Security and Preparedness
NSF Security and Preparedness supports basic, theoretically motivated and empirically rigorous research on issues broadly related to global and national security, plus undergraduate research experiences and methodological infrastructure activities, for eligible applicants under NSF rules.
⚑ No applied research. · Supports undergraduate research experiences. · Also supports infrastructural activities, including methodological innovations. · NSF encourages applicants to consider related NSF programs (AIB, LS, RISBS) where appropriate.
This is a strong match for the team’s national security/public opinion line: NSF’s Security and Preparedness maps closely onto their long-running survey and risk-perception research on defense, deterrence, threats, and protective action. It is not their applied program per se, but for theoretically motivated, empirical social-science work on security attitudes and preparedness, this is squarely in Hank Jenkins-Smith/Joseph Ripberger/Carol Silva’s lane, with Gupta and Fox also fitting where energy-security and threat-communication questions are central.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-07-07
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 100 strong | portfolio topic: national_security_defense (primary); signature methods: surveys longitudinal, policy analysis; social/behavioral work is central; funds basic research |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 80 strong | technical depth: substantial; funds basic research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 10 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
The Security and Preparedness (SAP) Programsupports basic scientific research that advances knowledge and understanding of issues broadly related to global and national security. Research proposals are evaluated on the criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts; the proposed projects are expected to be theoretically motivated, conceptually precise, methodologically rigorous, and empirically oriented. Moreover, the Program supports research experiences for undergraduate students and infrastructural activities, including methodological innovations. The Program does not fund applied research. In addition, we encourage you to examine the websites for the National Science Foundation'sAccountable Institutions and Behavior(AIB), Law and Science (LS) programs, and Research Infrastructure in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (RISBS) programs.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: U.S. National Science Foundation <grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · National Science Foundation conventions SEE AN NSF EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — National Science Foundation's document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.