NSF BIO Directorate Leaders Clarify Organizational and Process Changes

By: Yvette Seger
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
On December 18, leaders of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Biology Directorate (BIO) hosted a virtual office hour to provide updates on the directorate organization and changes to the merit review process. Susan Marquesee, PhD, Assistant Director for BIO, and Theresa Good, PhD, BIO Directorate Head, led the discussion with support from additional senior BIO staff. The conversation provided helpful context for why these changes were being implemented and also provided a forum for addressing attendee questions.

Like many federal agencies, NSF experienced a significant reduction in force, with a 40 percent staffing reduction within BIO alone. This has required remaining staff to implement strategies to streamline processes, including the elimination of the four BIO divisions and adopting a “OneBIO” approach that organizes research activities into three themes:

• Foundations of Life – exploring molecules, cells, and physiological processes;
• Living Systems – understanding how species evolve, interact and shape Earth’s ecosystems; and
• Bioinnovation & Infrastructure – developing the tools, data, technologies, and infrastructure to support biological sciences research.

This OneBIO approach is intended to minimize siloing of research priorities and foster better coordination among program staff to ensure the Directorate continues to support the most impactful science. While current funding solicitations and programs still exist, the directorate aims to issue fewer and broader solicitations and seek opportunities to promote cross-disciplinary activities.

Staffing reductions and directorate reorganization have also prompted updates to the Merit Review process, with the goal of increasing efficiency, consistency, and transparency while upholding the quality of review. Key changes include requiring at least two external reviews per proposal, utilizing panel discussions to deliberate proposals with variable scores, and more succinct panel summaries. Staff also highlighted a Supplement to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) 24-1, issued on December 8, 2025, that takes immediate precedence over existing policies and procedures.