Division of Integrative Organismal Systems Core Programs
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions that want to study how organisms are structured and function. Eligible applicants include U.S. colleges, universities, and non-profit research institutions like museums and laboratories. Proposals must focus on organisms as a unit of biological organization and employ integrative approaches across disciplines.
Research areas include developmental biology, neurobiology, biomechanics, physiology, symbiosis, genomics, and animal behavior. Collaborative proposals that tackle bold interdisciplinary questions in biology are especially encouraged. No cost-sharing is required.
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Program description
The Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Core Programs Track supports research to understand why organisms are structured the way they are and function as they do. Proposals are welcomed in all of the core scientific program areas supported by the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS). Areas of inquiry include, but are not limited to, developmental biology and the evolution of developmental processes, development, structure, modification, function, and evolution of the nervous system, biomechanics and functional morphology, physiological processes, symbioses and microbial interactions, interactions of organisms with biotic and abiotic environments,plant and animal genomics, and animal behavior. Proposals should focus on organisms as a fundamental unit of biological organization. Principal Investigators are encouraged to apply systems approaches that will lead to conceptual and theoretical insights and predictions about emergent organismal properties.
The IntBIOTrackinvites submission of collaborative proposals totackle bold questions in biology thatrequire an integrated approach to make substantive progress. Integrative biological research spans subdisciplines and incorporates cutting-edge methods, tools, and concepts from each to produce groundbreaking biological discovery that is synergistic, such that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The research should produce a novel, holistic understanding of how biological systems function and interact across different scales of organization, e.g., from molecules to cells, tissues to organisms, species to ecosystems and the entire Earth.Where appropriate, projects should apply experimental strategies, modeling, integrative analysis, advanced computation, or other research approaches to stimulate new discovery and general theory in biology.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF Form 1207 (or equivalent NSF research proposal cover sheet)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (PI and Co-PIs)
- Current and Pending Support
- Facilities and Resources
- Letters of Collaboration (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.074 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$401,043,378
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$268,297,107
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$66,886,066
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$59,000,000
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$46,262,435
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$39,723,283
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$39,454,013
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$31,000,000
-
$24,500,000
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$22,800,000
Top States by Funding
- OH 2 awards $413.5M
- CO 3 awards $295.1M
- NY 4 awards $119.3M
- CA 9 awards $96.9M
- AZ 3 awards $91.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.074). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $813,390,000 | |
| 2025 | $789,240,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $221,290,000 |
FAQ
Who can submit proposals?
U.S. accredited colleges, universities, and non-profit research institutions like museums, observatories, and research labs. International branch campuses of U.S. institutions need special justification.
What research topics are funded?
Developmental biology, neurobiology, biomechanics, physiology, genomics, behavior, and organism-environment interactions. Projects must focus on organisms as the fundamental unit of study.
Are collaborative proposals encouraged?
Yes, the IntBIOTrack specifically invites collaborative proposals that tackle bold questions using integrated interdisciplinary approaches across traditional subdisciplines.
What is the typical project duration?
Award duration varies by program. Check the specific NSF solicitation or contact the program officer for typical timeframes.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this program.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize systems approaches and integrative thinking across multiple disciplines or scales of biological organization. Reviewers want synthesis, not just single-discipline work.
- Focus on organisms themselves as the central unit of study, not just molecules or ecosystems alone. Make the organismal perspective clear.
- Use collaborative teams strategically to bring complementary expertise together. Explain how collaboration adds value beyond what any single investigator could achieve.
- Describe how your research produces novel, holistic understanding of biological function. Connect findings across different organizational scales.
- Clearly articulate the "bold question" your proposal addresses. NSF favors high-risk, high-reward research with potential for conceptual breakthroughs.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals that focus narrowly on single disciplines or methodologies without integrative insights. Submitting organism-focused research that lacks systems-level thinking or cross-disciplinary approaches. Unclear justification for why collaboration is necessary or how it strengthens the project beyond individual contributions.
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