NSS Research Grants (RAC grants)

About this program

The National Speleological Society (NSS) Research Grants (administered by the Research Advisory Committee) fund one-year research-support awards up to $1,500 (typical awards $500–$1,000) for cave-related research across biology, geology, hydrology, archaeology, speleological history, and interdisciplinary studies that are expected to yield publishable results. Applicants must be NSS members at the time of proposal submission and submit a standard proposal (title; names, affiliations, NSS numbers; abstract; introduction; methods; expected results; timetable; budget; and PI(s) CV with a publication list), noting any other funding. Recipients must comply with all applicable permits and ethical and conservation policies, acknowledge NSS support in publications and presentations, submit a one-year report and any resulting publications to the RAC Chair, and be aware that decisions are made twice yearly (January and June) — proposals should arrive at least one month before a decision meeting to be considered.