Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NSF "Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases" program (NSF 14-592)?

It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity that funds research aimed at explaining how infectious diseases spread by focusing on the ecological, evolutionary, and socio-ecological forces that shape transmission. A central feature of the program is developing and testing quantitative approaches, especially mathematical, computational, or other formal models that reflect real-world pathogen transmission dynamics.

What kinds of research does this program prioritize?

The program prioritizes discovery-oriented research that identifies general principles of infectious disease transmission. Rather than supporting narrow case studies, it favors work that uses quantitative, mathematical, or computational modeling to clarify how infectious disease systems function and change over time.

Is modeling required, and what type of modeling is expected?

Yes. A key expectation is building and testing quantitative, mathematical, or computational models that can capture real-world pathogen transmission dynamics. The focus is on models that help explain mechanisms of transmission and how disease systems evolve and respond to changing conditions.

Does the program support narrow, single-system case studies?

The solicitation indicates the program is not aimed at supporting narrow case studies. It emphasizes broader, discovery-oriented contributions that yield generalizable insights about transmission, typically supported by quantitative and computational modeling.

How important is interdisciplinarity for proposals to this program?

Interdisciplinarity is a key expectation. Projects are expected to be broad and genuinely interdisciplinary, combining expertise across multiple fields to improve prediction and control of infectious diseases.

What disease transmission contexts are within scope (humans, animals, plants)?

The research scope includes transmission within and between humans, non-human animals, and plants. The program encourages applicants to address complex interactions that drive spread across these contexts.

What types of infectious diseases are explicitly welcomed?

The program explicitly welcomes work across a wide set of disease types, including zoonotic diseases, environmentally borne pathogens, vector-borne diseases, and enteric infections.

What environments or settings are included in the program scope?

Research can be in terrestrial or freshwater environments, consistent with the program interest in ecological and environmental drivers of transmission.

At what scale can projects be framed?

Projects can be framed at many scales, from a specific pathogen-host relationship to more integrated, system-level approaches that incorporate environmental and societal context.

What drivers of disease spread does the program encourage teams to consider?

Examples of relevant drivers include environmental conditions such as climate and landscape change, host and reservoir population dynamics, host genetics and pathogen evolution, and human dimensions like cultural practices, social behavior, economics, and other factors that influence exposure and control.

Does the solicitation encourage including human behavior and social factors in disease models?

Yes. The program highlights socio-ecological forces and explicitly mentions human dimensions such as cultural practices, social behavior, economics, and related factors that can influence exposure, transmission, and control.

Is there an emphasis on developing countries?

The solicitation signals strong interest in proposals addressing disease systems with major public health relevance in developing countries.

Is agriculture and food systems research relevant to this opportunity?

Yes. The program expresses strong interest in infectious disease challenges in agriculture and food systems, including plant and animal health.

What is the core contribution reviewers are likely to look for, based on the solicitation summary?

The central contribution is expected to advance quantitative and computational insight into transmission mechanisms, while also connecting fundamental transmission theory to problems where better understanding could inform prevention strategies, surveillance, or intervention design.

What is the funding category and type of award?

The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category.

How much total funding is estimated for the program?

The estimated total funding noted in the record is $12,000,000.

What are the typical award sizes?

Typical award sizes are listed with an award floor of $1,000,000 and an award ceiling of $2,500,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The record states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant organization types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility details contained in the full program text.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity, and what do they suggest?

The opportunity references multiple CFDA numbers spanning biological sciences, social/behavioral/economic sciences, agriculture, microbiology, biomedical research, and international research and training. This cross-listing reflects the program's cross-cutting nature and its expectation that proposals integrate methods and data across disciplines.

What was the application deadline?

The original closing date was November 19, 2014. The record also notes a pattern of deadlines on the third Wednesday in November in subsequent years (with an example closing date of November 18, 2015).

Is this opportunity still open?

The opportunity record indicates an archive date of December 21, 2018, suggesting the listing has been archived in that record.

What is the official solicitation identifier for full details?

The solicitation is identified as NSF Publication 14-592.

Where can applicants get help with access or linking issues related to the listing?

The listing provides standard NSF/Grants.gov support contact information for access and linking issues.