Long-Term Ecological Research | 24 520

FAQs: NSF Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program Renewal Solicitation (Opportunity 24-520)

1) What is the NSF Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program?

The NSF LTER program is a long-running grant program (created in 1980) that supports ecological research questions that cannot be answered with short-term studies. It is designed to enable scientists to observe, measure, and test ecological change over long time spans.

2) Why does NSF fund long-term ecological research instead of only short-term projects?

The LTER program exists because many important ecological processes unfold slowly or are difficult to capture in brief studies. Long-term research is often essential for understanding slow processes, rare events, long recovery periods after disturbance, and gradual shifts linked to climate, land use, species interactions, and nutrient and water cycles.

3) What kinds of outcomes is LTER research expected to produce?

LTER projects are designed to produce sustained, high-value datasets and long-term experiments. These outputs are intended to strengthen and refine fundamental ecological theory and improve practical understanding of how ecosystems function and change.

4) What makes LTER different from many other NSF ecology opportunities?

Two defining features distinguish LTER: (1) research is organized around specific, established field sites selected to represent major ecosystem types or biomes; and (2) research emphasizes long-term observations and coordinated, multi-year data collection across five core research areas, with consistent data streams that research builds on over time.

5) Are LTER projects tied to specific locations?

Yes. LTER research is organized around established field sites. These sites were selected to represent major ecosystem types or biomes, and the program structure centers on sustained work at those locations.

6) Does the program require specific research themes or areas of work?

Yes. The program emphasizes long-term observations and data collection across five core research areas. The expectation is consistent, multi-year data streams and coordinated research that builds on those data over time.

7) Does LTER research encourage interdisciplinary approaches?

Yes. Because ecological dynamics often operate across multiple scales, LTER research commonly integrates multiple disciplines and approaches.

8) Is cross-site or network-level research part of LTER?

Often, yes. LTER work frequently connects across sites to compare patterns, test whether mechanisms generalize, and examine processes that occur over broad regions rather than only at a single location.

9) What is the LTER open data requirement?

Open data is a major requirement. NSF expects data collected at all LTER sites to be made publicly accessible and managed in compliance with NSF data policies. The rationale is that long-term datasets become more valuable over time and support uses beyond the original investigator team.

10) How might publicly accessible LTER data be used beyond the original project team?

The solicitation notes that LTER datasets can support synthesis projects, cross-site comparisons, model development, and forecasting, among other uses.

11) How many LTER sites does NSF currently support?

NSF currently supports 27 LTER sites, plus a network office that helps coordinate network-wide activities and cross-site work.

12) What is the purpose of the LTER network office?

The network office helps coordinate network-wide activities and cross-site work across the LTER network.

13) Is this solicitation for creating or establishing new LTER sites?

No. This solicitation is explicitly not for establishing new LTER sites. It governs renewal proposals for currently active LTER site awards.

14) If an organization wants to start a new LTER site, can it apply under this opportunity?

No. Adding new sites is outside the scope of this solicitation. NSF may periodically issue separate solicitations when it decides to add new sites, but that is not covered here.

15) Who is eligible to submit a proposal under this solicitation?

Eligibility is narrow because it is a renewal-only competition. Only the organization or institution that holds the current LTER award may submit a renewal proposal.

16) Can multiple organizations participate in a renewal proposal?

Multiple organizations may be involved, but collaboration must be handled through a single proposal submission format as described in NSF's Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

17) Are separately submitted collaborative proposals allowed?

No. Separately submitted collaborative proposals will be returned without review.

18) Who can serve as the lead Principal Investigator (PI) on the renewal proposal?

The lead PI must already be part of the currently funded award team. The lead PI on the renewal must be either the current award's lead PI or one of the co-PIs listed on the existing award.

19) What is the opportunity number for this NSF solicitation?

The opportunity number listed is 24-520.

20) What type of grant opportunity is this?

It is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" category.

21) What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The listing includes CFDA numbers 47.050, 47.074, and 47.075.

22) How many awards does NSF anticipate making under this solicitation?

NSF anticipates making around 12 awards under this solicitation.

23) What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The original closing date is March 6, 2025.

24) Is there an award ceiling specified for this opportunity?

No award ceiling is specified in the provided listing information.