NSF Funding for Work at the Human-Technology Frontier

If you conduct research related to the human-technology interface, ways in which human performance can be augmented, risks and benefits of new technologies, and the impact of artificial intelligence, you may be interested in applying for funding from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier: Core Research program. A new solicitation has just been released that sets the next proposal deadline to March 6, 2019.

NSF’s Future of Work is one of NSF’s 10 Big Ideas, which is a set of integrative efforts designed to bring together scientists from multiple disciplines to solve pressing challenges. Given this,proposals to the Future of Work program must have a clear plan for applying multiple perspectives and methods to research questions of interest.

NSF says:

“A proposal for a research grant in this program must focus on advancing fundamental understanding of future work, and potential improvements to work, workplaces, workforce preparation, or work outcomes for workers and society. It must be convergent research that addresses the technological as well as the human and societal dimensions and potential impact of future work, and in doing so, make significant contributions to both intellectual merit and broader impact. Achieving this goal requires integration and convergence of disciplines across computer science, engineering, learning sciences, research on education and workforce training, and social, behavioral,and economic sciences.”

NSF has set aside $30 million to fund up to 30 awards from this program. Fifteen Planning Grant Awards will support scientists with up to $150,000 for 1 year, whereas 15 Research Grant Awards will provide up $3 million for a support period of up to 4 years.

To learn more about this funding opportunity, click to read NSF’s solicitation 19-541.

Applications are due March 6, 2019.