Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Desert Southwest CESU | G17AS00046

Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00046

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Desert Southwest CESU funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00046) is a US Geological Survey program administered through the Department of the Interior, focused on advancing how scientists measure, explain, and forecast soil carbon behavior. Hosted by the USGS John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, the effort is designed to strengthen the scientific foundation behind estimates of how much carbon soils can store, how stable that stored carbon is over time, and how vulnerable it may be to disturbances such as land use change, drought, wildfire, erosion, or other environmental stressors. The broader purpose is to reduce uncertainty in terrestrial carbon cycle modeling, which directly affects climate projections because soils represent one of the largest carbon reservoirs on land and can either buffer or amplify atmospheric carbon dioxide depending on changing conditions.

The project is set up to bring together two communities that often work in parallel: experimentalists who generate measurements in the field and lab, and modelers who represent soil carbon processes mathematically to simulate carbon stocks and fluxes over space and time. By combining these perspectives in a synthesis setting, the grant aims to translate mechanistic understanding of soil carbon storage into practical improvements in existing terrestrial carbon cycle models. In other words, it is not only about collecting more data, but about aligning data, methods, and models so predictions of soil carbon responses to future environmental change are more credible and more useful for science and management.

The opportunity lays out four specific objectives. First, it seeks to build consensus on methods and approaches for assessing soil carbon dynamics, meaning the group would work toward shared best practices for measuring, comparing, and interpreting soil carbon stocks and turnover across different ecosystems and study designs. Second, it emphasizes assembling and reviewing large datasets in partnership with the International Soil Carbon Network (ISCN), pointing to a strong data synthesis component where existing datasets are compiled, evaluated for quality and compatibility, and prepared for broader reuse. Third, it calls for developing approaches to match data with models, including using models to improve spatial and temporal scaling strategies. This is essentially about making sure point measurements and site studies can be responsibly extrapolated to landscapes, regions, and longer time horizons, and that models are constrained by real observations rather than operating in isolation. Fourth, it aims to facilitate broad participation from the scientific community, indicating an intent to involve diverse expertise, promote collaboration, and ensure the resulting products and recommendations are widely informed and adopted.

From an outputs standpoint, the grant is structured around dissemination and transparency. Results are expected to be presented at scientific meetings and published in the open literature, signaling that peer-reviewed publications and conference engagement are integral deliverables. Just as importantly, the opportunity specifies that data will be made publicly available, aligning with open science expectations and maximizing the downstream value of the synthesis work for other researchers and model developers.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically implies more active federal involvement than a standard grant, such as collaboration, coordination, or substantial engagement by USGS staff during the project. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number listed is 15.808. The opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $50,000. The posting shows a creation date of February 28, 2017, with an original closing date of March 15, 2017. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement.

• The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Desert Southwest CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 28, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G17AS00046

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: