Arctic Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (Arctic DDRIG) Arctic Social Sciences, Arctic System Sciences, and Arctic Observing Network
NSF funds dissertation-level Arctic research by doctoral students at eligible U.S. institutions, submitted by the advisor on behalf of the student, in Arctic social science, Arctic system science, or Arctic observing network topics.
⚑ Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant: PI is the advisor and the student is Co-PI; student must be the primary author. · Only U.S.-accredited two- and four-year IHEs with a U.S. campus may submit. · International branch campus performance requires special justification if funded.
This is an Arctic dissertation grant aimed at doctoral students doing fundamental Arctic social or system science, which is outside IPPRA’s core program lines. The team’s strengths are in U.S. public opinion, risk communication, energy/nuclear, and weather-warning research, so they could only be tangentially relevant at best (for example, on climate-risk attitudes), not as the natural PI team.
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 topics: climate_weather, environment (primary); signature methods: surveys longitudinal, community engaged; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds basic research |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 70 strong | technical depth: substantial; funds basic research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 10 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites investigators at U.S. organizations to submit proposals for Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs) to the Arctic Sciences Section, Office of Polar Programs (OPP) to conduct dissertation-level research about and related to the Arctic region. The Programs that are currently accepting DDRIG proposals are the Arctic Social Sciences (ASSP), Arctic System Science (ARCSS), and Arctic Observing Network (AON) Programs.
The goal of this solicitation is to attract research proposals that advance a fundamental, process, and systems-level understanding of the Arctic's rapidly changing natural environment and social and cultural systems, and, where appropriate, to improve our capacity to project future change. The Arctic Sciences Section supports research focused on the Arctic region and its connectivity with lower latitudes. The scientific scope is aligned with, but not limited to, research challenges outlined in the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee’s five-year Arctic research plan ( https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/arctic/iarpc/start.jsp ). Given that this solicitation is designed to support early career scientists, this Program will also advance research capacity in Arctic sciences, promote workforce development in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
The Arctic Sciences Section coordinates with programs across NSF and with other federal and international partners to co-review and co-fund Arctic proposals as appropriate. The Arctic Sciences Section also maintains Arctic logistical infrastructure and field support capabilities that are available to enable research.
Eligibility
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
*Who May Serve as PI:
The proposal must be submitted through regular organizational channels by the dissertation advisor(s) on behalf of the graduate student. The advisor is the Principal Investigator (PI); the student is the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). <span>The student must be the primary author of the proposal with mentorship from the advisor (PI).</span> The student must be enrolled at a U.S. institution of higher education.
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.