Work with US-based researchers on environmental science: NERC–NSF lead agency
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) · United Kingdom and United States
Funding opportunity enabling collaborative environmental science research between UK and US researchers through a lead agency agreement between NERC and the US National Science Foundation. Applications are submitted through existing funding programmes at the selected lead agency and assessed through a single review process.
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Funding opportunity enabling collaborative environmental science research between UK and US researchers through a lead agency agreement between NERC and the US National Science Foundation. Applications are submitted through existing funding programmes at the selected lead agency and assessed through a single review process.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Research
Business size
Research organisation
Industries
Environmental science disciplines including atmospheric science, geosciences, earth sciences, ocean sciences, polar research, ecosystem science, and biodiversity science.
Match funding
Required
Requirements
UK applicants must be employed at lecturer level or above at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding. US applicants must meet eligibility requirements under the relevant NSF programmes. Applications must be led by either NERC or NSF depending on which agency is selected as the lead agency for the collaboration. Projects must fall within the remit of both NERC and the relevant NSF p...
Eligible applicants
UK applicants must be employed at lecturer level or above at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding. US applicants must meet eligibility requirements under the relevant NSF programmes.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
For NSF-led applications, UK applicants may request up to £300,000 (100% FEC). For NERC-led applications, UK applicants are funded at 80% Full Economic Cost within the limits of the underlying funding programme.
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
NSF-led UK share up to 100% FEC (£300k max); NERC-led at 80% FEC.
Payment type
Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
Eligible scope
Projects must fall within the remit of both NERC and the relevant NSF programmes within GEO or BIO-DEB and address environmental science research topics.
Eligible expenses
- Directly incurred costs such as staff salaries, travel and subsistence, consumables, equipment, estates and indirect costs according to NERC funding rules.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under NERC lead agency bilateral funding opportunity terms.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service for NERC-led applications; NSF FastLane, Grants.gov, or Research.gov for NSF-led applications.
Competitiveness
Open (Rolling assessment)
Decision timeline
Expression of interest responses are typically provided within approximately one month.
Assessment process
Applications are assessed through a single review process conducted by the selected lead agency following its standard evaluation procedures.
Application sections
- Expression of interest followed by full application under the selected lead agency programme.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if eligibility criteria are not met or if the expression of interest is not approved by both agencies.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
Not specified
Project duration
Not specified
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate of Geosciences (GEO)
- NSF Directorate of Biological Sciences (BIO)
- NSF Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
Collaboration rules
- Applications must be collaborative between UK and US research teams and must comply with the remits of both NERC and NSF programmes.
- Mandatory collaboration between UK-based and US-based research teams.
Consortium requirements
- Collaborative teams must include both UK and US researchers.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Research Category","value":"Environmental science research collaboration."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Applicants must first submit an expression of interest outlining the collaborative project and receive approval before submitting a full application."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Resubmissions require submission of a new expression of interest before applying again."},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Applications must comply with the rules and budget limits of the underlying funding programme used for submission and must involve collaborative research teams from both the UK and the US."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- For NSF-led applications, UK applicants may request up to £300,000 (100% FEC). For NERC-led applications, UK applicants are funded at 80% Full Economic Cost within the limits of the underlying funding programme.
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
- Audience
- Research Innovation
- Industry
- Environmental science disciplines including atmospheric science, geosciences, earth sciences, ocean sciences, polar research, ecosystem science, and biodiversity science.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 22 May 2024