Law & Science
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers studying the social science of law and how science/technology apply in legal contexts. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, researchers, and collaborative research teams. The program supports empirical research on law's interactions with human behavior, institutions, and legal processes. Projects may address crime, environmental science, forensics, governance, technology regulation, and other legal-science intersections.
Program description
The Law & Science Program considers proposals that address social scientific studies of law and law-like systems of rules, as wellas studies of how science and technology are applied in legal contexts.The Program is inherently interdisciplinary and multi-methodological.Successful proposals describe research that advances scientific theory and understanding of the connections between human behavior and law, legal institutions, or legal processes; or the interactions of law and basic sciences, including biology, computer and information sciences, STEM education, engineering, geosciences, and math and physical sciences.Scientific studies of law often approach law as dynamic, interacting with multiple arenas, and with the participation of multiple actors.Fields of study include many disciplines, and often address problems including, though not limited, to:
- Crime, Violence, and Policing
- Cyberspace
- Economic Issues
- Environmental Science
- Evidentiary Issues
- Forensic Science
- Governance and Courts
- Human Rights and Comparative Law
- Information Technology
- Legal and Ethical Issues related to Science
- Legal Decision Making
- Legal Mobilization and Conceptions of Justice
- Litigation and the Legal Profession
- Punishment and Corrections
- Regulation and Facilitation of Biotechnology (e.g., Gene Editing, Gene Testing, Synthetic Biology) and Other Emerging Sciences and Technologies
- Use of Science in the Legal Processes
LS supports the following types of proposals:
- Standard Research Grants and Grants for Collaborative Research
- Conference Awards
LS also participates in a number of specialized funding opportunities through NSF’s cross-cutting and cross-directorate activities, including, for example:
- Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
- Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI)
- Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID)
- Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)
For information about these and other programs, please visit the Cross-cutting and NSF-wide Active Funding Opportunities homepage.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Project Narrative / Research Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- CV or biographical sketches of key personnel
- References and support letters (if collaborative)
- Data management plan
- Facilities and equipment description (if applicable)
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 the Law & Science Program?
Academic researchers, universities, and collaborative research teams typically submit proposals. Specific eligibility depends on the funding mechanism (standard grant, CAREER, REU, etc.).
What types of research does this program fund?
Studies of law's social science foundations, science applications in legal contexts, and interactions between law and STEM fields. Research must advance scientific theory about law and human behavior.
Is there a deadline?
The program typically accepts proposals on a rolling basis. Check NSF's website for specific submission windows and any upcoming deadlines.
What is the expected award range?
Award amounts vary by proposal type and funding mechanism. Standard grants, CAREER awards, and REU supplements have different funding levels.
Can I propose a collaborative project?
Yes, the program explicitly supports grants for collaborative research across institutions and disciplines.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Frame your research as advancing scientific theory, not just documenting legal practice or policy advocacy. NSF funds science, not legal reform.
- Emphasize the empirical, quantitative, or experimental nature of your work. Include clear research questions and testable hypotheses.
- Show how your project bridges law and a STEM field (computer science, biology, statistics, engineering). Interdisciplinary framing is essential.
- Build strong collaborations with researchers from different disciplines. The program values multi-methodological approaches.
- Explore specialized funding tracks like CAREER, REU, or EAGER if your project fits those criteria. They offer alternative pathways.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Framing the proposal as legal reform or policy advocacy rather than basic scientific research. Insufficient theoretical grounding or testable hypotheses. Weak interdisciplinary collaboration or failure to connect to STEM fields.
Similar grants
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
- OPEN Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions — National Institute of Food and Agriculture