Life and Environments Through Time
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 27, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers seeking to fund paleontological, evolutionary, and environmental science research that examines how life and environments have changed through Earth's history. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research universities, colleges, and eligible nonprofit research organizations. Primary investigators must be based at U.S. institutions. The program supports collaborative research projects, with preference for work that integrates field studies, laboratory analysis, computational modeling, and educational components. Activities supported include paleontological field expeditions, comparative analyses of fossil records, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students in paleoscience.
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Program description
The Life and Environments Through Time (LET) program supports research that advances knowledge about the patterns and processes relating to the origin and evolution of Earth’s climate, environments, life, and sedimentary record. This research takes place at the molecular, local, regional, and global scales from the Archean Eon through the Holocene epoch. LET-supported research can be useful for predicting and planning for future global change, and for the maintenance and security of ecosystem services and human societies.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF Form 1207 (Summary Proposal for the National Science Foundation)
- Project narrative (typically 15 pages maximum)
- Detailed budget and budget justification
- Current and pending support statement
- Biographical sketches of all senior personnel
- Letters of commitment from collaborating institutions or field site access agreements
- Data management plan
- Postdoctoral researcher mentoring plan (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4261
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.050 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$640,746,599
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$399,999,980
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$220,735,035
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$109,737,723
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$82,550,071
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$74,280,323
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$73,335,203
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$68,622,497
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$64,462,832
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$63,916,877
Top States by Funding
- TX 4 awards $689.8M
- MA 16 awards $685.3M
- OR 5 awards $452.4M
- CA 12 awards $299.5M
- DC 4 awards $237.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.050). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,009,920,000 | |
| 2025 | $1,013,630,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $374,350 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Researchers at U.S. colleges, universities, and eligible nonprofit research organizations can apply. A principal investigator must be affiliated with an eligible U.S. institution.
What types of research projects are funded?
The program supports paleontological research, evolutionary biology studies, and paleoenvironmental investigations. Projects may include field expeditions, laboratory research, computational analyses, and educational integration.
When are applications due?
This program operates on a rolling deadline basis, meaning proposals may be submitted throughout the year rather than on a single fixed date. Check the NSF website for specific closure dates and program-specific guidelines.
What makes a competitive application?
Strong applications demonstrate scientific merit and broader impact. Competitiveness is enhanced by clear research objectives, feasibility of methods, integration of educational opportunities, potential for undergraduate/graduate training, and evidence of institutional support.
What is the typical funding range?
NSF paleoscience grants typically range from $50,000 to several hundred thousand dollars depending on project scope, duration, and whether fieldwork is involved. Applicants should review current program guidance for specific budget limits.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate the scientific merit of your research: explain how your work advances understanding of life and environmental history and why the specific paleontological or evolutionary question matters.
- Emphasize broader impacts: describe how your project will train the next generation of scientists, contribute to science education, engage underrepresented groups, or provide benefits to society beyond academia.
- Budget for field work realistically: if your project includes paleontological expeditions, provide detailed justification for travel, equipment, and personnel costs, and explain why field data collection is essential.
- Integrate students whenever possible: NSF values projects that involve undergraduate and graduate student researchers. Specify mentoring plans and how students will contribute to project objectives.
- Demonstrate institutional support: include letters of commitment from your institution documenting access to facilities, lab space, museum collections, or other resources needed for successful project completion.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals often fail because they lack clear scientific merit or present research questions that are too exploratory without sufficient preliminary data. Another common rejection reason is insufficient attention to broader impacts—reviewers expect explicit discussion of how the work will train students, advance public understanding, or benefit underrepresented populations in science. Additionally, inadequate budget justification for field expenses or unrealistic timelines for paleontological research can undermine proposal competitiveness.
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