3) make NEON central to the science through substantive, innovative NEON-enabled research.
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