Work with US-based Researchers on Environmental Science: NERC–NSF Lead Agency

Document research last revised 2026-08-12.

Grant Name

Work with US-based researchers on environmental science: NERC-NSF lead agency

Opportunity Type

International Collaborative Research / Lead Agency Funding

Primary Research Area

Environmental science

NERC Funding Rate

80% of Full Economic Cost (FEC) for UK applicants

NSF-led UK Funding

UK applicants may request up to £300,000 at 100% FEC

NSF BIO Contribution

The NSF BIO contribution is limited to $500,000

NSF GEO Contribution

No fixed cap is specified for the NSF GEO contribution, although NSF reserves the right to limit the US component of an application

NERC-led Budget Requirement

The UK budget must represent 50% or more of the total combined NERC and NSF budget for the application to qualify as NERC-led

Last Updated

22 July 2026

UK Applicant Requirement

The UK applicant must satisfy NERC and UKRI eligibility requirements regardless of whether NERC or NSF is the lead agency.

US Applicant Requirement

US-based researchers are funded by NSF and must therefore satisfy the eligibility requirements of the applicable NSF GEO or BIO programme.

International Collaboration Requirement

Mandatory. The project must involve collaborative research between UK-based and US-based researchers.

Research Category

Collaborative environmental science research

Eligible Research Areas

NERC remit plus relevant NSF GEO areas: Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, Earth Sciences, Ocean Sciences and Polar Programs; or NSF BIO areas: Ecosystem Science, Evolutionary Processes, Population and Community Ecology, and Systematics and Biodiversity Science.

NERC-led Funding Route

Full applications are submitted through an appropriate NERC funding opportunity, currently including NERC's Pushing the frontiers of environmental research scheme, subject to its eligibility and funding rules.

NSF-led Funding Route

Full applications are submitted to an appropriate NSF GEO or BIO core solicitation.

Eligible Expenses for NERC Applicants

NERC can fund eligible UK costs at 80% FEC, including directly incurred costs such as staff payroll, travel and subsistence and consumables; directly allocated costs such as researchers' salaries, estates and shared resources; indirect costs; and equipment.

NERC-led Facilities

NERC research facilities may be requested where permitted under the relevant NERC scheme.

NSF-led NERC Facilities

NERC facilities, marine equipment pool requirements and Antarctic logistics must be included within the £300,000 UK request for NSF-led applications.

Ship Time

NERC ship time is prohibited on NSF-led applications.

Associated Studentships

For NERC-led applications to Pushing the frontiers, or for NSF-led applications, applicants cannot request associated NERC studentships. The application cannot be dependent on associated studentships.

Eligible Projects

Projects must fall within the remit of both NERC and the relevant NSF GEO or BIO programme and involve substantive UK-US collaboration.

Research Organisation Funding

UK researchers are funded by NERC for successful applications where NERC is responsible for the UK component. US researchers are funded by NSF.

US Researcher Funding

US-based researchers are funded directly by NSF and their costs are not covered by NERC.

Subcontractors

Not specifically stated; any subcontracting must comply with the rules of the relevant lead agency and underlying funding programme.

Application Process

The collaborative team first decides whether NERC or NSF should act as the lead agency. The team then submits an expression of interest (EOI) to the proposed lead agency. The EOI is shared with the non-lead agency for eligibility and support confirmation. Once approved, the team can submit a full application under the relevant existing funding programme.

Expression of Interest Requirement

Mandatory before submitting a full application.

Expression of Interest Content

The EOI must identify the UK and US research teams, provide a brief research summary including objectives, methodology, outputs, impact and beneficiaries, identify any NERC research facilities required, and provide estimated total funding requested from NERC and NSF.

EOI Assessment

Both NERC and NSF office-assess the EOI for eligibility, remit and budget.

EOI Response Time

NERC and NSF aim to respond to EOI submissions within one month.

NERC-led EOI

The UK project lead submits the EOI form to NERC. The EOI must be approved before a full NERC application is submitted. An application submitted without an approved EOI will be office rejected.

NSF-led EOI

The US project lead submits the EOI to nsfgeo-nerc@nsf.gov for GEO or nsfbio-nerc@nsf.gov for BIO, as appropriate.

Full Application Deadline

Full applications must be submitted within one year of receiving EOI approval. After one year, a new EOI is required.

NERC-led Application Platform

UKRI Funding Service

NSF-led Application Platform

NSF FastLane, Grants.gov or Research.gov, depending on the relevant NSF programme

NERC-led Application Requirements

Applicants must follow the preparation requirements of the applicable NERC funding opportunity. The UKRI Funding Service application must begin with “NERC-NSFGEO” or “NERC-NSFBIO” in the title, as appropriate.

NERC-led US Team Requirement

The US project lead must be listed as Project Co-Lead (international) in the Funding Service Core Team, but no costs should be entered for this role in the NERC Resources and Cost Justification section.

NERC-led NSF Budget

The total NSF budget must be entered in the International Collaborative Proposals section, with the NSF budget form and justification uploaded as a single PDF.

NERC-led Project Partner Section

The US research team should not be entered in the Project Partner section.

NSF-led UK Team Requirement

UK personnel are listed as unfunded collaborators in the NSF application and must follow NSF requirements for the relevant documents.

NSF-led UK Budget

NERC funding requested must be entered in a separate NERC budget form and clearly differentiated and justified in the NSF application.

NSF-led Facilities

Any planned use of NERC facilities must be requested according to standard NERC guidance and the necessary forms included in the NSF application.

NERC-led Assessment

The application follows the assessment process of the relevant NERC funding opportunity.

NSF-led Assessment

Applications undergo NSF's merit review process.

Single Review Process

The lead agency conducts the substantive assessment. The non-lead agency does not conduct a second full assessment after a successful lead-agency decision.

Interview Stage

Not specified by this lead-agency opportunity. Any interview or panel stage depends on the underlying funding programme used for the full application.

Key Requirements

UK and US research teams must collaborate; the research must fall within the remits of both agencies; applicants must meet the eligibility rules of both agencies; an EOI must be approved before the full application; and the full application must be submitted under an eligible existing funding programme.

Lead Agency Selection

The team should select the lead agency based on where the majority of research will be carried out or which agency is expected to provide the majority of funding.

NERC-led Budget Rule

The UK/NERC component must be 50% or more of the combined NERC and NSF budget.

NSF BIO Budget Rule

NSF BIO's contribution is capped at $500,000.

NSF GEO Budget Rule

NSF GEO has no set contribution cap under this opportunity, but NSF may limit the US component.

NSF-led UK Budget Rule

UK applicants can request up to £300,000 at 100% FEC.

Resubmission Rules

Normal resubmission rules of both NERC and NSF apply. A previously unsuccessful lead-agency agreement application requires a new EOI before resubmission, regardless of whether the previous EOI was accepted.

Resubmission Monitoring

Participation in an application submitted to the lead agency also counts as a submission to the non-lead agency for resubmission monitoring. Both agencies may reject an EOI that does not meet their resubmission criteria.

Grant Conditions

Successful applicants must comply with the grant conditions and reporting requirements of the agency providing their funding.

Data Management

Both NSF and NERC data-management requirements apply to the portions of the award funded by the respective agencies.

Publications and Acknowledgement

Awards are publicly announced under standard NERC and NSF procedures. Publications and reports arising from the grant must acknowledge both NERC and NSF.

Data Sharing Between Agencies

UKRI and NSF share information to process EOIs and full applications securely, including applications, attachments, anonymised peer reviews and panel comments.

Important Notes

This is not a separate standalone funding scheme. The full application must be submitted to an existing NERC or NSF funding programme after EOI approval. The lead agency determines the primary assessment route.

Application deadline in source document

Open - no closing date

Official source

Read the funding authority guidance