Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Iowa received a $599,594 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Environmental Biology under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2030. This collaborative research award, designated SCALE-UP and conducted in partnership with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), supports fundamental scientific research investigating the impacts of increasing vapor pressure deficit (VPD)—atmospheric dryness—on forest ecosystems across multiple spatial and temporal scales. The research team will deliver comprehensive scientific outputs including experimental data, observational findings, and advanced computer models that elucidate how rising VPD affects tree photosynthesis, growth, mortality, and forest water use across different tree species, soil moisture conditions, and geographic locations.

The research products will advance Earth-system modeling capabilities through integration of artificial intelligence approaches, enabling improved prediction and management of forest resources in the United States and Switzerland. The international collaboration provides U.S. researchers access to specialized experimental facilities, including a Swiss forest manipulation experiment controlling atmospheric and soil moisture conditions. By bridging leaf-level physiological processes to forest-scale outcomes, this project will generate fundamental knowledge addressing critical gaps in understanding plant adaptation to rapid environmental change, while simultaneously contributing to workforce development by training the next generation of researchers in cutting-edge artificial intelligence methodologies relevant to the nation's AI priorities.