Federal Project Grant Award Summary

North Carolina State University received a $678,313 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Sciences under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to conduct collaborative research on the role of planktic foraminifera in marine snow formation and ocean carbon export. The award period runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029. The primary deliverables include scientific research outputs combining laboratory experiments, field-collected specimens from U.S. coastal regions, and geochemical analyses to examine how planktic foraminifera aggregate particles, influence marine snow formation, and affect organic carbon transport to the deep ocean. The research directly addresses fundamental gaps in understanding the biological carbon pump and ocean carbon cycling mechanisms critical to climate regulation and ocean health.

Beyond core research findings, the award supports educational and community engagement products, including training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and strengthened scientific connections with coastal communities. This funding aligns with the Geosciences program's mission to expand fundamental knowledge of integrated Earth systems through basic research in ocean sciences, with the project's outcomes expected to advance understanding of how these microscopic marine organisms influence global biogeochemical cycles and carbon storage in deep ocean waters.