Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions

The Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) program is an initiative of the National Science Foundation (NSF) managed by its Directorate for Geosciences within the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences. With a mission to enhance the understanding of the behavior and interrelationships within the Earth’s upper atmospheric regions, the CEDAR program funds cutting-edge scientific research that spans from the middle atmosphere through the thermosphere, ionosphere, and into the exosphere. In its latest solicitation (NSF 25-510), the program reaffirms its commitment to advancing geospace science while also incorporating comparative studies of planetary atmospheres in our solar system where relevant to Earth’s upper atmosphere. The CEDAR program supports a wide variety of activities that involve both theoretical and observational approaches. Projects may utilize ground-based or space-based platforms and must contribute to the study of atmospheric coupling, energetics, chemistry, and dynamics. Priority research areas include the interactions of solar inputs and lower atmospheric perturbations with upper atmospheric layers, as well as cross-regional coupling phenomena. Projects are encouraged to adopt a systems perspective on geospace and integrate observation and modeling. Use of novel methods such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), open data access, and open science practices is strongly encouraged to enhance research outputs and accessibility. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad. U.S.-based institutions of higher education, including both two- and four-year colleges, nonprofit research organizations, observatories, independent laboratories, and qualified for-profit entities with demonstrated capabilities in relevant scientific research may apply. Federally recognized Tribal Nations are also eligible applicants. There are no restrictions on who may serve as the Principal Investigator (PI), but individual researchers may submit a maximum of two proposals per target date, either as PI or co-PI. The program anticipates issuing between 10 and 15 awards per year, contingent on funding availability, with an estimated annual program budget of $3,000,000. Typical awards are approximately $150,000 per year and may span one to five years, depending on the scope and justification provided in the proposal. There is no cost-sharing requirement, and voluntary committed cost sharing is not permitted. NSF’s standard terms and reporting requirements apply to awarded projects. Proposals must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov following the instructions in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The program does not require letters of intent or preliminary proposals. Full proposals must be titled beginning with "CEDAR:" and adhere to the program-specific and general NSF guidelines. The next full proposal target date is March 5, 2025, and the opportunity recurs annually on the first Wednesday of March. Submissions are evaluated based on NSF’s merit review criteria—Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts—through a combination of ad hoc and panel reviews managed by NSF Program Officers. Program officers for the CEDAR program include Shikha Raizada ([email protected]), Tai-Yin Huang ([email protected]), and Mangala Sharma ([email protected]), all reachable via phone at NSF. The solicitation is currently active and available online through the NSF website.

Clearly address both Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts; use open science practices; follow all PAPPG requirements.