Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS)

Updated Oct 20, 2026

Grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, open to any type of applicant. Closes Jan 14, 2027, 86 days left.

Opportunity number	23-568
Agency	U.S. National Science Foundation
Funding type	Grant
Field	Science, technology and other research and development
Award ceiling	$1.2 million
Award floor	$10,000
Expected number of awards	25
Total program funding	$8.0 million
Cost sharing or matching	Not required
Assistance listing	47.075
Posted	May 20, 2023
Closes	Jan 14, 2027 (86 days left)
Add the deadline to	Google Calendar

Who can apply

Unrestricted: any type of applicant

Description

The Human Networks and Data Science program (HNDS) supports research that enhances understanding of human behavior by leveraging data and network science research across a broad range of topics. HNDS research will identify ways in which dynamic, distributed, or heterogeneous data can provide novel answers to fundamental questions about individual or group behavior. HNDS is especially interested in proposals that provide data-rich insights about human networks to support improved health, prosperity, and security.

HNDS has two tracks: (1) Human Networks and Data Science – Infrastructure (HNDS-I). Infrastructure proposals will address the development of data resources and relevant analytic techniques that support fundamental Social, Behavioral and Economic (SBE) research. Successful infrastructure proposals will construct, within the financial resources provided by the award, databases or relevant analytic techniques and produce a finished product that will enable previously impossible data-intensive research in the social sciences.

The databases or techniques should have significant impacts, either across multiple fields or within broad disciplinary areas, by making possible new types of data-intensive research in the SBE sciences. (2) Human Networks and Data Science – Core Research (HNDS-R). Core research proposals will advance theory in a core SBE discipline by the application of data and network science methods.

This includes the leveraging of large data sets with diverse spatio-temporal scales of measurement and linked qualitative and quantitative approaches, as well as multi-scale, multi-level network data and techniques of network analysis. Supported projects are expected to yield results that will enhance, expand, and transform theory and methods, and that generate novel understandings of human behavior – particularly understandings that can lead to significant societal benefits or opportunities.

HNDS-R encourages core research proposals that make innovative use of NSF-supported data networks, databases, centers and other forms of scientific infrastructure including those developed by HNDS-I (formerly RIDIR) projects.

Full announcement and how to apply on Grants.gov

Science, technology and other research and development grants right now

There are 99 open federal grants in science, technology and other research and development that small businesses may apply for; 46 close within 30 days. The median award ceiling is $1.2 million; this grant offers up to $1.2 million. The agencies offering the most are Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA, U.S. National Science Foundation and National Institute of Justice. Grants in this field stay open a median of 154 days; this one is open for 1335 days.

Who has won this program before

Regents Of The University Of Michigan $38.4 million · from Feb 15, 2022
Regents Of The University Of Michigan $18.5 million · from Jul 15, 2021
Northeastern University $16.2 million · from Oct 1, 2021
Carnegie-Mellon University $15.7 million · from Jun 1, 2023
University Of Massachusetts $15.0 million · from Sep 15, 2023

The largest grants and cooperative agreements under assistance listing 47.075 with payments since Oct 1, 2025, from USAspending.gov. Amounts are each award's total.