NSF Invites Grant Applications Related to Reproducibility in Neuroimaging

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a new announcement encouraging submission of research projects relating to reproducibility and replicability. The announcement especially solicits research proposals in “data-intensive domains that specifically rely on analysis of neuroimaging or neuroelectric data.”

According to NSF, proposals are encouraged which address topics such as:

• Replication of different studies with the same individuals to discover shared latent structures (of brain activity and behavior) within individuals and across tasks
• Replication of pivotal or controversial studies but with sample sizes substantially larger than in the original studies or using different sampling strategies
• Generalization of findings to other populations or contexts
• Evaluation of the impact of parameter choice, analysis toolchain, and workflows on results reported

A unique component of the new announcement: NSF instructs that proposed research should propose ways to advance science through replication, reproduction, and generalization, rather than focusing solely on rejecting or confirming prior work.

Scientists who are encouraged to apply for funding by this announcement should submit their proposals by June 11, 2018, to NSF’s Cognitive Neuroscience Program. Awards will provide 3-4 years of support and offer a budget of up to $600,000.

To learn more about NSF’s call for studies targeting reproducibility and replicability in neuroimaging data, click here.

To read an NSF perspective on replicability in science, read former NSF Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Director and APS Fellow Howard C. Nusbaum’s guest Presidential Column in the APS Observer by clicking here.