Opportunity Information: Apply for 20 506
The Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science (MSB-NES) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant opportunity designed to fund large-scale, data-driven biology. Its central focus is on understanding how biological systems work across regional to continental extents, especially where ecological and biological processes interact with major drivers like climate variation and change, land-use patterns, and shifting species distributions. The program is geared toward projects that treat ecosystems and the biosphere as interconnected systems, using quantitative approaches and interdisciplinary teams to link patterns and processes across space and time.
A defining priority of MSB-NES is strong use of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). Applicants are encouraged to build proposals around NEON resources, and proposals that are clearly "NEON-enabled" are specifically prioritized for funding. In practical terms, a substantive NEON-enabled project is one that meaningfully depends on NEON data streams and/or physical samples collected through NEON, places additional research activities at NEON field sites (co-locating new measurements or experiments alongside NEON infrastructure), or creates analytical methods, software, workflows, or other tools that directly improve the processing, usability, or interpretation of NEON data and collections. The key expectation is that NEON is not just mentioned as a convenient dataset, but plays an explicit, integral role in addressing macrosystems biology questions.
Beyond research, the program also supports training and capacity-building activities aimed at broadening participation in macrosystems biology and NEON-enabled science. This generally means proposals can incorporate plans that help expand who is able to do this kind of work, such as training researchers to use large ecological datasets, building collaborative networks, developing reproducible data and modeling skills, and lowering barriers to entry for communities historically underrepresented in these research areas.
From the opportunity details provided, MSB-NES is a discretionary NSF grant program in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category (CFDA 47.074). The funding opportunity number is 20-506. The listing indicates an expected total of about 23 awards, and the posted award ceiling is listed as 0 (which typically signals that applicants should refer to the full solicitation for budget guidance rather than relying on a fixed cap in the summary record). The original closing date shown is January 16, 2020, with a creation date of October 19, 2019, meaning this specific posting reflects a particular cycle of the program rather than an always-open competition. Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others" with clarification in the full eligibility text, implying the solicitation itself defines which organization types or applicant categories may apply.
Overall, MSB-NES is best understood as NSF support for ambitious, cross-scale ecological and biological research that leverages NEON as a national platform for standardized data and sampling, combined with an emphasis on quantitative synthesis, systems thinking, and workforce development to grow the community capable of doing macrosystems and NEON-based science.Apply for 20 506
- 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 Oct 19, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 16, 2020. (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 23 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
1) What is the MSB-NES program?
The Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science (MSB-NES) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant opportunity focused on large-scale, data-driven biology. It supports projects that aim to understand how biological systems function across regional to continental extents, especially where ecological and biological processes interact with major drivers such as climate variation and change, land-use patterns, and shifting species distributions.
2) What kinds of scientific questions is MSB-NES designed to support?
MSB-NES is designed to support research questions that require linking patterns and processes across space and time at large scales (regional to continental). The program emphasizes systems thinking in which ecosystems and the broader biosphere are treated as interconnected systems, and it encourages quantitative, interdisciplinary approaches to connect observations, mechanisms, and drivers across scales.
3) What does "macrosystems biology" mean in the context of this program?
In this program, macrosystems biology refers to studying ecological and biological dynamics across large spatial extents (from regions to continents) and across time, using approaches that integrate data, modeling, and synthesis. The goal is to understand how interacting processes shape biological systems under major environmental and societal drivers (for example, climate change and land-use change).
4) What is NEON and why is it central to MSB-NES?
NEON is the National Ecological Observatory Network, described in the opportunity as a national platform for standardized ecological data and sampling. A defining priority of MSB-NES is strong use of NEON, and proposals that are clearly "NEON-enabled" are specifically prioritized for funding.
5) What does it mean for a proposal to be "NEON-enabled"?
Based on the information provided, a substantive NEON-enabled project is one where NEON is integral to the research rather than a casual data source. This can include projects that meaningfully depend on NEON data streams and/or physical samples collected through NEON, add research activities at NEON field sites (co-locating measurements or experiments with NEON infrastructure), or create analytical methods, software, workflows, or tools that directly improve how NEON data and collections are processed, used, or interpreted.
6) Is simply using NEON data enough to be considered NEON-enabled?
The expectation described is that NEON should not be mentioned only as a convenient dataset. Instead, NEON should play an explicit, integral role in addressing the macrosystems biology questions. Proposals are encouraged to build around NEON resources, and the strongest fit is where the research meaningfully depends on NEON data, samples, site-based work, and/or tools that directly improve NEON data usability and interpretation.
7) What are examples of NEON-enabled activities mentioned in the program description?
The program description highlights several ways a project can be NEON-enabled, including: (a) relying on NEON data streams, (b) using physical samples collected through NEON, (c) placing additional research activities at NEON field sites (for example, adding measurements or experiments alongside NEON infrastructure), and (d) creating analytical methods, software, workflows, or other tools that improve processing, usability, or interpretation of NEON data and collections.
8) Does MSB-NES only fund field research at NEON sites?
No. While co-locating new measurements or experiments at NEON field sites is one way to be NEON-enabled, the description also includes projects built around NEON data streams and samples, as well as projects focused on analytical methods, software, workflows, and tools that improve NEON data processing and interpretation.
9) What kind of project teams does MSB-NES encourage?
The program emphasizes quantitative approaches and interdisciplinary teams. This reflects the need to link patterns and processes across space and time and to integrate ecological and biological processes with drivers such as climate variation, land use, and changing species distributions.
10) What major environmental or ecological drivers are specifically mentioned as priorities?
The description specifically highlights major drivers including climate variation and change, land-use patterns, and shifting species distributions, especially where these drivers interact with ecological and biological processes across large spatial extents.
11) Does MSB-NES support training or workforce development activities?
Yes. In addition to research, MSB-NES supports training and capacity-building activities aimed at broadening participation in macrosystems biology and NEON-enabled science. The description indicates proposals can incorporate plans to expand who is able to do this kind of work.
12) What does "broadening participation" mean here?
As described, broadening participation generally refers to efforts that expand access to macrosystems biology and NEON-enabled science. Examples mentioned include training researchers to use large ecological datasets, building collaborative networks, developing reproducible data and modeling skills, lowering barriers to entry, and supporting communities historically underrepresented in these research areas.
13) Can a proposal combine research with training or capacity-building?
The program description indicates that beyond research, MSB-NES also supports training and capacity-building activities. This implies proposals can incorporate plans that build skills, networks, and access while pursuing macrosystems and NEON-enabled research objectives.
14) What agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This is an NSF (National Science Foundation) research grant opportunity.
15) What is the funding opportunity number for this MSB-NES listing?
The funding opportunity number provided is 20-506.
16) What is the CFDA number and category listed for this opportunity?
The listing identifies the program as being in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category with CFDA 47.074.
17) How many awards are expected under this listing?
The opportunity details provided indicate an expected total of about 23 awards.
18) Is there a stated maximum (ceiling) award amount in the listing?
The posted award ceiling is listed as 0. The description notes that this typically signals applicants should refer to the full solicitation for budget guidance rather than relying on a fixed cap in the summary record.
19) What is the closing date shown for this specific posting?
The original closing date shown is January 16, 2020.
20) Does this listing represent an always-open opportunity?
No. The dates provided (creation date October 19, 2019 and closing date January 16, 2020) indicate this specific posting reflects a particular cycle of the program rather than an always-open competition.
21) When was this opportunity record created?
The creation date shown for this listing is October 19, 2019.
22) Who is eligible to apply, based on the information provided?
Eligibility is labeled broadly as "Others" in the summary, with a note that the full eligibility text provides clarification. This suggests the solicitation itself defines which organization types or applicant categories may apply.
23) What is the overall purpose of MSB-NES in plain terms?
Overall, MSB-NES can be understood as NSF support for ambitious, cross-scale ecological and biological research that leverages NEON as a national platform for standardized data and sampling. It also emphasizes quantitative synthesis, systems thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workforce development to grow the community capable of doing macrosystems and NEON-based science.
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