Selected Open Funding Opportunities
RDO curates this list of open funding opportunities in STEM* to highlight large, collaborative, and/or strategic funding opportunities that may be of particular interest to the Stanford community. Please note that STEM* includes social sciences that utilize quantitative methods.
Summaries of selected funding opportunities have been compiled from Grants.gov, Grants.ca.gov, and other agency announcements below. See our Find Funding Overview for more ways to search funding opportunities in your area of interest. This page will be regularly updated to spotlight new opportunities.
Looking for something you've seen here in the past? Review past opportunities in our archive (SUNet ID required).
Federal
| Title/Sponsor | Next Deadline | Description | Amount/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF ReDDDoT: Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (NSF 24-524) | 04/08/24 for planning RCN, workshop 04/22/24 for project proposals | The ReDDDoT program invites proposals from multidisciplinary, multi-sector teams that examine and demonstrate the principles, methodologies, implementations, and impacts associated with responsible design, development, and deployment of technologies, focusing especially on key technologies. In FY 2024, proposals should focus on one or more of the following three priority areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, or natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation including, but not limited to, climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability. |
multiple tracks and levels: planning, Research Coordination Networks, workshops, full project proposals; up to $1.5 M for 3 years |
| NSF Growing Convergence Research (NSF 24-527) | 04/12/24 | The aim of GCR is to cultivate and grow the earliest foundations of convergent approaches for addressing a specific and compelling problem. As such, proposals submitted to this solicitation are expected to explore novel avenues not previously investigated that are at the forefront of advancing science through deep integration. Proposers must make a convincing case that the research to be conducted is within NSF's purview, integrates across NSF directorate or division boundaries, and is currently not supported by other NSF programs or solicitations. | Propose 5-year plan, Phase I (yr 1-2) up to $1.2M, Phase II (yr 3-5) up to $2.4M |
| AFRL FY24 Data Assimilation Center of Excellence (FOA-AFRL-AFSOR-2024-0005) | 04/15/24 req'd white paper | A newly proposed initiative of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) concerning standing up a University Center of Excellence (CoE) for “Data Assimilation (DA) Driven by Mathematical Features Representing Physics” with educational institutions in the United States. The overall objective of this CoE is to push the research frontier of DA and its underlying mathematical foundation, as well as enable numerical, computational, and learning methodologies to extend the potential of DA in science and technology areas relevant to the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. The central theme of this CoE is to explore multiple innovative DA approaches and formulations for assimilating diverse types of observables into modeling and simulation, driven by well-defined mathematical features. | at least one award to a team of 5-7 members; up to $1.2M per year for max 5 years |
| NSF Ideas Lab: Breaking the Low Latency Barrier for Verticals in Next-G Wireless Networks (NSF 24-545) | 04/18/24 req'd prelim proposal | The TIP Directorate seeks to identify and address critical architectural, technical, and technological issues that must be resolved in 5G and next generation wireless networks to provide low latancy performance that is required for success of key emerging vertical industries. The ideas Lab Workshop is an interactive gathering of experts and stakeholders interested in collaboratively developing potential solutions. It is expected to be a three day long intensive and focused meeting to facilitate brainstorming among teams who may not otherwise come together. Robust partnerships between academia and industry are expected to be formed. Any individual interested in participating in the workshop should submit a preliminary proposal. NSF will invite participants based on review of these proposals. After the workshop, selected collaborative teams that form will be invited to submit a full proposal. | up to $3.7M per year for 2 years |
| NSF Campus Cyberinfrastructure (NSF 24-530) | 04/22/24 | Investment in coordinated campus-level cyberinfrastructure improvements, innovation, integration, and engineering for science applications and distributed research projects. Projects that help overcome disparities in cyber-connectivity associated with geographic location, and thereby advance the geography of innovation and enable populations based in these locales to become more nationally competitive in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and education are particularly encouraged. Science-driven requirements are the primary motivation for any proposed activity. CC* awards will be supported in five program areas: Area (1) Data Driven Networking Infrastructure (Campus or Region), Area (2) Computing and the Computing Continuum (Campus or Region), Area (3) Network Integration and Applied Innovation (Small or Large), Area (4) Data Storage and Digital Archives, (Campus or Region), and Area (5) Strategy (Campus or Region) | up to $1.4M depending on topic area proposed |
| NSF Ideas Lab: Use-inspired Acceleration of Protein Design (NSF 24-550) | 04/23/24 req'd prelim proposal | The Use-Inspired Acceleration of Protein Design (USPRD) initiative will accelerate the translation of novel approaches to protein design and enable new applications of importance to the U.S. bioeconomy. A key aim of this Ideas Lab workshop will be to identify an aggressive (but attainable) set of use-driven activities together with the infrastructure component breakthroughs, designer-facing components, and ecosystem components required to realize them. The two tracks of this solicitation: Track I. Use-driven application for small binders. Track II. The design and use of enzymes and families of enzymes. |
up to $3.75M per year for 3 years |
| NSF PACSP: Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice (NSF 24-531) | 04/24/24 | We seek proposals that involve the implementation of conservation activities based on conservation science principles via academic-conservation organization partnerships. The strongest projects will involve ongoing assessment of biodiversity outcomes, for instance via an adaptive management framework, that inform both scientific understanding and conservation actions. A significant distinction between the PACSP program and other NSF programs is that proposals to this program must make clear and well-defined connections between basic research questions and the implementation of conservation focused actions. | Jointly funded between NSF (research scope) and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (conservation component) |
| EPA Coastal Ecosystems Climate Resilience (EPA-G2024-STAR-C1) | 05/01/24 | Seeking applications proposing research to 1) characterize, quantify, and define indicators or metrics of resilience for various types of coastal ecosystems, especially those ecosystems that have climate mitigation and adaptation and/or blue (ocean-stored) carbon sequestration potential (Lovelock and Duarte, 2019); and 2) develop methods and approaches to advance economic valuation of resilience benefits provided by coastal ecosystems. | up to $1.2M over 3 years |
| NSF ACED: Accelerating Computing-Enabled Scientific Discovery (NSF 24-541) | 05/13/24 | To harness computing to accelerate scientific discovery while dirving new computing advancements. The program seeks continuous collaborations between at least two groups of researchers. One group to consist of researchers in computing and the other to represent another scientific or engineering discipline. Track 1: intended to support speculative multidisciplinary projects that explore bold new directions with the goal of obtaining preliminary results and refining a research plan. Track 2: to support transformative interdisciplinary research that will significantly advance both computing and the scientific discipline to be studies with clearly problems to be addressed, specific computing technique to be developed, and supported by preliminary collaboration or results that demonstrate potential of the proposed ideas. | Two tracks, Emerging Ideas up to $500k for up to 2 years, Discovery Proposals up to $3M for 4 years |
| NSF Multi-messenger Coordination for Windows on the Universe (NSF 24-542) | 05/13/24 | This Multi-Messenger Coordination for Windows on the Universe (MMC-WoU) Program is a one-time, targeted funding opportunity to support the development of frameworks and networks to optimize electromagnetic follow-up observations of gravitational wave events or high-energy particle detections. Such coordination and optimization should reduce operational redundancy across the network of ground and space-based observatories, foster open collaboration in the collection of MMA follow-up data, and broaden access and reduce barriers to participation in the MMA enterprise. | |
| NSF Sustainable Regional Systems Research Network (NSF 24-533) | 05/15/24 | The purpose of the SRS RNs competition is to develop and support interdisciplinary, multi-organizational teams working collaboratively to produce cutting-edge convergent research, education, and outreach that addresses grand challenges in sustainable regional systems. SRS RNs will study multi-scale regional systems to further SRS science, engineering, and education. Key elements will include new data, methods, and models to understand interactions between natural, human-built, and social systems; improved understanding of interdependencies, mutual benefits, and trade-offs of different wellbeing outcomes for humans and the environment; new and generalizable theories of change relevant to SRS; the co-production of knowledge; and exploration of concepts of social equity in sustainable regional systems across spatial and temporal scales. SRS RN outcomes will have the potential to inform societal actions for sustainability across urban systems and the connected rural communities that make up regional systems. | Up to $15M over 5 years |
| NSF Ideas Lab: Advancing Cell-Free Systems Toward Increased Range of Use-Inspired Applications (NSF 24-552) | 05/17/24 req'd prelim proposal | This program aims to: 1. Reduce the cost of cell-free systems; 2. Increase the range and capabilities of cell-free systems; and 3. Develop and demonstrate cost-effective use-inspired applications. CFIRE will address the key limitations of cell-free technology by identifying technical approaches that can enable ongoing cycles of improvement. The objective is to place cell-free technology on an exponential growth path in which reduced costs lead to increasing adoption which, in turn, generates the learning and investment required to further reduce costs. In order to keep the work focused and to stimulate increasing adoption, efforts funded through this initiative will focus on one or more specific use cases | up to $3.75M per year for 3 years |
| NASA ULI: University Leadership Initiative (NNH24ZEA001N-ULI) | 05/29/24 Step A | University Leadership Initiative (ULI) provides the opportunity for university teams to exercise technical and organizational leadership in proposing unique technical challenges in aeronautics, defining multi-disciplinary solutions, establishing peer review mechanisms, and applying innovative teaming strategies to strengthen the research impact. Research proposals are sought in six ULI topic areas in Appendix D.4. Topic 1: Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations (Strategic Thrust 1) Topic 2: Innovation in Commercial High-Speed Aircraft (Strategic Thrust 2) Topic 3: Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports (Strategic Thrust 3) Topic 4: Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles (Strategic Thrust 4) Topic 5: In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance (Strategic Thrust 5) Topic 6: Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation (Strategic Thrust 6) | proposal should budget $1-2M per year; total $3-6M for 3 years or $4-8M for 4 years; two step proposal process; workshop April 3, 2024 |
| USDA NIFA: Agriculture and Food Research initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems (USDA-NIFA-AFRI-010653) | 06/06/24 | This RFA is soliciting visionary integrated research, extension, and education projects that use transdisciplinary, systems approaches to promote the blending of science, technology, and societal considerations to solve challenges to current and future food and agricultural systems. The SAS program area will fund projects that significantly advance previously established foundational and applied sciences for the following USDA priority outcomes: 1. Food and Nutrition Security: Enhance the contributions of food and agriculture to improve the health of the nation through resilient local and regional food systems, adoption, and application of new or existing technologies, tools, education, and other resources to ensure all Americans have consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to optional health and well-being. 2. Strengthening the Bioeconomy: Develop sources of clean energy and high-value biobased products from agricultural and forestry feedstocks to foster economic development and prosperity, with an emphasis toward generating benefits to underserved communities. 3. Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF): Improve mitigation, adaptation, and resilience of agricultural and forestry production systems to climate change. |
$50k-$10M |
| NSF CHIRRP: Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet Program (PD 24-297Y) | 06/06/24 target date; concept outlines due one month prior | The Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet Program (CHIRRP) invites projects focusing on innovative and transformative research that advances Earth system hazard knowledge and risk mitigation in partnership with affected communities. Researchers, academics, and community leaders will work together to develop community-driven research questions and actionable, science-based solutions that increase community resilience now and in the future. CHIRRP projects are expected to advance understanding, forecasting and/or prediction of future Earth system hazards and risks, engage communities in development of research questions and approaches, and produce actionable, science-based solution pathways for adaptation methodologies, products, and services. CHIRRP projects may evaluate a single or system of cascading hazards, impacts, and risks at a local, regional, or global scale through the lens of transformative earth system science research. Competitive projects will engage community partners at all stages of a project from development to implementation. CHIRRP currently supports planning, conference, RCNs, EAGER, and RAISE proposals that support development of community partnerships, provide training for effective community engagement, catalyze ideas, and/or support the initial conceptualization, planning and collaboration activities aimed at formulating new and sound plans for future large-scale projects. | a target date is not a firm deadline, though proposals after this date may miss a particular panel or committee meeting |
| NSF Global Centers (NSF 24-556) | 06/11/24 |
The topic for the 2024 competition of the Global Centers program is Addressing Global Challenges through the Bioeconomy and may include research from any combination of research disciplines supported by NSF. Global Centers program is meant to support multidisciplinary research that can only be achieved through international partnerships uniting complementary areas of expertise, and/or facilitating access to unique expertise or resources of the participating countries. Must partner with at least one international agency from: Canada, Finland, Japan, Republic of Korea, and/or the UK. Research investments to advance the bioeconomy serve to accelerate scientific discovery and to enable the harnessing, engineering, and rational modulation of biological systems to create goods and services that contribute to the agriculture, health, security, manufacturing, energy, and environmental sectors of the global economy; or that provide access to unique systems that help us understand the processes and issues that we can use biotechnology to solve. Bioeconomy is built on the foundation of biotechnology and biomanufacturing, and in addition to biological science and engineering includes contributions from fields such as chemistry, materials science, geosciences, mathematics, data sciences, humanities, and the social sciences. Within the general theme of Bioeconomy, proposals submitted in the framework of this call must be centered on either or both of the two subtopics: Subtopic 1: Leveraging Biodiversity Across the Tree of Life to Power the Bioeconomy; and Subtopic 2: Biofoundries, using the Design-Build-Test-Learn process in biology. |
up to $5M for up to 4 or 5 years with international funding agencies expected to support in parallel roughly comparable effort by their own researchers |
| DOE Critical Materials Accelerator (DE-FOA-0003154) | Notice of Intent to issue a FOA | The global effort to reduce carbon emissions is accelerating demand for clean energy technologies and the materials they rely on. The United States seeks to strengthen domestic supply of materials that are essential to a decarbonized energy infrastructure. Projects funded under this FOA will prototype and mature technologies or processes that address critical material challenges in high impact areas. | NOIs include information about the direction an eventual funding opportunity will take |
| NSF RISBS: Research Infrastructure in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (PD 23-277Y) | open, full proposals accepted anytime | RISBS supports projects that create computational tools and data to facilitate basic research in the social and behavioral sciences that can lead to improved health, prosperity and security. Projects should be aimed at creating computational tools and data to enable research by social scientists. Examples include, but are not limited to, data collection or assembly efforts that result in new resources for a community of researchers or software platforms that facilitate data collection efforts by others. RISBS does not support research by PIs except in service of creation of the infrastructure. Innovation is especially encouraged. | |
| NSF Environmental Sustainability (PD 23-7643) | open, full proposals accepted anytime | The goal of the Environmental Sustainability program is to promote sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems. These systems provide ecological services vital for human survival. Research efforts supported by the program typically consider long time horizons and may incorporate contributions from the social sciences and ethics. The program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions. | |
| NSF Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research (NSF 23-578) | open, full proposals accepted anytime | The Innovation Program supports research to design novel or greatly improved research tools and methods that advance contemporary biology in any research area supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences at NSF. The Innovation Program focuses on research infrastructure that is broadly applicable to researchers in three programmatic areas: Bioinformatics, Instrumentation, and Research Methods. Infrastructure supported by this program is expected to advance biological understanding by improving scientists’ abilities to manipulate, control, analyze, or measure critical aspects of biological systems, which can be essential for addressing important fundamental research questions. | |
| NSF Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (NSF 23-580) | open, full proposals accepted anytime | The Capacity Program focuses on building capacity in research infrastructure that is broadly applicable to a wide range of researchers in three programmatic areas: Cyberinfrastructure, Biological Collections, and Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories. This program will also accept proposals for planning activities or workshops to facilitate coordination that may be necessary in building capacity in infrastructure that meets the needs of a research community. Areas not included in this program are instrumentation (PIs should submit to the MRI program) and, projects that develop infrastructure for a specific research project, laboratory, or institution (PIs should submitted to the relevant BIO programs that would normally support that research). | |
| NSF RCN: Research Coordination Networks (NSF 23-529) | rolling; varies by program | The goal of the RCN program is to advance a field or create new directions in research or education by supporting groups of investigators to communicate and coordinate their research, training and educational activities across disciplinary, organizational, geographic, and international boundaries. RCN awards are not meant to support existing networks; nor are they meant to support the activities of established collaborations. RCN awards also do not support primary research. Rather, the RCN program supports the means by which investigators can share information and ideas; coordinate ongoing or planned research activities; foster synthesis and new collaborations; develop community standards; and in other ways advance science and education through communication and sharing of ideas. Participating programs in the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Geosciences (GEO), STEM Education (EDU), Engineering (ENG), Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), and Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) will accept RCN proposals. PIs are encouraged to discuss suitability of an RCN topic with a program officer that manages the appropriate program. For proposals submitted to the CISE, ENG, SBE and TIP directorates consultation PRIOR to submission is mandatory | $500k; deadline varies by program, webpage indicates a full proposal is "accepted anytime" |
| NSF DCL: Net-Zero Climate Goals by 2050 (NSF 24-045) | varies | Dear Colleague Letter encouraging submission of research and education proposals related to Net-Zero Climate Goals, including innovations to create a circular economy; summary of topics of interest and programs to consider | apply to core programs with topics listed |
| NSF DCL: Advanced Wireless (NSF 24-041) | varies | Dear Colleague Letter encouraging submission of research and education proposals related to Advanced Wireless as an Emerging Industry; summary of topics of interest and programs to consider | apply to core programs with topics listed |
| NSF DCL: Biotechnology (NSF 24-040) | varies | Dear Colleague Letter encouraging submission of research and education proposals related to Biotechnology as an Emerging Industry; summary of topics of interest and programs to consider | apply to core programs with topics listed |
| NSF DCL: Quantum Information Science and Engineering (NSF 24-042) | varies | Dear Colleague Letter encouraging submission of research and education proposals related to QISE as an Emerging Industry; summary of topics of interest and programs to consider | apply to core programs with topics listed |
| NSF DCL: Artificial Intelligence (NSF 24-039) | varies | Dear Colleague Letter encouraging submission of research and education proposals related to AI as an Emerging Industry; summary of topics of interest and programs to consider | apply to core programs with topics listed |
| NSF DCL: Advanced Manufacturing (NSF 24-043) | varies | Dear Colleague Letter encouraging submission of research and education proposals related to Advanced Manufacturing as an Emerging Industry; summary of topics of interest and programs to consider | apply to core programs with topics listed |
| NSF DCL: Microelectronics and Semiconductors (NSF 24-038) | varies | Dear Colleague Letter encouraging submission of research and education proposals related to Microelectronics and Semiconductors as an Emerging Industry; summary of topics of interest and programs to consider | apply to core programs with topics listed |
Find medical-related funding opportunities at Stanford Medicine's Research Management Group
State
| Title/Sponsor | Deadline | Description | Amount/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEC: Feasibility of Underground Hydrogen Storage in California | not yet released | To investigate the technical and economic viability of large-volume geologic hydrogen storage opportunities to help meet the state's climate goals. | anticipated release January - April 2024 |
| CEC: BRIDGE 2024: Bringing Rapid Innovation Development to Green Energy | not yet released | To fund the continued development, specifically in applied research or technology demonstration and deployment, of high potential, high impact energy technologies that are too early for significant private-sector investment | anticipated release March - June 2024 |
| CEC: Evaluating Air Quality, Health, and Equity in CA's Clean Energy Transition | not yet released | To advance research on air quality and health impacts of clean energy transitions in CA and to develop framework to equitably allocate benefits of energy transition fairly among under-resourced communities | anticipated release March-June 2024 |
| CEC: Enviro-SET: Environmental Sustainability of Clean Energy Transitions | not yet released | Possible topics may include monitoring environmental and land use change in response to solar expansion, assessing wildfire risk from renewable energy generation and the built environment, and finding mitigation solutions. | anticipated release April-July 2024 |
| CEC: Modeling and Monitoring Air Quality and Co-benefits of Energy Interventions | not yet released | To improve existing ambient air quality modeling and measurement approaches and conduct analyses to quantify the air quality implications and related human health impacts of clean energy interventions across energy use sectors. | anticipated release June - September 2024 |
Find more funding opportunities from the State of California at the California Grants Portal
Foundations
| Title/Sponsor | Deadline | Description | Amount/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity | Open | Evidence for action prioritizes research to evaluate specific interventions that have the potential to counteract the harms of structural and systemic racism and improve health, well-being, and equity outcomes. This funding is focused on studies about upstream causes of health inequities, such as the systems, structures, laws, policies, norms, and practices that determine the distribution of resources and opportunities, which in turn influence individuals' options and behaviors. Research should center on the needs and experiences of communities exhibiting the greatest health burdens and be motivated by real-world priorities. It should be able to inform a specific course of action and/or establish beneficial practices, not stop at characterizing or documenting the extent of a problem. | varies, $200-500k |
| Simons Foundation: Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences | Open | This program supports high-rish theoretical mathematics, physics, and computer science projects of exceptional promise and scientific importance on a case-by-case basis | Letter of inquiry accepted any time |
Find more funding opportunities from foundations at Stanford University Corporate and Foundation Relations
Other
Other funding opportunities can also be found on the funding page curated by Stanford's Office of Technology Licensing
Recurring Funding Opportunities by Topic
- NSF opportunities in climate and sustainability, last update June 2023
- DEIA opportunities, last update June 2023
- Federal Instrumentation and Infrastructure grants, last update June 2023
- Recurring Limited Submissions Programs
- Research Centers:
- Collaborative Funding Mechanism list compiled by the National Organization of Research Development Professionals
- NSF Growing Convergence Research program
- NSF Research Coordination Networks meant to foster communication and collaborations in a new or developing area of science or engineering
- The National Research Council (NRC) has identified a list of awards in a range of disciplines that include research/scholarship awards, fellowships, and memberships in honorary societies.
Funding Opportunities in the Humanities, Arts, and Interpretive Social Sciences
The RDO team also curates a list of funding opportunities for researchers in the Humanities, Arts, and Interpretive Social Sciences.