Decision, Risk and Management Sciences – Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants
Can you apply?
This grant is for doctoral students pursuing dissertation research in decision, risk, and management sciences. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents enrolled in research-focused doctoral programs at eligible U.S. institutions.
The advisor or co-advisor must be the principal investigator on the application. Only one dissertation research improvement grant application is allowed per student. Institutions must be accredited and hold active NSF research capacity.
Funded research typically focuses on novel methodologies, data analysis, computational approaches, or experimental designs that advance understanding in decision science, risk analysis, or management science. International collaboration is permitted if the U.S. institution leads the project.
Program description
The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences Program (DRMS) supports scientific research directed at increasing understanding and effectiveness of decision making by individuals, groups, organizations and society. DRMS supports research with solid foundations in theories and methods of the social and behavioral sciences. This social and behavioral science research should advance knowledge, address fundamental scientific and societal issues and have strong broader impacts. DRMS funds doctoral dissertation research improvement grants (DDRIGs) in the following areas:
- Judgement and decision making.
- Decision analysis and decision aids.
- Risk analysis, perception and communication.
- Societal and public-policy decision making.
- Management science and organizational design.
All research must be grounded in theory and generalizable. Purely theoretical or algorithmic proposals are not appropriate for DRMS DDRIG proposals.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF CAREER & Award Abstract (summary of project)
- Project Description (up to 15 pages)
- Budget & Budget Justification
- Current CV of doctoral student
- Endorsement letter from faculty advisor
- Institutional endorsement letter
- Research Plan timeline and milestones
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.075 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$38,357,018
-
$18,499,999
-
$13,999,656
-
$10,999,998
-
$8,043,354
-
$7,998,747
-
$5,500,000
-
$5,237,549
-
$5,200,000
-
$5,047,151
Top States by Funding
- MI 9 awards $94.1M
- DC 6 awards $20.0M
- AZ 7 awards $19.6M
- NY 8 awards $15.4M
- IL 3 awards $15.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.075). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $292,390,000 | |
| 2025 | $219,410,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $92,200,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Doctoral students in decision, risk, or management sciences with a faculty advisor at an eligible U.S. institution. Your advisor submits the application as PI.
What is the typical funding range?
DDRIG grants typically fund $20,000 to $35,000 for dissertation research activities. Funds support direct research costs, not stipends.
What types of activities are supported?
Funding supports data collection, computational resources, specialized equipment, survey administration, and travel for research-specific purposes. Conference presentations and dissemination costs are eligible.
What is the deadline?
The current deadline shown is August 18, 2026. Check NSF.gov for rolling deadlines or program-specific cycles.
How competitive is this program?
DDRIG programs are competitive; success rates typically range 25-35%. Strong applications feature novel research questions and clear methodology.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Frame your research as advancing decision science theory or practice. Demonstrate how your methods are novel or risky compared to standard approaches.
- Include a detailed budget narrative. Justify each cost directly to your dissertation research needs.
- Get your advisor's strong endorsement. Their letter should affirm the research's novelty and your readiness to conduct it independently.
- Request only essential costs. Equipment, travel, and data collection are safer bets than indirect expenses.
- Use NSF's merit review criteria as your organizing framework. Address intellectual merit and broader impacts explicitly in your proposal.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Requesting funds for living expenses or tuition. DDRIGs support research costs only, not student support.
Unclear or overly broad research questions. Reviewers expect focused, testable hypotheses with explicit methods.
Insufficient detail on methodology. Vague descriptions of data collection or analysis procedures reduce competitiveness.
Similar grants
- ROLLING GlobalX Challenge 26.1: AI-Native Air Interface for Tactical Communication Networks — Office of Naval Research
- OPEN Fiscal Year 2027 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship — DOC NOAA - ERA Production
- ROLLING Song Brown Primary Care Residencies (PCR) 2025 Application — Department of Health Care Access and Information (California)
- OPEN Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology (K12 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- CLOSED Endangered Species Conservation and Recovery Grants (Section 6)- 2021 — Department of Fish and Wildlife (California)