Long Term Research in Environmental Biology
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for academic and research institutions seeking long-term funding for environmental biology research. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S. colleges, universities, and community colleges, as well as non-profit research organizations like museums, observatories, and professional societies located in the U.S.
Projects must involve extended time series data addressing evolutionary biology, ecology, or ecosystem science questions. Research on marine populations' evolutionary dynamics is acceptable, but pure marine ecology studies should apply elsewhere.
Proposals are processed by three clusters: Ecosystem Science, Population and Community Ecology, and Evolutionary Processes. Contact the Program Officer if your project's fit is unclear. Initial awards support five-year projects within a ten-year vision.
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Program description
The Long Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB) Program supports the generation of extended time series of data to address important questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science. Research areas include, but are not limited to, the effects of natural selection or other evolutionary processes on populations, communities, or ecosystems; the effects of interspecific interactions that vary over time and space; population or community dynamics for organisms that have extended life spans and long turnover times; feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes; pools of materials such as nutrients in soils that turn over at intermediate to longer time scales; and external forcing functions such as climatic cycles that operate over long return intervals.
All proposals submitted through the LTREB solicitation are processed by 1 of the 3 clusters in the Division of Environmental Biology: Ecosystem Science, Population and Community Ecology, and Evolutionary Processes. Proposals must address topics supported by these clusters. Researchers who are uncertain about the suitability of their project for the LTREB Program are encouraged to contact the cognizant Program Officer.
Ecological research on marine populations, communities and ecosystems is not supported by LTREB and should be directed to the Biological Oceanography Program: (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/biooce-biological-oceanography). However, research that examines the evolutionary dynamics of marine populations or communities will be accepted. Investigators who are uncertain about the suitability of their research for LTREB are strongly encouraged to contact the managing Program Officers listed in this solicitation.
Examples of current LTREB awards can be viewed at https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ by including ‘LTREB’ in a title search.
The Program intends to support decadal projects. Funding for an initial, 5-year period requires submission of a proposal that includes a 15-page project description containingtwo essential components: a decadal research plan and a description of core data. Proposals for the second five years of support (renewal proposals) are limited to a ten-page project description.
Continuation of an LTREB project beyond an initial ten-year award will require submission of a new proposal that presents a new decadal research plan.
Specific review criteria for LTREB proposals and renewals are explained within this solicitation. Prospective proposers are advised to read this solicitation carefully.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project Description (15 pages for initial proposals; 10 pages for renewals)
- Decadal Research Plan
- Core Data Description
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biosketches for key personnel
- Institutional commitments (letters of support 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
-
$46,262,435
-
$39,723,283
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$39,454,013
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$31,000,000
-
$24,500,000
-
$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 is eligible to apply for LTREB?
U.S. accredited colleges, universities, community colleges, and non-profit research organizations like museums and observatories. International branch campuses may participate if benefits are justified.
What types of research does LTREB support?
Long-term studies addressing evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science with extended time series data. Marine population evolutionary dynamics are acceptable.
What is the typical project duration?
Initial awards fund five-year projects within a ten-year decadal plan. Renewals for a second five-year period are possible, and new proposals can be submitted for continuation beyond ten years.
What should the proposal include?
A 15-page project description with two parts: a decadal research plan and a description of core data. Renewal proposals are limited to ten pages.
When is the deadline?
This is a rolling solicitation with no fixed deadline. Check NSF's website for any future deadline changes.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact the Program Officer early to confirm your project fits one of the three supported clusters (Ecosystem Science, Population and Community Ecology, Evolutionary Processes).
- Focus your 15-page narrative on the decadal vision, not just the five-year plan. Reviewers assess your long-term research trajectory.
- Include detailed information about your core data collection methods, quality assurance, and data management. This is a critical review criterion.
- Review current LTREB awards on NSF's award search tool to understand successful project scope and proposal structure.
- Do not propose pure marine ecology research—redirect to the Biological Oceanography Program if your study lacks an evolutionary focus.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals that lack a clear decadal vision and focus too narrowly on the initial five-year period. Insufficient detail on core data collection methods and data management plans. Submitting marine ecology research that should go to the Biological Oceanography Program.
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