Human Networks and Data Science (HNDS)

Funding Agency:
National Science Foundation

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 Proposal Deadline Date: 

  • January 11, 2024: Deadline for direct submissions to Human Networks and Data Science – Core Research (HNDS-R) by permission only. Submissions with HNDS-R as secondary do not require permission and should follow the primary program’s submission dates.
  •  February 01, 2024: Deadline for Human Networks and Data Science – Infrastructure (HNDS-I) proposals only.
  • July 11, 2024: Deadline for direct submissions to Human Networks and Data Science – Core Research (HNDS-R) by permission only. Submissions with HNDS-R as secondary should follow the primary program’s submission dates.
  •  August 1, 2024: Deadline for Human Networks and Data Science – Infrastructure (HNDS-I) proposals only.

Agency Website

Eligibility Requirements

An individual may be listed as a PI or co-PI on only one HNDS-I proposal per year.

Amount Description

Estimated Number of Awards: 5 to 25

The HNDS-I track anticipates funding approximately 4 large infrastructure projects; HNDS-R anticipates funding from 5 to 20 core research projects. Project scope, goals, and teams should be commensurate with the requested funding amounts. Most HNDS-R proposals will be co-reviewed with other SBE programs.

 

Anticipated Funding Amount: $8,000,000

Total anticipated amount for all awards per year: $8 million.  Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Funding Type

Grant

Eligibility

Faculty

Category

Social Sciences

External Deadline

January 11, 2024