Geologic Mapping Program Trains Students, Funds Student Projects
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) announced funding opportunities through its EDMAP component. This program aims to train the next generation of geologic mappers by providing funds for graduate and undergraduate student projects related to geologic map creation. The announcement details eligibility criteria and funding limits for faculty and students.
What changed
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has issued a notice regarding funding opportunities through the EDMAP component of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP). This program focuses on training students in geologic mapping techniques by providing financial support for relevant graduate and undergraduate projects. The notice outlines eligibility requirements for faculty and students, including limitations on the number of active projects per Principal Investigator (PI) and cumulative funding per student. Funding limits are specified per student mapper per year, with a maximum award duration.
Educational institutions, specifically private and public universities and colleges in the United States, are eligible to apply. Faculty members affiliated with geoscience or related departments can submit proposals, with certain restrictions for federal government employees. PIs must be in good standing with previous EDMAP awards to be eligible for new funding. The program aims to expand research and educational capacity in Earth sciences, with specific funding caps per student based on their academic level (graduate vs. undergraduate) and a maximum total funding duration for each student mapper.
What to do next
- Review eligibility criteria for faculty and student PIs.
- Ensure compliance with funding limits and duration restrictions for student mappers.
- Verify good standing with previous EDMAP awards if applicable.
Source document (simplified)
The Educational Component of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
Agency: Geological Survey
Assistance Listings: 15.810 -- National Cooperative Geologic Mapping
Last Updated: March 24, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov
Description
The primary objective of the EDMAP component of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) is to train the next generation of geologic mappers. To do this, the NCGMP provides funds for graduate student and upper-level undergraduate student projects relevant to the creation of geologic maps (defined broadly as maps that characterize the solid Earth and/or its constituents). Through these cooperative agreements, the NCGMP hopes to expand the research and educational capacity of national academic programs that teach Earth science students the broad range of techniques relevant to geologic... mapping and the analysis of field, geophysical, borehole, and remote sensing data. As of 2024, EDMAP has funded more than 1,501 students from more than 177 universities. A list of funded FY2025 EDMAP projects can be found in Attachment D of this announcement. For more information about the USGS NCGMP EDMAP Program please visit: EDMAP | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov) or email EDMAP@usgs.gov. Show full description
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and state institutions of higher education
Additional information
Additional Information on EligibilityProposals may be submitted by a faculty member (including adjunct faculty) affiliated with geoscience or related departments or programs at an accredited university or college in the United States. However, faculty or adjunct faculty members who are also employed by the Federal government may neither submit a proposal nor serve as PI or co-PI on an EDMAP project.Only one proposal will be accepted from an individual Principal Investigator (PI; faculty advisor). Multiple proposals can be accepted from a single institution if authored by different PIs. PIs may submit proposals containing multiple sub-projects (i.e., proposal can support multiple Primary Student Mappers) so long as a different geologic map deliverable is proposed for each project/Primary Student Mapper. The PI is required to write and submit the proposal.PIs that have been previously funded under EDMAP must comply with the requirements specified in the previous EDMAP award(s) and must be in good standing (i.e., no delinquent deliverables still pending on a previous award without a Program-approved extension). Additionally, a PI may only have two active EDMAP Projects at any given time. As an example to help clarify this – in order to be eligible for EDMAP funding in FY2026, a PI must have no more than one currently active EDMAP project at the time that FY2026 EDMAP funding decisions are made.EDMAP Primary Student Mappers should be graduate (Master"s and Doctoral) students and/or upper level (junior and senior) undergraduate students. Graduate and undergraduate students must have received appropriate geoscience or related training prior to the time that they begin the proposed project.A Primary Student Mapper may be supported by no more than a total of 36 months of EDMAP funding or no more than three EDMAP awards during their academic career. Students may be funded on consecutive EDMAP awards, or a student may be supported by an EDMAP award from different institutions, degrees, or PIs. However, a given student is only eligible for 36 months of cumulative funding.An EDMAP request may not exceed $45,000 per 12 months for each Graduate Primary Student Mapper ($3,750 per month). An EDMAP request may not exceed $25,000 per 12 months for each Undergraduate Primary Student Mapper ($2,083 per month). An EDMAP award may not exceed 24 months ($90,000 maximum per Graduate Primary Student Mapper; $50,000 per Undergraduate Primary Student Mapper). These maximum requests include ALL associated costs: tuition, field work, laboratory analyses, stipend, etc.
Grantor contact information
Description
Amber Brazil
abrazil@usgs.gov
Documents
Download all
| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FY26EDMAPNOFO-FINAL.pdf | FY26 EDMAP NOFO - FINAL.pdf | Mar 24, 2026 08:03 PM UTC |
| ENTIREPROPOSALBUDGET-TemplateEDMAP.docx | ENTIRE PROPOSAL BUDGET- Template EDMAP.docx | Mar 24, 2026 08:03 PM UTC |
Link to additional information
--
Closing: May 26, 2026
Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.
Application process
This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov
Award
$1,500,000
Program Funding
15
Expected awards
$--
Award Minimum
$180,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
G26AS00012
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
Yes Funding instrument type:
Cooperative agreement
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
-- Category of Funding Activity:
Science technology and other research and development
Category Explanation:
--
History
Version:
1
Posted date:
March 24, 2026
Archive date:
May 27, 2026
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