Science & Research Grants for Researchers

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Infrastructure Systems and People program funds fundamental, often interdisciplinary research on the design, operation, monitoring, and resilience of infrastructure systems (physical, organizational, and operational) under normal and extreme conditions such as natural disasters and disruptions. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, though NSF research proposals are in practice submitted by universities, eligible nonprofit research organizations, and similar entities rather than individuals. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified here; consult the official solicitation for budget and submission details.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $25K–$1.2M

Open to U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies tied to research/education) and to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education acting for their faculty. NSF's Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity) Program funds building or scaling shared research infrastructure in three areas — cyberinfrastructure, biological collections, and biological field stations/marine laboratories — with awards ranging from about $25,000 up to $1.2 million. It excludes instrumentation (use the MRI program) and infrastructure built for a single project or lab; resources are expected to be openly accessible and serve a broad research community.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

NSF's Combustion and Fire Systems program funds fundamental research on combustion science and fire behavior to support clean energy, pollution reduction, and public safety. Eligibility is unrestricted (open to any entity type per NSF's standard rules), but no specific funding amount or deadline is listed in this record, so applicants should consult the full NSF solicitation for award size and submission windows.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Economics program supports a broad range of research on the U.S. and world economy, including econometrics, finance, labor, macroeconomics, public finance, and more, plus conferences, data collection, and Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs). Eligibility is unrestricted (open to any entity type per NSF rules), and the program encourages interdisciplinary work and proposals broadening participation. Note that DDRIG proposals must be submitted by a faculty member on behalf of a graduate student, not by the student directly; no specific amount or deadline is listed here.

NASA Headquarters · Amount varies

NASA's umbrella SpaceTech-REDDI-2026 announcement funds space technology research, development, demonstration, and infusion, with specific topics released as appendices throughout the year. Participation is broad — educational, industry, and nonprofit institutions, FFRDCs, UARCs, and other entities — and includes U.S. and, to the extent practicable, non-U.S. organizations, but NASA Centers, NASA civil servants, and JPL cannot receive awards. Each appendix may add its own eligibility limits and deadlines, so applicants must check the individual topic solicitation on NSPIRES.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $50K–$600K

This NSF program funds early-stage collaborative projects that build research data infrastructure supporting public access and open science, bringing together cyberinfrastructure researchers, data and library experts, and research labs. Eligibility is unrestricted, so most entity types may apply, though successful projects rely on cross-disciplinary teams typically based at universities and research organizations; proposals are accepted year-round. Awards range from about $50,000 to $600,000.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF program funds fundamental engineering research to improve quality of life for people with disabilities, covering areas like neuroengineering, rehabilitation robotics, and assistive technologies. Eligibility is unrestricted, so most entity types may apply, though proposals are typically led by universities and research organizations; note that NSF does not support clinical trials and high-risk/high-reward work is encouraged. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified here.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $5K–$5M

NSF's Division of Environmental Biology funds ecological and evolutionary research from populations to ecosystems, with award amounts ranging widely from about $5,000 up to $5,000,000. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. nonprofit research organizations and accredited institutions of higher education, so general nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals do not qualify.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Thermal Transport Processes program funds fundamental engineering research on thermal transport phenomena (heat and mass transfer, convection/diffusion/radiation, phonon transport, and related thermodynamics). Eligibility is unrestricted in type of entity, but in practice NSF research awards go to universities, research institutions, and qualifying organizations and businesses submitting strong research proposals. Specific award amounts and deadlines are not stated in this listing; confirm current deadlines on the NSF program page before applying.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Atmosphere Cluster funds fundamental research on atmospheric processes, including atmospheric chemistry, climate and hydroclimate dynamics, physical and synoptic meteorology, cloud and aerosol physics, and paleoclimate. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, though NSF proposals are in practice submitted by universities and research institutions; proposals are accepted at any time, with specific solicitations carrying their own deadlines. Award amount is not specified.

Department of Commerce · Amount varies

Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, international organizations, and state, local, or tribal governments — federal agencies do not qualify. It funds NOAA Climate Program Office research, education, outreach, and decision-support work related to climate adaptation and mitigation. Note that the title references FY 2012, so this may be a legacy notice rather than a currently open opportunity; no current award amount or deadline is listed.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Cellular and Biochemical Engineering program funds fundamental engineering research on cellular and biomolecular processes, including metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, protein and enzyme engineering, and biomanufacturing. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, but in practice NSF proposals are submitted by universities and research institutions, with proposers expected to address potential biomanufacturing impact. Proposals focused on tissue engineering, organ culture, or disease models fall outside this program's scope. Award amount and deadline are not specified.

FAA-COE-JAMS · Up to $20M

This FAA Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials (JAMS) opportunity is restricted to member universities of the Center of Excellence, so most applicants will not be eligible. It funds research on composites and advanced materials for aircraft safety and certification, with awards potentially up to about $20 million across the program. The program is built around academic-industry-government cost-sharing partnerships, so expect a matching/cost-share expectation.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) program funds projects that integrate engineering research and education to strengthen and expand the U.S. engineering workforce, across formal classrooms, maker spaces, apprenticeships, and workplaces. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity), though NSF awards in practice typically go to universities and research institutions with a qualified principal investigator. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified here, so consult the full solicitation.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Science of Organizations (SoO) program funds basic research that builds a scientific evidence base for how organizations form, operate, and become effective, across fields such as organizational theory, economics, sociology, and management. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity), though NSF awards in practice usually go to universities and research institutions with a qualified principal investigator. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified here, so check the full solicitation.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The National Science Foundation's Research in the Formation of Engineers (RFE) program funds research that advances understanding of how people become engineers, supporting both Research Projects and Design and Development Projects. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity), though in practice NSF awards are usually made to universities and research institutions with a qualified principal investigator. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified in this listing, so check the full solicitation.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

Eligibility is unrestricted and open to any type of entity (subject to any clarifications in the program's eligibility text), making this NSF program broadly available. The Accountable Institutions and Behavior (AIB) Program funds theoretically grounded, methodologically rigorous basic social-science research on attitudes, behavior, and institutions related to public policy and public services, and also supports undergraduate research experiences and methodological infrastructure. Note that the program does not fund applied research, so proposals must be basic-science oriented.