Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002059
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through its Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, released a discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "Systems Biology Enabled Research on the Roles of Microbiomes in Nutrient Cycling Processes" (Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0002059). The opportunity sits within the mission space of DOE's Genomic Science Program (GSP) and is focused on advancing fundamental, systems-level understanding of how microbes and microbiomes drive nutrient cycling in terrestrial environments. In practical terms, DOE is looking to fund research that explains how microbial life, alone and in communities, regulates the movement and transformation of nutrients through soils and ecosystems, and how these processes connect to broader biogeochemical cycles.
The FOA emphasizes two main research directions. First, it seeks systems biology investigations of the regulatory, metabolic, and signaling networks that operate in microbes, microbial consortia, and microbe-plant interactions when they participate in nutrient cycling. This includes studies that move beyond identifying "who is there" to uncovering "what they are doing" and "how it is controlled," such as mapping pathway regulation, metabolite exchange, cellular communication, and coordinated behavior across organisms. A key element is the network-level perspective: DOE is encouraging work that integrates multiple layers of biology to explain functional outcomes relevant to nutrient transformations, rather than isolated single-gene or single-organism descriptions.
Second, the FOA calls for the development and application of "-omics" approaches (for example, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and related high-throughput methods) to investigate microbial community processes involved in nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. This track is aimed at enabling or improving the tools and data-driven strategies used to measure and interpret community function at scale, particularly in complex natural settings like soils and plant-associated environments. The intent is to strengthen the ability to connect molecular-level measurements to ecosystem-relevant nutrient cycling processes, including community interactions and emergent behaviors that cannot be captured by studying organisms in isolation.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a DOE Office of Science grant program categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA/Assistance Listing: 81.049). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning applications are open to a broad range of entity types, with the standard caveat that any specific constraints would be described in the FOA's eligibility details. The announcement was created on February 11, 2019, with an original application deadline of May 17, 2019. DOE anticipated making about 11 awards, with an award ceiling of $3,750,000 per project.
Overall, the opportunity is designed to support fundamental research that benefits the public by increasing understanding of the natural world, specifically the biological mechanisms and community dynamics that govern nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The focus on systems biology and multi-omics signals DOE's interest in integrated, mechanistic, and predictive science that can explain how microbiomes function and respond to environmental conditions, especially through the lens of nutrient transformations and biogeochemical cycling.Apply for DE FOA 0002059
- The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Systems Biology Enabled Research onthe Roles of Microbiomes in Nutrient Cycling Processes" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 11, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 17, 2019. (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 $3,750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 11 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Systems Biology Enabled Research on the Roles of Microbiomes in Nutrient Cycling Processes."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0002059.
Which agency and program are offering this grant?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science through the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program.
What DOE mission space does this FOA fall under?
The opportunity sits within the mission space of DOE's Genomic Science Program (GSP).
What is the main scientific focus of this FOA?
The FOA supports fundamental, systems-level research to understand how microbes and microbiomes drive nutrient cycling in terrestrial environments, including how microbial life regulates the movement and transformation of nutrients through soils and ecosystems and how those processes connect to broader biogeochemical cycles.
What kinds of environments are emphasized?
The focus is on terrestrial ecosystems, including complex natural settings such as soils and plant-associated environments.
What are the two main research directions highlighted in the FOA?
The FOA emphasizes two main directions:
- Systems biology investigations of regulatory, metabolic, and signaling networks in microbes, microbial consortia, and microbe-plant interactions involved in nutrient cycling.
- Development and application of -omics approaches (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and related high-throughput methods) to study microbial community processes involved in nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.
What does DOE mean by a "systems biology" approach in this FOA?
In this FOA, systems biology refers to research that explains nutrient cycling using an integrated, network-level view of biology. The emphasis is on understanding what microbes are doing and how it is controlled through regulatory, metabolic, and signaling networks, rather than only identifying which organisms or genes are present.
Does the FOA encourage studies of microbial communities and interactions (not just single organisms)?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights work on microbes in communities (microbial consortia) and microbe-plant interactions, including coordinated behavior across organisms and community interactions that can drive nutrient transformations.
What types of biological networks or mechanisms are mentioned as relevant?
The FOA mentions investigation of regulatory, metabolic, and signaling networks, including topics such as pathway regulation, metabolite exchange, cellular communication, and coordinated behavior across organisms as they relate to nutrient cycling.
What is meant by moving beyond "who is there" in microbiome research?
The FOA encourages moving beyond descriptive community profiling to mechanistic understanding: identifying functional activities and the control logic behind them (for example, how pathways are regulated, how organisms exchange metabolites, and how communities coordinate nutrient transformations).
What "-omics" approaches are specifically named?
Examples named in the FOA include genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, along with other related high-throughput approaches.
What is the purpose of the -omics track in this FOA?
The -omics direction aims to enable or improve tools and data-driven strategies to measure and interpret microbial community function at scale in complex natural settings, and to better connect molecular-level measurements to ecosystem-relevant nutrient cycling processes.
Is this opportunity oriented toward applied outcomes or fundamental science?
The opportunity is designed to support fundamental research that improves understanding of the natural world, particularly the biological mechanisms and community dynamics that govern nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.
What funding category or assistance listing is associated with this program?
The program is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and lists CFDA/Assistance Listing: 81.049.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning applications are open to a broad range of entity types. Any specific constraints would be described in the FOA's detailed eligibility section.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on February 11, 2019.
What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was May 17, 2019.
How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 11 awards.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling) per project?
The award ceiling is $3,750,000 per project.
What kinds of outcomes is DOE seeking from funded projects?
Based on the FOA description, DOE is seeking integrated, mechanistic research outcomes that improve the ability to explain (and support predictive understanding of) microbiome function in nutrient transformations, including how microbial and community processes connect to biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.
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