Directorate for Biological Sciences

The mission of the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) is to enable discoveries for understanding life. BIO-supported research advances the frontiers of biological knowledge and provides a theoretical basis for prediction within complex, dynamic living systems through an integration of scientific disciplines. **Areas of Support** (also see [interactive org chart](http://www.nsf.gov/bio/about.jsp#orgchart)) The Directorate for Biological Sciences supports research to advance understanding of the principles and mechanisms governing life. Research studies extend across systems that encompass biological molecules, cells, tissues, organs, organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems up to and including the global biosphere. Comprehensive concepts that bridge and unify the diverse areas of biology include complexity, robustness, communication, resilience, adaptability and cooperation. Achieving a coherent understanding of the complex biological web of interactions that is life is a major challenge of the future. This challenge will require that knowledge about the structure and dynamics of individual biological units, networks, sub-systems and systems be compiled and connected from the molecular to the global level and across scales of time and space. Integral to all activities across the directorate is a commitment to integrate research and education, broaden participation, and promote international partnerships. The Directorate of Biological Sciences is organized into Divisions: The [Division of Biological Infrastructure](http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DBI "DBI home page") (DBI) *invests in the innovation and capacity-building of cutting-edge research infrastructure for fundamental biological science that includes human capital, technologies, institutes and centers, and mid-to-large scale facilities.* The [Division of Environmental Biology](http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DEB "DEB home page") (DEB) supports fundamental evolutionary and ecological research on species, populations, communities and ecosystems, across all spatial and temporal scales. The [Division of Integrative Organismal Systems](http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=IOS "IOS home page") (IOS) supports fundamental research aimed at understanding organisms as units of biological organization, encouraging the use of integrative, interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex problems in organismal biology. The [Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences](http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=MCB "MCB home page") (MCB) supports quantitative and interdisciplinary approaches to deciphering the molecular underpinnings of complex living systems. The [Emerging Frontiers](http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=EF "EF home page") (EF) Division supports supports multidisciplinary research opportunities and networking activities that arise from advances in disciplinary research. By encouraging synergy across disciplines, EF provides mechanisms by which new initiatives will be fostered and subsequently integrated into the other Divisions' core activities.