Geophysics | 22 563

Opportunity Information: Apply for 22 563

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Geophysics Program (Funding Opportunity Number 22-563) provides grant funding for basic research focused on the physical processes of the solid Earth, with the goal of improving understanding of Earths composition, structure, and dynamics from the surface down to the deep interior. It is a broad, fundamental science opportunity aimed at advancing core geophysical knowledge rather than applied product development, and it supports studies that can be carried out through laboratory experiments, field observations, theoretical analysis, and computational or numerical modeling. A key emphasis is on encouraging new methods, creative approaches, and innovative research directions that push beyond established techniques or interpretations.

The programs disciplinary scope is wide and covers major subfields across solid-Earth geophysics. This includes geodesy (measuring and interpreting Earths shape, gravity field, and deformation), geodynamics (the forces and motions that drive Earths internal deformation and tectonics), geomagnetism (Earths magnetic field and related processes), heat flow (Earths thermal structure and transport), mineral physics (properties and behavior of Earth materials at relevant pressures and temperatures), potential fields (gravity and magnetic methods and modeling), seismology (using seismic waves to image structure and infer processes), and rock mechanics and deformation (how rocks fracture, flow, and respond to stress). Projects can sit squarely within one of these areas or integrate multiple disciplines, especially where doing so enables clearer tests of hypotheses about Earth structure and processes.

NSF highlights several major research themes the program is interested in supporting. One theme is geohazards, specifically research that improves fundamental understanding of the geophysical processes behind earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mass movements such as landslides or other mass flows. Another theme focuses on the crust and lithosphere, including how faults work and evolve, how subduction zones behave, how continents rift apart, and how mountain belts form and change over time. The program also seeks work that addresses the mantle, including its composition, internal structure, convective dynamics, and long-term evolution. A further theme targets the core, supporting research on core structure and fluid dynamics, the geodynamo that generates Earths magnetic field, and interactions across the core-mantle boundary. Finally, the program includes global and planetary-scale topics, such as early Earth formation and evolution, isostatic adjustment (how the solid Earth responds to loading and unloading, for example by ice sheets), and the behavior and history of the magnetic field at large scales.

In terms of mechanics, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under the NSFs research and development portfolio (CFDA 47.050). Proposals are accepted at any time rather than being tied to a single annual deadline, which can help teams submit when their project plan, preliminary results, or collaborations are ready. The listed award ceiling is $1,500,000, and NSF anticipates making around 80 awards, indicating support for a substantial number of projects across the community. Eligibility is listed as "Others" with clarification to be found in the additional eligibility information associated with the opportunity, so prospective applicants should verify their organizational and investigator eligibility against NSFs specific rules for this solicitation and program.

Overall, the NSF Geophysics Program is designed for researchers pursuing foundational questions about how the solid Earth works, spanning hazards-related processes and the full depth range from crust to core, while encouraging rigorous, innovative observational, experimental, and modeling approaches that advance geophysical theory and understanding.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geophysics" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 04, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Proposals accepted anytime. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 80 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 22 563

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