NSF HERD - Glossary
Foreign Entity
All levels of foreign government, including national, regional, municipality, or other local government.
Foreign for-profit organizations. Projects sponsored by a U.S. location of a foreign company are not considered foreign. Report funds from a company’s nonprofit foundation
Foreign nonprofit foundations and organizations, except higher education institutions. Funds from foreign universities should be reported.
Foreign colleges and universities and units owned, operated, and controlled by such institutions
Include international governmental organizations located in the U.S., such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund and all other entities sending funds to the U.S. from a location outside the U.S. and its territories.
Type of Agreement
Including direct or prime contracts and subcontracts) are legal commitments in which a good or service is provided by your institution that benefits the sponsor. The sponsor specifies the deliverables and gains the rights to results.
Include all other agreements in which payments are received but no good or service other than periodic reporting is required in exchange
Institutional financed research, cost share
Types of Research
Experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view. Example: A researcher is studying the properties of human blood to determine what affects coagulation. A researcher is studying the properties of molecules under various heat and cold conditions. A researcher is investigating the effect of different types of manipulatives on the way first graders learn mathematical strategy by changing manipulatives and then measuring what students have learned through standardized instruments.
Original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is directed primarily towards a specific, practical aim or objective. Example: A researcher is conducting research on how a new chicken pox vaccine affects blood coagulation. A researcher is investigating the properties of particular substances under various heat and cold conditions with the objective of finding longer-lasting components for highway pavement. A researcher is studying the implementation of a specific math curriculum to determine what teachers needed to know to implement the curriculum successfully.
Systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience and producing additional knowledge, which is directed to producing new products or processes or to improving existing products or processes. Example: A researcher is conducting clinical trials to test a newly developed chicken pox vaccine for young children. A researcher is working with state transportation officials to conduct tests of a newly developed highway pavement under various types of heat and cold conditions. A researcher is developing and testing software and support tools, based on fieldwork, to improve mathematics cognition for student special education.
Computer & Information Sciences
Artificial intelligence, Computer and information technology administration and management, Computer science, Computer software and media applications, Computer systems analysis, Computer systems networking and telecommunications Data processing, Information sciences, studies, Information technology
Engineering
Aerodynamics, Aerospace engineering, Space Technology
Biological and biosystems engineering, Biomaterials engineering, Biomedical technology, Medical engineering
Biochemical engineering, Chemical and biomolecular engineering, Engineering chemistry, Paper science, Petroleum refining process, Polymer, plastics engineering
Architectural engineering, Construction engineering, Engineering management, administration, Environmental, environmental health engineering, Geotechnical and GeoEnvironmental engineering, Sanitary engineering, Structural engineering, Surveying engineering, Transportation and highway engineering, Water resources engineering
Communications engineering, Computer engineering, Computer hardware engineering, Computer software engineering, Electrical and electronics engineering, Laser and optical engineering, Power, Telecommunications engineering
Operations research, Systems engineering
Electromechanical engineering, Mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering
Ceramic sciences and engineering, Geophysical, geological engineering, Materials engineering, Metallurgical engineering, Mining and mineral engineering, Textile sciences and engineering, Welding
Agricultural engineering, Engineering design, Engineering mechanics, physics, and science, Engineering physics, Engineering science, Forest engineering, Nanotechnology, Naval architecture and marine engineering, nuclear engineering, Ocean engineering, Petroleum engineering, other engineering fields that cannot be classified using the fields listed above.
Geosciences, Atmospherica Sciences and Ocean Sciences
Aeronomy, Atmospheric chemistry and climatology, Atmospheric physics and dynamics, Extraterrestrial atmospheres, Meteorology, Solar, Weather modification
Earth and planetary sciences, Geochemistry, Geodesy and gravity, Geology, Geomagnetism, Geophysics and seismology, Hydrology and water resources, Minerology and petrology, Paleomagnetism, Paleontology, Physical geography, Stratigraphy and sedimentation and Surveying.
Biological oceanography, Geological oceanography, Marine biology, Marine oceanography, Marine sciences, Oceanography, chemical and physical
Other fields that cannot be classified using the fields listed above.
Agricultural Sciences
Agricultural business and management, Agricultural chemistry, Agricultural economics, Agricultural engineering- report in Engineering, Agricultural production operations, Animal sciences, Applied horticulture and horticultural business services, Aquaculture, Food science and technology, international agriculture, Plant sciences, Soil sciences, Wood science.
Allergies and immunology, Biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology, biogeography, Biology and biomedical sciences, general, Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology, Biotechnology, Botany and plant biology, Cell, cellular biology, and anatomical sciences, Epidemiology, ecology and population biology, Genetics, Microbiological sciences and immunology, Molecular medicine, Neurobiology and neuroscience, Pharmacology and toxicology, Physiology, pathology and related sciences, and Zoology, animal biology.
Advances, graduate dentistry and oral sciences, Allied health and medical assisting services, Bioethics, medical ethics, Clinical medicine research, Clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions, Communication disorders sciences and services, Dentistry, Dietetics and clinical nutrition services, Health and medical administrative services, Health, medical preparatory programs, Gerontology, health sciences, Kinesiology and exercise science, Medical clinical science, graduate medical studies, Medical illustration and informatics, Medicine, Mental health, Optometry, Osteopathic medicine, osteopathy, Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and administration, podiatric medicine, podiatry, public health, radiological science, registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing, rehabilitation and therapeutic professions, Veterinary biomedical and clinical sciences, Veterinary medicine, Zoology.
Natural Resources and Conservation: Fishing and fisheries sciences and management, Forestry, Natural resources conservation and research, Natural resources economics, Natural resources management and policy, renewable natural resources, Wildlife and wildlands science and management
Other Life Sciences: Other life sciences that cannot be classified using the fields listed above
Mathematics and Statistics
Pending...
Psychology
Clinical psychology, Counseling and applied psychology, Human development, Research, and experimental psychology.
Other Sciences
Use this category for R&D that involves at least one S&E field (rows A-H) if it is impossible to report multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary R&D expenditures in specific fields
Non-S&E Fields
Business administration, Business management, Business, managerial economics, Management information systems and services, Marketing management and research
Communication and media studies, Communications technologies, Journalism, Radio, television, and digital communication
Education administration and supervision, Education research, Teacher education, specific levels and methods, Teaching fields)
English language and literature, letters, Foreign languages and literatures, History, including history and philosophy of science and technology, Humanities, general, Liberal arts and sciences, Philosophy and religious studies, Theology and religious vocations
Law, Legal studies
No specific examples
Drama, theatre arts and stagecraft, Film, video and photographic arts, Fine and studio arts, Music
Architecture, City, urban, community and regional planning, Family, consumer sciences and human sciences, Foods, nutrition, and wellness studies
Anthropology
Cultural anthropology, Medical anthropology & Physical and biological anthropology
Applied economics, Business development, Development economics and international development, Econometrics and quantitative economics, Industrial economics, international economics, Labor economics, Managerial economics, public finance, and fiscal policy
Political Science and Government: Comparative government, Government, Legal Systems, Political economy, Political science, Political theory
Sociology, Demography, and Population Studies: Comparative and historical sociology, Complex organization, Cultural and social structure, Demography and population studies, Group interactions, Rural sociology, Social problems and welfare theory, Sociology
Other Social Sciences: Archeology, Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies, Cartography, Criminal science and corrections, Criminology, Geography, Gerontology, social sciences, international relations and national security studies, Linguistics, Public policy analysis, regional studies, Urban studies, affairs
Use this category for R&D that involves at least one S&E field (rows A-H) if it is impossible to report multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary R&D expenditures in specific fields