Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 18 7334
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Mathematical Biology Program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 18-7334; CFDA 47.049) funds research that sits at the intersection of applied and computational mathematics and the biological sciences. The core expectation is that the work is mathematically innovative while also tackling hard, biologically meaningful questions that matter to biologists, not just to mathematicians. In other words, the strongest proposals typically introduce new mathematical ideas, theory, or computational methods that are motivated by biological problems and that can genuinely move understanding forward in a biological area.
A key point in this opportunity is how NSF wants proposals routed for review. Projects that develop mathematical concepts or tools commonly associated with other programs in NSF's Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) such as topology, probability, statistics, or computational mathematics may still be relevant to mathematical biology, but they should usually be submitted directly to the most appropriate disciplinary program (the one that best matches the mathematical core of the work) and timed to meet that program's earliest deadline, while listing Mathematical Biology or other related programs as secondary as appropriate. NSF emphasizes this because it helps ensure proposals get reviewed by the right experts without delays. By contrast, proposals that mainly apply established mathematical or computational techniques to a biology problem, without significant mathematical novelty, are generally described as a poor fit for DMS submission under this program.
Because mathematical biology projects often naturally cross boundaries, NSF encourages investigators to contact the relevant program officers in advance, especially when a project could reasonably be reviewed by more than one NSF program. Coordinating with program officers is presented as a practical way to decide the best submission home, determine whether a joint review is likely, and reduce the risk of being misrouted or reviewed by a panel that is not well matched. The program also notes that it regularly seeks joint reviews with programs in the NSF Directorates of Biological Sciences and Engineering, reflecting an interest in interdisciplinary proposals that blend new mathematics with real biological or bioengineering relevance.
The opportunity also highlights a couple of special submission situations. For Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI), proposals are accepted only during the full proposal submission window, and applicants are instructed to follow the separate RUI solicitation because the formatting and preparation rules differ from the standard NSF Grant Proposal Guide. For conferences, workshops, summer or winter schools, and similar activities, applicants are told to consult the NSF solicitation "Conferences and Workshops in the Mathematical Sciences" for specific expectations about content and structure. Timing matters here: conference proposals for events in the United States should be submitted about 8 months in advance, proposals supporting group travel to meetings outside the United States should be submitted about 12 months in advance, and any conference-style proposal requesting more than $50,000 must be submitted during the program's annual submission window.
In terms of general logistics, the opportunity is a discretionary NSF grant program open to eligible applicants without categorical restrictions beyond any clarifications in the official eligibility text. The listing notes an expected number of awards of around 30 and does not specify a formal award ceiling in the summary data. The program was created March 29, 2018, with an original closing date listed as September 5, 2018, though applicants should rely on current NSF deadlines and submission windows for the most up-to-date timing.Apply for PD 18 7334
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mathematical Biology" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 29, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 05, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Mathematical Biology Program (PD 18-7334; CFDA 47.049)
What is the NSF Mathematical Biology Program?
The NSF Mathematical Biology Program supports research at the intersection of applied and computational mathematics and the biological sciences. The program is housed within NSF's Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) and is intended for projects where mathematics and biology are tightly integrated.
What type of research is this program trying to fund?
The core expectation is mathematically innovative work that also addresses biologically meaningful questions. Strong proposals typically introduce new mathematical ideas, theory, or computational methods that are motivated by real biological problems and can advance understanding in a biological area.
What does NSF mean by "mathematically innovative" in this context?
Based on the program description, "mathematically innovative" means the project goes beyond routine application of existing techniques and instead develops genuinely new mathematical concepts, theory, or computational methods. The mathematical contribution should be central, not incidental, and it should be driven by biological questions.
Does the biology component need to be meaningful to biologists?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes that the biological questions should matter to biologists, not only to mathematicians. The most competitive proposals are positioned to move biological understanding forward, not simply demonstrate a mathematical technique on a biological dataset or system.
Are projects that mainly apply established methods to biology a good fit?
Generally no. The description notes that proposals that mainly apply established mathematical or computational techniques to a biology problem, without significant mathematical novelty, are typically a poor fit for DMS submission under this program.
If my project involves math areas like topology, probability, statistics, or computational mathematics, should I submit to Mathematical Biology?
Not necessarily. NSF notes that projects developing mathematical concepts or tools commonly associated with other DMS programs (such as topology, probability, statistics, or computational mathematics) may still be relevant to mathematical biology. However, these projects should usually be submitted to the most appropriate disciplinary program (the one that best matches the mathematical core of the work), while listing Mathematical Biology or other related programs as secondary as appropriate.
Why does NSF care about which program a proposal is submitted to?
NSF highlights routing because it affects how proposals are reviewed. Submitting to the best-matching program helps ensure the proposal is evaluated by the right experts and can reduce delays that can happen when a proposal needs to be re-routed.
What does it mean to list Mathematical Biology as a secondary program?
The opportunity indicates that when the mathematical core aligns more strongly with another DMS program, investigators can submit there while listing Mathematical Biology (or other related programs) as secondary, as appropriate. This helps signal the interdisciplinary relevance while keeping the proposal in the most suitable primary review home.
Should investigators contact NSF program officers before submitting?
Yes, especially for cross-boundary projects. NSF encourages investigators to contact relevant program officers in advance when a project could reasonably be reviewed by more than one NSF program. This is presented as a practical way to choose the best submission home, assess whether joint review is likely, and reduce the risk of misrouting or mismatched panel review.
Does the program support joint reviews with other NSF areas?
Yes. The program notes that it regularly seeks joint reviews with programs in the NSF Directorates of Biological Sciences and Engineering, reflecting interest in interdisciplinary proposals that combine new mathematics with biological or bioengineering relevance.
Is this opportunity limited to certain applicant types?
The listing describes it as a discretionary NSF grant program open to eligible applicants and states there are no categorical restrictions beyond the clarifications in the official eligibility text. Applicants should rely on the official eligibility language for the definitive requirements.
How many awards does NSF expect to make under this program?
The summary information notes an expected number of awards of around 30.
Is there a maximum (award ceiling) listed for awards?
No formal award ceiling is specified in the summary data provided in the opportunity description.
What should Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) applicants know?
For RUI, proposals are accepted only during the full proposal submission window. Applicants are instructed to follow the separate RUI solicitation because the formatting and preparation rules differ from the standard NSF Grant Proposal Guide.
Can this program support conferences, workshops, or summer/winter schools?
Yes, conference-style activities such as conferences, workshops, and summer or winter schools are addressed. Applicants are instructed to consult the NSF solicitation "Conferences and Workshops in the Mathematical Sciences" for specific expectations about content and structure.
How far in advance should conference proposals be submitted?
The opportunity provides timing guidance: for events in the United States, proposals should be submitted about 8 months in advance; for proposals supporting group travel to meetings outside the United States, they should be submitted about 12 months in advance.
Are there special timing rules for larger conference proposals?
Yes. Any conference-style proposal requesting more than $50,000 must be submitted during the program's annual submission window.
When should I submit if my proposal fits better in another DMS program?
NSF indicates that such proposals should be timed to meet that disciplinary program's earliest deadline, even if Mathematical Biology is listed as a secondary program.
What are the identifying numbers for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity lists Funding Opportunity Number PD 18-7334 and CFDA 47.049.
When was this program created, and what are the listed dates?
The listing notes the program was created on March 29, 2018, with an original closing date listed as September 5, 2018. The description also advises applicants to rely on current NSF deadlines and submission windows for the most up-to-date timing.
Should applicants rely on the dates in the listing or current NSF submission windows?
Applicants are advised to rely on current NSF deadlines and submission windows, since the listing includes historical dates and the most accurate timing will be reflected in the current NSF schedules.
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