Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: Investigator-initiated research projects (MCB) — U.S. National Science Foundation funding opportunity
U.S. National Science Foundation · Federal agency

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: Investigator-initiated research projects (MCB)

The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports theory-driven fundamental research designed to promote understanding of complex living systems at the cellular levels. While recognizing the need for thor...

76
match
Award $800k Deadline Fixed Location Alabama Type grant Level Federal Open posted Jun 6, 2025
✦ AI Summary
  • Who can apply: Federal-level applicants (see eligibility for details).
  • Funding amount: starting at $800,000.
  • Issued by: U.S. National Science Foundation.
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Award amount
$800k
Deadline
Fixed
Total pool
$90M

About this opportunity

The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports theory-driven fundamental research designed to promote understanding of complex living systems at the cellular levels. While recognizing the need for thorough and accurate descriptions of biological complexes and pathways, the priority of the Division is to support work that advances the field by capturing the predictive power of evolutionary approaches. Two funding tracks will be available. Core Program Track proposals are solicited to support research relevant to the four MCB core clusters: o Cellular Dynamics and Function o Genetic Mechanisms o Molecular Biophysics o Systems and Synthetic Biology Rules of Life Track proposals that integrate across the scales in biological sciences are solicited to support research that spans from the molecular and cellular levels normally funded by MCB to organismal and ecosystem scales typically funded by other divisions in the Biological Sciences. This track provides new opportunities to advance our understanding of the Rules of Life by new mechanisms for review and funding of proposals that would not ordinarily fit well within one division in the Biological Sciences Directorate. MCB gives high priority to research projects that use technologies from life and physical sciences, and engineering to address major biological questions that elucidate the rules governing subcellular and cellular processes. Research supported by MCB uses a range of experimental and computational approaches in vivo, in vitro and in silico strategies a broad spectrum of model and non-model organisms, including microbes and plants. Typical research supported by MCB integrates theory and experimentation. Projects are particularly welcome that address the emerging areas of: multi-scale integration; transformative methods and molecular and cellular evolution; the synthesis of life-like systems; and the quantitative prediction of the phenome from genomic information. Highest funding priority is given to applications that have outstanding intellectual merit and strong broader impacts, while proposals with weaknesses in either category (or those that are perceived as likely to have an incremental impact) will not be competitive. Proposals that are motivated by relevance to human health and disease treatment are not appropriate for the Division and will be returned without review.

Funding agency

U.S. National Science Foundation
Federal agency

Tags

Healthcare & Biotech Education & Research Climate & Environment Transportation & Logistics Science, Tech & Engineering (STEM)
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Who can apply

Eligibility details aren't on file yet — check the agency source link in the Documents tab for the latest rules.

Geographic eligibility

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • District of Columbia

How to apply

We don't have application instructions on file yet — head straight to the official source.

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Source documents

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Canonical NOFO, application packet, and forms
No supplemental documents yet.

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Citation details

Source systemgrants.gov
Source ID359574
PostedJun 6, 2025

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