We periodically invite scientists to submit research proposals for collaborative, synthesis projects in both basic and applied environmental science. If selected, research teams meet one to two times per year at our headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA to focus on their projects.

Successful proposals present research questions that could benefit specifically from the synthesis of existing data and analysis by an interdisciplinary team. Learn more about our working group model.

We also issue calls for postdoctoral researchers to support a working group of one of our research programs, join us as a postdoctoral fellow, or conduct their own independent research. Postdoctoral researchers are typically based at our headquarters in Santa Barbara.

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Current calls for proposals

Applying to the National Science Foundation's "Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis" (OPUS) program?

NSF approves OPUS applications that include time spent at a third-party synthesis research center, where the investigator will conduct their OPUS-related research. NCEAS encourages investigators to consider including within their application a proposal to be in residency at NCEAS for a short or long period of time. For more information, please contact NCEAS Director Ben Halpern at halpern [at] nceas.ucsb.edu  and Deputy Director Geoff Willard at willard [at] nceas.ucsb.edu. 

More Information about OPUS. Deadline is November 19, 2018

Research programs

Calls for proposals are typically associated with one of the following initiatives.

Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP)

SNAPP is our collaborative initiative with The Nature Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Society to fill important knowledge gaps and advance solutions to challenges that lie at the intersection of nature conservation, sustainable development, and human well-being. Teams are typically a mix of academic and non-academic researchers, sometimes also including experts from the realms of policy, management, and business. Calls for proposals are typically issued once a year between February and April.

To get a sense of what SNAPP looks for, download the last call for proposals.

Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network

Through the LTER Network Communications Office, we solicit proposals for projects that synthesize and analyze data from one or more LTER sites. While all relevant ideas will be considered, the selection committee is most interested in ideas that could have high-impact results in the five core LTER thematic areas: 1) primary production, 2) population studies, 3) organic matter dynamics, 4) mineral cycling, and 5) disturbance patterns and processes. Principal investigators are strongly encouraged to contact the NCO to briefly discuss ideas before submitting proposals.

To get a sense of what LTER looks for, download the last call for proposals.

Special projects

Occasionally, we convene one or more working groups to tackle a specific issue of interest to a funding partner, such as a foundation, consortium, or government agency. Recent examples include the State of Alaska’s Salmon and People (SASAP) project, funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the TomKat UC Carbon Neutrality Project, funded by the TomKat Foundation and University of California Office of the President.