Human Networks and Data Science | 23 568

Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 568

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS) program funds research that uses data science and network science to deepen what we know about human behavior. The central idea is to take advantage of modern forms of data that are dynamic (changing over time), distributed (coming from multiple sources or locations), or heterogeneous (different formats, scales, and levels of detail) and use them to answer foundational questions about how individuals and groups think, act, coordinate, and influence one another. HNDS places special emphasis on proposals that produce data-rich insights about human networks with clear potential to improve health, prosperity, and security, while still being rooted in fundamental social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) science.

HNDS is organized into two distinct tracks. The first is Human Networks and Data Science - Infrastructure (HNDS-I). This track supports the creation of new research infrastructure for the SBE sciences, especially databases, data resources, and analytic techniques that enable research that was not previously feasible. A strong HNDS-I proposal is expected to deliver a finished, usable product within the award budget and period, not just a plan or a partial prototype. The intended payoff is broad impact: the resulting database or analytic method should unlock new forms of data-intensive research across multiple fields or across a wide area within a discipline, effectively expanding what social scientists can study and how they can study it.

The second track is Human Networks and Data Science - Core Research (HNDS-R). This track funds theory-advancing research in a core SBE discipline through the application of data science and network methods. Projects under HNDS-R typically use large-scale datasets that may span different spatial and temporal resolutions and may combine qualitative and quantitative evidence. The program also highlights multi-scale and multi-level network data (for example, networks within networks, or relationships operating at individual, organizational, and community levels) along with advanced network analysis techniques. The expectation is that funded research will not only produce findings, but will meaningfully enhance, expand, or transform theories and methods used to understand human behavior, ideally in ways that open up significant societal opportunities or benefits. HNDS-R also encourages investigators to build on NSF-supported infrastructure, including data networks, databases, and centers, and explicitly points to using resources developed by HNDS-I projects.

From an administrative standpoint, this is an NSF discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category (CFDA 47.075). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full solicitation. The opportunity number is 23-568, and the stated award ceiling is $1,200,000. NSF anticipated making around 25 awards under this opportunity. The timeline information indicates that direct submissions to HNDS-R are by permission only, while proposals that include HNDS-R as a secondary program do not require permission and should follow the submission dates of the primary program. Separate deadlines apply for HNDS-I infrastructure proposals, reflecting the program’s two-track structure and differing review and submission pathways.

Overall, HNDS is aimed at pushing social and behavioral science forward by pairing strong disciplinary questions with modern data and network approaches. Whether through building reusable data infrastructure (HNDS-I) or producing theory-changing findings using advanced datasets and network analysis (HNDS-R), the program prioritizes projects that make it possible to study human networks and behavior in deeper, more scalable, and more policy-relevant ways than traditional approaches allow.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Human Networks and Data Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.075.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 20, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 03, 2023 Deadline for direct submissions to Human Networks and Data Science #150 Core Research (HNDS-R) by permission only. Submissions with HNDS-R as secondary should follow the primary program#146s submission dates. Deadline for direct submissions to Human Networks and Data Science #150 Core Research (HNDS-R) by permission only. Submissions with HNDS-R as secondary do not require permission and should follow the primary program#146s submission dates. Deadline for Human Networks and Data Science #150 Infrastructure (HNDS-I) proposals only. Deadline for Human Networks and Data Science #150 Infrastructure (HNDS-I) proposals only.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 23 568

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