Linguistics Program Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Awards | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Linguistics Program Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Awards (DDRI), listed as Funding Opportunity Number 14-551, is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to strengthen doctoral dissertation research in the basic science of human language. The program is focused on advancing fundamental knowledge about how language is structured and how it works, both within particular languages and across human language more generally. It supports research squarely in core linguistic subfields such as syntax, semantics and pragmatics, morphology, phonetics, and phonology, with the broader aim of improving our scientific understanding of grammar and linguistic systems.

A central feature of this opportunity is its encouragement of projects that take an interdisciplinary approach, either methodologically or theoretically, especially when the research speaks to questions that intersect with neighboring disciplines. Examples of the kinds of cross-boundary questions the program explicitly welcomes include work on the psychological processes involved in language production, perception, and comprehension; the computational properties of language or the language processing system that enable fluent speaking, incremental understanding, and rapid learning; the ways acoustic and physiological properties of speech can inform theories of language and language processing; how human neurobiology shapes different components of linguistic capacity; how language develops in children; and how social and cultural forces drive language variation and language change. In other words, the program is open to a wide range of scientifically oriented language research, as long as the work is anchored in basic research questions about language rather than applied or clinical aims.

At the same time, NSF draws clear boundaries around what this DDRI does not fund. The Linguistics Program does not support clinical research projects, and it does not fund efforts to develop, implement, or evaluate pedagogical methods or tools for language instruction. Additionally, proposals whose primary purpose is to document the linguistic properties of endangered languages are directed to a different NSF mechanism, the Documenting Endangered Languages (DEL) Program, rather than being submitted to this Linguistics DDRI competition.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is offered as a grant within NSF’s Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences directorate (CFDA number 47.075) under the category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The estimated total funding amount listed is $400,000, with an expected 35 awards, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The solicitation was originally posted April 4, 2014, and the program uses recurring annual target dates. The full proposal target dates indicated include July 15 (annually thereafter) and January 15 (annually thereafter), with the listed current closing date in the provided record being January 15, 2016, and an archive date of August 16, 2028.

Eligibility is restricted to U.S.-based, Ph.D.-granting universities and colleges that are accredited and have a campus located in the United States, and proposals must be submitted by the institution on behalf of its faculty. The submission structure is specific: DDRI proposals must name both a principal investigator (PI) and a co-principal investigator (co-PI). The PI must be the doctoral student’s advisor or another faculty member at the U.S. university where the student is enrolled, and the doctoral student must be listed as a co-PI. This structure reflects the dissertation-focused purpose of the award while ensuring formal institutional oversight and mentorship through a faculty PI.

For applicants seeking more detail, the announcement references NSF Publication 14-551. For technical access issues with the full announcement through Grants.gov, the listed support contact is grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, reflecting the standard federal submission support pathway.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Science Foundation

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Next opportunity: Job Creations for At Risk Neighborhoods

Previous opportunity: Novel Tools for Investigating Brain derived GPCRs in Mental Health Research (R43/R44)

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for 14 551

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (14 551) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "14 551", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.