Science & Research Grants
389 open opportunities. Open federal grants for science, technology, and research and development, each explained in plain English with eligibility, deadline, and award size.
Crosscutting Activities in Materials Research
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
Eligibility is unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to NSF clarifications), but this National Science Foundation program funds crosscutting materials-research activities such as diversity and inclusion efforts, international cooperation, education, workshops, summer schools, and conferences rather than traditional research projects. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified, and program directors recommend contacting them before submitting any full proposal exceeding $50,000. Foreign organizations face the usual NSF limitations, so most awards go to U.S. institutions.
Schools & universitiesResearchersNonprofitsSmall business+2 morePlant Biotic Interactions
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
This NSF/NIFA Plant Biotic Interactions program funds research on how plants interact with viruses, bacteria, fungi, pests, and other organisms, spanning fundamental mechanisms through agriculturally relevant applications. Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit non-academic research organizations, two- and four-year U.S. institutions of higher education, USDA/NIFA-eligible entities (including state agricultural experiment stations, universities, research foundations, federal agencies, and U.S.-citizen/permanent-resident individuals), and groups of these. Foreign and international organizations are not eligible. Strictly ecological projects without underlying mechanisms are not appropriate. No award range or deadline is listed here.
NonprofitsResearchersSchools & universitiesIndividuals+2 moreNSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · $200K–$700K
The NSF, in partnership with the German Research Foundation (DFG), offers this Lead Agency opportunity in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems, letting U.S. and German researchers submit a single collaborative proposal under one review. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based institutions of higher education (including community colleges) and non-profit, non-academic research organizations directly tied to research or education; for-profit firms and individuals are not eligible. Awards roughly range from $200,000 to $700,000 and require a German research partner. No deadline is posted.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNonprofitsLarge award+1 moreComputational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
The NSF Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E) meta-program funds research that uses new computational and data-analysis approaches to drive breakthroughs across science and engineering disciplines. Eligibility is unrestricted, so universities, research organizations, and other entity types may apply, though proposals must have a significant computational or data-science component beyond typical methods. No specific award amount or deadline is listed.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesBroad eligibilityDivision of Materials Research: Topical Materials Research Programs
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
This NSF program in the Division of Materials Research funds fundamental research into the properties, discovery, design, synthesis, and characterization of materials. It is open to U.S. institutions of higher education and U.S. non-profit, non-academic research organizations; for-profit businesses and individuals cannot apply directly. Funding amounts are not specified, and proposal limits per PI and additional eligibility rules apply, so review the full solicitation.
NonprofitsResearchersSchools & universitiesNarrow eligibilityCollaboratory to Advance Mathematics Education and Learning (CAMEL) for K-12
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · $1M–$1.5M
This NSF initiative funds research networks to advance K-12 mathematics education by combining the science of learning, education practice, and data science. It is open to U.S. institutions of higher education, U.S. non-profit non-academic research organizations, and federally recognized tribal nations; for-profit businesses and individuals cannot apply directly. Phase I awards range from about $1,000,000 to $1,500,000, and Phase II is open only to Phase I awardees.
NonprofitsResearchersSchools & universitiesGovernment / tribal+2 moreLong Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for NSWC Crane
No deadline listedNSWC CRANE - N00164 · Amount varies
This Navy (NSWC Crane) Broad Agency Announcement seeks innovative research and technology demonstrators in national-security focus areas such as electronic warfare, sensors, hypersonics, and power systems. Eligibility is unrestricted to any entity type, so businesses, nonprofits, universities, and research organizations may propose, though work must align with the Navy's defense mission. No fixed award amount or deadline is stated; proposers are encouraged to contact the listed points of contact before submitting.
Small businessResearchersNonprofitsSchools & universities+1 moreInfrastructure Innovation for Biological Research
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · $300K–$800K
This NSF program is open to U.S. institutions of higher education and U.S. non-profit, non-academic research organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, and research labs); for-profit businesses and individuals cannot apply directly. It funds the design of novel or greatly improved research tools and methods (in bioinformatics, instrumentation, and research methods) that advance biological research broadly. Awards typically range from about $300,000 to $800,000, and the infrastructure produced must be useful to a community of researchers beyond a single team.
NonprofitsResearchersSchools & universitiesLarge award+1 moreCommunications, Circuits, and Sensing-Systems
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
Eligibility is unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to NSF clarifications) for this National Science Foundation Communications, Circuits, and Sensing-Systems program. It funds innovative research in circuit and system hardware, signal processing, communications, and sensing systems across applications such as healthcare, communications, transportation, energy, and security. No fixed award amount or deadline is stated, and standard NSF limits on foreign organizations apply, so awards typically go to U.S. institutions.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNonprofitsSmall business+2 moreChemical Process Systems (CPS)
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
The NSF Chemical Process Systems (CPS) program funds fundamental research on chemical and biochemical processes to make manufacturing, energy, and biotechnology more efficient and sustainable, spanning catalysis, reactor design, separations, and process optimization. Eligibility is unrestricted, so universities, research organizations, and other entity types may apply. No specific award amount or deadline is listed in the program description.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesBroad eligibilityEngineering for Civil Infrastructure
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
Open to any type of entity (subject to NSF clarifications), the NSF Engineering for Civil Infrastructure program funds fundamental research in geotechnical, structural, materials, architectural, and coastal engineering, including infrastructure resilience to climate change and extreme hazards. Specific award amounts and deadlines are not listed here. In practice this program is best suited to researchers at universities and research organizations.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesBroad eligibilityBiophotonics
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
Open to any type of entity (the NSF lists eligibility as unrestricted, though awards typically go to universities and research institutions). This U.S. National Science Foundation program funds fundamental engineering research in biophotonics, including deep-tissue imaging, optical sensing and biomarkers, neurophotonics, and low-cost, minimally invasive medical diagnostics and therapies. No award amount or deadline is stated here.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesBroad eligibilityMechanics of Materials and Structures
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
This NSF program supports fundamental research in the mechanics of materials and structures, including deformation, fracture, fatigue, instability, meta-materials, and computational and experimental methods. Eligibility is unrestricted (open to any eligible entity type), which in practice means universities, nonprofits, small businesses, and other research organizations. Award amounts and deadline are not specified in this listing. Proposals must clearly emphasize contributions to the field of mechanics.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNonprofitsSmall business+1 moreEngineering Biological and Biomedical Systems (EBBS)
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
Open to any type of entity (the NSF lists eligibility as unrestricted, though awards typically go to universities and research institutions). This U.S. National Science Foundation program funds fundamental engineering research on biological and biomedical systems, including biosensing platforms, optical imaging, biomanufacturing, tissue/organ function, and rehabilitation engineering. Note: proposals focused mainly on drug design, drug delivery, or developing animal disease models are not supported. No award amount or deadline is stated here.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesBroad eligibilityClimate Program Office for FY 2012
No deadline listedDepartment of Commerce · Amount varies
Changing climate confronts society with significant economic, health, safety, and national security challenges. NOAA advances scientific and technical programs to help society cope with, and adapt to, today's variations in climate and to prepare for tomorrow's. Toward this end, the agency conducts and supports climate research, observations, modeling, information management, assessments, interdisciplinary decision support research, outreach, education, and stakeholder partnership development. These investments are key to NOAA's mission of "Science, Service, and Stewardship" and are guided by the agency's vision to create and sustain enhanced resilience in ecosystems, communities, and economies, as described in NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan (NGSP) . Fostering climate adaptation and mitigation, and, specifically, the development of an informed society anticipating and responding to climate and its impacts - is one of the primary pathways through which NOAA plans to advance its mission. The NGSP outlines NOAA's five-year climate objectives: 1) Improved scientific understanding of the changing climate system and its impacts; 2) Assessments of current and future states of the climate system that identify potential impacts and inform science, service, and stewardship decisions; 3) Mitigation and adaptation choices supported by sustained, reliable, and timely climate services; and 4) A climate-literate public that understands its vulnerabilities to a changing climate and makes informed decisions. NOAA works in partnership with Federal, academic, private, and international research entities, and places a substantial emphasis on productive partnerships and interactions with decision makers and other stakeholders.Within this context, NOAA's Climate Program Office (CPO) manages competitive research programs conducted in regions across the United States, at national and international scales, and globally. The CPO also provides strategic guidance and oversight for the agency's climate science and services programs and helps to integrate capabilities from across the agency to provide enhanced services to its constituents. Achieving the first of the NGSP climate objectives, an improved scientific understanding of the changing climate system and its impacts, requires a number of core capabilities be supported. These core capabilities can be broadly categorized to include: (a) understanding and modeling, (b) observing systems, data stewardship, and climate monitoring, (c) predictions and projections, and (d) integrated service development and decision support.These core capabilities, in turn, will focus initially on the following societal challenges identified in the NGSP as early evidence of progress to be made by NOAA in providing sustained, reliable, and timely climate services:* Climate Impacts on Water Resources* Coasts and Climate Resilience* Sustainability of Marine Ecosystems* Changes in Extremes of Weather and Climate* Information for Mitigating Climate ChangeEach of the Competitions announced in this Federal Funding Opportunity addresses one or more of these core capabilities or societal challenges. It is expected that applications submitted in response to this Opportunity will identify their relevance to NOAA's climate science and services by indicating which core capabilities and/or societal challenges will be addressed by the proposed work. Application abstracts must include a paragraph describing the work's relevance to the NGSP's long-term goal of climate adaptation and mitigation as well as to the Competition that is being targeted.In FY 2012, we estimate that $15.5 million will be available for approximately 60 new awards pending budget appropriations. It is anticipated that most awards will be at a funding level between $50,000 and $200,000 per year, with some exceptions for larger awards. Investigators are highly encouraged to visit the CPO website http://www.cpo.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=/opportunities/opp_index.jsp&opp=2012/program_elements.jsphttp://www.noaa.gov/ngsp
Education Programs in Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
This NSF program supports atmospheric and geospace science education through Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) sites and AGS Postdoctoral Fellowships, primarily aimed at universities and research laboratories. Note that proposals to the AGS Education program are accepted by invitation only and you must contact the program director before submitting. No award amount or deadline is specified here.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesNarrow eligibilityResearch Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research
No deadline listedAir Force Office of Scientific Research · $0–$10M
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research funds basic research aligned with Air Force priorities across engineering, information science, and physical and biological sciences, with awards reaching up to about $10 million. Eligibility is governed by the announcement itself ('See Announcement'); these programs commonly fund universities, research institutions, and industry labs. Applicants should review the specific AFOSR announcement for detailed eligibility, restrictions, and submission requirements before applying.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesSmall businessLarge award+1 moreElectrochemical Systems
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
The NSF Electrochemical Systems program funds fundamental engineering research on electrochemical and photochemical processes for sustainable production of electricity, fuels, and chemicals, and for energy storage. Eligibility is unrestricted in principle (open to the entity types NSF lists, typically universities, research institutions, and qualifying organizations), subject to NSF's standard clarifications. No specific award amount or deadline is given in this listing, so check the current NSF solicitation for proposal windows and limits.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesBroad eligibilityScience of Science: Discovery, Communication and Impact
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies
The NSF Science of Science: Discovery, Communication and Impact (SoS:DCI) program has unrestricted eligibility, meaning most entity types may apply, though it is geared toward researchers at universities and research organizations. It funds empirical social-science research on how scientific discovery happens, how science is communicated, and how science creates public value and informs evidence-based policy. No specific award amount or deadline is listed. Strong proposals are expected to advance theory, build data and analytical tools, and include robust open-science data management plans.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesBroad eligibilityBiomechanics and Mechanobiology
No deadline listedU.S. National Science Foundation · $5K–$400K
The NSF Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (BMMB) program has unrestricted eligibility, meaning most entity types may apply, though it is in practice geared toward researchers at universities and research organizations. It funds fundamental research on the mechanical behavior of living systems, from sub-cellular to whole-organism scale, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to $400,000. Projects must have clear mechanics and biology components; NSF does not support clinical trials, though feasibility studies with human or animal subjects may be allowed. No fixed deadline is listed.
ResearchersSchools & universitiesBroad eligibility