Biological Sciences

Program Objectives

To promote the progress of the biological sciences and thereby strengthen the Nation's scientific enterprise; to increase scientific knowledge and enhance understanding of major problems confronting the Nation. Most of the research supported is basic in character. The program includes support of research project grants in the following disciplines: molecular and cellular biosciences, integrative organismal biology; environmental biology; biological infrastructure; and plant genome research. Support is also provided for the purchase of multi-user scientific equipment and instrument development, and for research workshops, symposia, and conferences. In addition, awards are made to improve the quality of doctoral dissertations in environmental biology and integrative organismal biology; for postdoctoral fellowships in biological informatics and postdoctoral fellowships to minority scientists in all areas of research supported by the biological sciences.