The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences (NSF BIO) supports foundational research across all areas of biology.
Funding opportunities support projects that expand the frontiers of knowledge in biological sciences and technology. NSF BIO supports research that advances fundamental understanding of the dynamics, functions, and interactions of biological systems at all scales of organization, ranging from molecules to organisms to ecosystems.
On this page
Key research themes
Foundations of life
Understanding natural or synthetic molecules, cells, and physiology that build living things.
Living systems
Understanding how species evolve, interact and shape Earth's biodiverse ecosystems.
Bioinnovation and infrastructure
Investigating the functional genomic complexity of life and developing the tools, data and technologies to drive biological discovery.
Read more about the Bioinnovation and Infrastructure program.
Stay connected
Contact BIO
Reach out to program directors in the three BIO thematic areas: Foundations of Life (bio-fl@nsf.gov), Living Systems (bio-ls@nsf.gov), Bioinnovation and Infrastructure (bio-bi@nsf.gov).
Find funding
Search for programs and funding opportunities.
Sign up for email updates
Get notified of the latest news, funding opportunities and events.
Attend virtual office hours webinars
Hear from BIO program directors about funding opportunities and proposal submission.
Search for BIO awards
See examples of current and past projects.