Senior Archaeology Award Info
Target dates: December 1 and July 1
Senior awards normally support research of Ph.D. level investigators with the goal to further anthropologically significant archaeological research. All geographic regions and time periods are eligible for consideration and grants are provided for both field and laboratory research. The Program welcomes applications for all types of research projects which can be justified within an anthropological context. Requests for conferences, publications, curation and data base development although less frequent, may also receive support. Many proposals are jointly reviewed with other NSF Programs and research which crosses disciplinary boundaries is welcome The Foundation limits awards to five years and imposes no maximum dollar amount. During the government fiscal year 2000, 38 of 110 submissions (35%) received support and a distribution of award size and duration is presented below.
Under NSF's data sharing policy, the Foundation expects investigators to share with other researchers, at no more than incremental cost and within a reasonable time, the data, samples, physical collections, and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of the work. To implement that policy in ways appropriate to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, beginning July 1, 2005 these Programs will require that all proposals include a one-page detailed description of the applicant's data access plan in the "Supplementary Documents" section. This page will be in addition to the standard 15-page project description. Applications lacking this statement will not be reviewed. The Programs realize that individual cases may differ widely and recognize that any absolute timeline or rigid set of rules is not possible. They also recognize that revision and adjustment may often be required as the work proceeds. The data access plan, however, will be considered an integral part of the project and therefore subject to reviewer and panel evaluation. Major departure from it will constitute a significant project change and require NSF approval. Successful applicants will be required to address this issue in every progress and final report. PIs on all awards made under these guidelines will be expected to discuss implementation of their plans in the "Results of Prior Research" section when they submit subsequent applications.
Proposals are evaluated by both outside reviewers selected for specific expertise in the applicant’s subject area and a panel of anthropological archaeologists which convenes twice yearly. The Fall panel generally meets in October/November and the Spring meeting is held in conjunction with the Society For American Archaeology convention. Applicants are invited to contact the Program Director to determine panel dates and then to inquire about application outcome. They are also directed to the Fastlane template which permits them to suggest names of potential reviewers and to note inappropriate individuals.
Applicants should follow instructions in the Grant Proposal Guide and are required to submit proposals electronically through the NSF Fastlane system. They should also read the Answers to Frequent Proposal Preparation Questions in the Archaeology Program web site.
Fiscal year 2000 award data:
Award duration (months) |
Number of Awards |
12 |
7 |
|
24 |
14 |
|
25 |
1 |
|
27 |
1 |
|
33 |
1 |
|
36 |
12 |
|
48 |
2 |
Award amount |
Number of awards |
$0 - $50,000 |
5 |
|
$50,000 - $100,000 |
11 |
|
$100,00 - $150,000 |
8 |
|
$150,000 - $200,000 |
9 |
|
$200,000 - $250,000 |
3 |
|
$250,000 - $300,000 |
1 |
|
$300,000 - $350,000 |
1 |
|