Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) View image credit & caption NSF reorganization Updates to reflect the new organizational structure of BIO are in progress. Some information on this page may no longer be current. Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) Get BIO Email Updates Share Share on Facebook Share on X (formerly known as Twitter) Share on LinkedIn Email The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) supports research and education that advances understanding of all forms of life at all scales — from cells to ecosystems and across space and time. Learn more about BIO BIO updates From 1 cell to 2, researchers have simulated the entire cell division process March 19, 2026 Supporting exciting biological sciences ideas and impacts on AI and biotechnology February 17, 2026 View more updates Recent funding opportunities Dear Colleague Letter Advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agent Ecosystems through the National Science Foundation Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (NSF PESOSE) Program Next Required Due Date: See letter for details Posted February 20, 2026 Program Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) Next Required Due Date: September 1, 2026 Posted February 19, 2026 Program National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NQNI) Next Required Due Date: May 14, 2026 Posted February 13, 2026 Program Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) Next Required Due Date: September 29, 2026 Posted February 5, 2026 View all BIO opportunities Explore BIO Division of Biological Infrastructure (BIO/DBI) Invests in the innovation and capacity-building of cutting-edge research infrastructure for fundamental biological science including human capital, technologies, institutes and centers and mid- to large-scale facilities. Division of Environmental Biology (BIO/DEB) Supports research and training on evolutionary and ecological processes acting at the level of populations, species, communities and ecosystems. Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (BIO/IOS) Supports research aimed at improving understanding of organisms as integrated units of biological organization. Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (BIO/MCB) Supports research on the fundamental properties of living systems at the atomic, molecular, subcellular and cellular scales. Emerging Frontiers Office (BIO/EF) Supports multidisciplinary research opportunities and networking activities that arise from advances in disciplinary biological research. Upcoming events Thursday, May 21, 2026, 1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. NSF BIO Virtual Office Hour: Updates from the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences Q&As and information sessions May 21, 2026. Planning to submit an NSF CAREER proposal? Join us to learn about the program. Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. NSF BIO Virtual Office Hour: Updates from the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences Q&As and information sessions Join biological sciences program directors to get insider tips about the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites program. View all BIO events View all past BIO events BIO news NSF News February 13, 2026 NSF launches $100M National Quantum and Nanotechnology Research Infrastructure program NSF News September 4, 2025 NSF National Quantum Virtual Laboratory speeds into the design phase NSF Stories July 18, 2025 New axolotl study gives researchers a leg up in work towards limb regeneration More BIO news Top