Past Funding Opportunities

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to facilitate the entry of investigators into multiple high-priority areas of substance use research, including comorbidity with HIV. The Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program aims to provide investigators with the opportunity to gather preliminary data that will assist them in securing future research grants and advancing their scientific careers.

This funding will support basic, clinical, translational, epidemiological, or intervention science in the field of substance use. To develop new skillsets, knowledge, and/or approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use, misuse, addiction, drug overdose, and related health outcomes, including HIV/AIDS.

• Application budgets are limited to less than $500,000 (direct costs) per year.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity encourages collaborations between the life and physical sciences that: 1) apply a multidisciplinary bioengineering approach to the solution of a biomedical problem; and 2) integrate, optimize, validate, translate or otherwise accelerate the adoption of promising tools, methods, and techniques for a specific research or clinical problem in basic, translational, or clinical science and practice. An application may propose design-directed, developmental, discovery-driven, or hypothesis-driven research and is appropriate for small teams applying an integrative approach to increase our understanding of and solve problems in biological, clinical, or translational science. This NOFO will support clinical trials that test functionality or validate performance in the chosen setting.

Please note this in a Limited Submission – 3 nominations per academic department

Internal Proposal/Expression on Intent to apply Due: Jul 10

The Sloan Research Fellowship Program recognizes and rewards outstanding early-career faculty who have the potential to revolutionize their fields of study. Successful candidates for a Fellowship generally have a strong record of significant independent research accomplishments that demonstrate creativity and the potential to become future leaders in the scientific community. Nominated candidates are typically several years beyond the completion of their Ph.D. $75,000 awarded to the candidate's institution to be used over a two-year period for any activity supportive of the fellow's research.

• Anticipated Funding Amount: $40,000,000
• Track 1: maximum $300,000 per award, approximately 30 awards
• Track 2: maximum $1,500,000 per award, approximately 10 awards
• Track 3: maximum $1,500,000 per award, approximately 10 awards

The Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) program supports the translation of open-source science and engineering-focused research products into safe and sustainable ecosystems that address national and societal challenges. Open-source tools such as software, hardware, machine learning models, languages, and data platforms are designed to be shared as they are publicly accessible and modifiable. These tools spark innovation in critical fields as varied as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, banking, healthcare, research, education, next-gen manufacturing, mobility, and National security (including cybersecurity). PESOSE supports the creation of managing organizations for these ecosystems, ensuring strong governance, distributed development, and broad user communities across academia, industry, and government. PESOSE also supports enhancements to the safety, security, and privacy of Open-Source Ecosystems (OSE) by addressing significant vulnerabilities, both technical and socio-technical, to improve the resistance of the ecosystem against threats. This solicitation seeks three types of proposals, allowing teams to propose specific activities to:1) scope and plan the establishment of an OSE, 2) establish and expand a sustainable OSE based on a robust, promising open-source product that meets an emergent societal or national need, and 3) improve the safety, security, and privacy of an existing OSE and its products.

• Total Funding Available: $2,625,000
• Anticipated Number of Awards: 6
• Available Funding Per Award: Up to $750,000
• Cost share is not required but encouraged
• An individual applicant may submit more than one application in response to this NOFO and may be offered more than one award.

USDA identifies and selects individuals from eligible countries who specialize or have experience in agricultural education, research, extension, or other related fields (the “Participants”) based on the alignment of their specialties with topics of importance to U.S. agricultural trade. USDA then places the Participants at U.S. research institutions for up to 12 weeks. Participants are each paired with U.S. researchers at their institutions (the “Mentors”) promote collaborative scientific exchange and build agricultural networks. These programs are expected to contribute to U.S. agricultural trade by enabling science-based policy changes that move the needle on sanitary and phytosanitary trade issues, barriers to trade, and other trade challenges. Hence, the programs aid in increasing export opportunities for American farmers and making America more prosperous. The goal of the Borlaug Fellowship Program is to increase these countries’ capacity for agricultural research, extension, and participation in international trade. It is hoped that selected host institutions and Mentors will share the knowledge gained through the program in their classrooms and through extension work with their faculty, students, extension officers, and constituents; and that they will continue to maintain professional contacts with the Participants after their departure from the United States.

• Cost share is not required but encouraged
• An individual applicant may submit more than one application in response to this NOFO and may be offered more than one award.

The Cochran Fellowship Program supports the development of new or expanded overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products by educating trading partners on the benefits of utilizing American agricultural products and how they can implement science-based trade policies in their own countries. Since 1984, the U.S. Congress has made funds available to the Cochran Fellowship Program for training agriculturalists from middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies. Training opportunities are for senior and mid-level specialists and administrators working in agricultural trade and policy, agribusiness development, management, animal, plant, and food sciences, extension services, agricultural marketing, and many other areas. Individuals selected for Cochran trainings come from both the public and private sectors. All training occurs in the United States. Training programs are designed and organized in conjunction with U.S. universities, USDA and other government agencies, agribusinesses, and consultants. The Cochran Fellowship Program is part of the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service. Since its start in 1984, the Cochran Fellowship Program has provided U.S.-based training for over 19,250 international participants from 127 countries worldwide. Benefits to the United States: This program makes America more prosperous by increasing American agricultural exports to new or expanded overseas markets.

• Anticipated Total Program Funding: $25 million
• Expected Number of Awards: 3

Activities under this NOFO will focus on protecting and improving public health globally by: 1) strengthening public health laboratory systems; 2) improving public health laboratory workforce; 3) improving bio risk management; 4) reinforcing emergency laboratory preparedness in alignment with 7-1-7 outbreak response paradigm; 5) enhancing laboratory quality management systems and; 6) enhancing diagnostic capacity via rapid tests for low resource settings and genomic sequencing for pathogens of pandemic potential. Additionally, laboratory recipients previously funded under CDC-RFA-GH20-2109 may apply to expand efforts in additional countries with special consideration given to those countries.

• Anticipated Program Funding: $4,000,000 
• Average Award Range: $50,000 - $500,000
• Anticipated Number of Awards: 8

The Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture (UIE) program supports research, education, and extension work by awarding grants to solve key problems of local, regional, and national importance that facilitate development of urban, indoor, and emerging agricultural systems. The program includes food value chain stages: production, harvesting, transportation, aggregation, packaging, distribution, and markets.

• Estimated number of awards: 500
• An eligible Principal Investigator may submit only one CAREER proposal per annual competition. 
• No co-PIs are permitted
• A Principal Investigator may not participate in more than three CAREER competitions.

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply..

• Anticipate Program Funding: $8,250,000 
• Average Award Range: $300,000 - $1,150,000

The purpose of the CPPM program (Assistance Listing 10.329) is to provide funding for integrated, multifunctional agricultural research, Extension, and education activities. The goals and objectives of CPPM are to address high-priority issues related to pests, including insects, nematodes, pathogens, weeds, and other pests, and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional, and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will ensure sufficient food production increase producer profitability, and respond effectively to other pest management challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches. Priority is given to proposals that address management of invasive species. The CPPM program also addresses IPM challenges for existing pest concerns that can be addressed more effectively with new and emerging technologies. The outcomes of the CPPM program are IPM practices and strategies needed to maintain agricultural profitability.

In FY 2026, applications to the ARDP program area must address: ARDP Research Projects – either of the following priorities: 1. Development of individual tools and tactics essential for pest management systems (e.g., biocontrol, cultural/physical/mechanical control, host plant resistance, particularly novel uses of chemicals, monitoring methods, or decision support, etc.). 2. Advanced understanding of how interactions among tactics alter the effectiveness of pest management within agricultural ecosystems.  ARDP Integrated Projects – one or more of the following Extension priorities in addition to one of the above Research priorities: 1. Development of extension materials and information delivery systems for outreach efforts. 2. Implementation of field-scale or on-farm demonstrations. 3. Delivery of IPM extension outreach and training

The intent of the AG2PI program is to support the integration of various disciplines that can effectively harness the power of phenomics, genomics, engineering, genetic variations, and data science for improving the production and viability of crop and livestock species. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative is intended to: 

• Study agriculturally significant crops and animals in production environments to achieve viable and secure agricultural production
• Ensure that current gaps in existing knowledge of agricultural crops, animal genetics, and phenomics are filled
• Identify and develop a functional understanding of relevant genes from animals and agronomically relevant genes from crops that are of importance to the agriculture sector of the United States
• Ensure future genetic improvement of crops and animals of importance to the agriculture sector of the United States
• Study the relevance of different germplasm as a source of unique genes that may be of importance in the future
• Enhance genetics to reduce the economic impact of pathogens on crops and animals of importance to the agriculture sector of the United States
• Disseminate findings to relevant audiences.

• Estimated Amount of Funding Available: $1,815,036
• Award Ceiling: $460,000

The SAC program, Assistance Listing Number 10.200, supports projects that lead to expanded adaptation and increased acreage in the United States of alternative crops grown for food/feedstuff, oil, and feedstocks for industrial value-added products. Such crops are important to U.S. agriculture in that these can provide new and profitable cropping options in response to low commodity prices and changes in consumer demand for new agricultural-based products. Oilseed, grain, and feedstock crops have major uses in healthy human foods and animal feeds, as natural pest control when used as cover crops, and as a feedstock in industrial chemical manufacture and biofuel production. Grains/pseudocereals and legumes/pulses can play an important role in the cropping rotation for food/feedstuff and/or feedstock for industrial value-added purposes, as cover crops, and as habitat for pollinators.

The NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP) provides an opportunity for applicants who received the distinction of GRFP Honorable Mention no more than three years before the proposal due date to be named NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellows and obtain financial support for their graduate education at an institution in an EPSCoR jurisdiction. 

The Program Area Priorities in this NOFO address projected shortfalls of qualified graduates in the agricultural, food, forestry, range, and energy resources sectors of the U.S. economy. Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that equip students with the foundational knowledge and skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), preparing them to thrive in an increasingly digital society or support educators with tools and training needed not only train students about AI, but also to utilize AI in their classrooms to improve educational outcomes

The MCA program offers an opportunity for scientists and engineers at the mid-career stage (see restrictions under Additional Eligibility Information) to substantively enhance and advance their research program and career trajectory. Mid-career scientists are at a critical career transition stage where they need to advance their research programs to ensure long-term productivity and creativity but are often constrained by service, teaching, or other activities that limit the amount of time devoted to research. 

U.S. food and agricultural systems are regularly experiencing new challenges, including climate change, a growing population and evolving pests and pathogens. Employers need early-career scientists trained to conduct research that helps farms and food systems adapt to these unprecedented changes.

In partnership with North Carolina State University, FFAR launched the FFAR Fellows Program to provide career guidance to the next generation of food and agriculture scientists. Unique to this program, we prepare a career ready STEM workforce by breaking down the disciplinary silos and focusing on professional development and soft-skills.

This GCR solicitation targets multidisciplinary teams who are embracing convergence research as a means of developing highly innovative solutions to complex research problems.   GCR proposals are expected to be bold and address scientific or technical challenges and bottlenecks which if resolved have the potential to transform scientific understanding and solve vexing problems. Successful GCR projects are anticipated to lead to paradigm shifting approaches within disciplines, establishment of new scientific communities, or development of transformative technologies that have the potential for broad scientific or societal impact.

UPL is looking for seed-treatment technologies with the potential to control Pythium under European soil and climate conditions and that can ultimately be developed into EU-compliant, low-risk or biological products suitable for use on corn.

Solutions of interest include:

• Microbial biocontrol agents (live organisms)
• Bio-derived fungicidal compounds
• Plant extracts
• Novel chemical fungicides

UPL is seeking technologies that have been tested and show proven effectiveness in reducing or delaying UV-induced degradation of herbicide molecules. The solution may involve formulation strategies or other innovative approaches that are practical, scalable, and feasible for both manufacturing and application.

Solutions of interest include:

• Encapsulation (micro/nano-carriers, polymer matrices, controlled-release capsules, protective coatings)
• UV filters (absorbers, stabilizers, and blockers)
• Surface modifiers
• Co-formulants (synergists, antioxidants, radical scavengers) improving photostability

The Simons Foundation invites applications for funding to support new research professor positions (e.g., “clinical professor,” “professor of practice” or “research professor,” the titles and roles depending on the university) in existing academic departments (the “host institutions”) to be filled by scientific software-focused researchers. The SSRF Award will support researchers who have a strong track record of leadership in scientific software development. The aim of this program is to stimulate the development and maintenance of core scientific software infrastructure in academic environments through creating a new, long-term, faculty-level career path.

BASF is looking for novel compounds, such as organic molecules, natural products, and fragment-like molecules, which could be subjected to screening within our research facility, with the goal of developing new crop protection products. Solutions of interest include:

• Small organic molecules
• Natural products
• Virtual compounds
• Single chemical compounds (in a dry form)

The CO2 Foundation funds innovative smaller-scale projects that can accomplish a lot in a short timeframe, which might otherwise fall through the cracks. We seek proposals to support timely interventions for extreme weather and/or prepare communities for the impacts of a rapidly changing climate system. Examples include small workshops to explore innovative, fast-track solutions; new ways of reaching new audiences; or early research into the most promising protective interventions. Because civilization must survive until climate change and extreme weather are no longer a threat, we need to be resilient and to cooperate with each other.

The Foundation recommends you connect with the Executive Director to discuss the current funding priorities before submitting a proposal.

Infected dairy cows experience sudden drops in milk production, lowering milk quality and causing significant economic losses for farmers. Cases of HPAI have also been observed spilling over from cattle to dairy workers. The level of risk for dairy workers from this novel spillover transmission ion poses and how it occurs is still under study.  

To address these outbreaks quickly, the ROAR Program funds rapid research related to response, prevention or mitigation of new pests and pathogens. ROAR’s funding fills urgent research gaps until traditional, longer-term funding can be secured.

OCP Nutricrops is  looking for innovative solutions (agronomic and non-agronomic) to improve the nutritional quality of staple crops, fruits, and vegetables, along with low-cost tools that can monitor and verify nutritional value from soil through harvest. Tools should be suitable for use on soil or on crops in their natural, unprocessed form. :

• Micronutrient-enriched fertilizers to boost crop nutritional value
• Foliar sprays that enhance vitamins and antioxidants in crops
• Biostimulants for improved nutrient density
• Soil or crop amendments that increase mineral bioavailability
• Post-harvest treatments that preserve nutritional compounds
• Portable sensors for rapid nutrient testing in crops and soils
• Low-cost field kits to monitor crop nutritional content
• Handheld spectroscopy devices for quick nutrient analysis
• Traceability systems tracking nutritional quality from field to market

BASF is looking for the next generation of active ingredients, proteins, and RNA-based molecules to control economically significant agricultural pests, including insects and plant-parasitic nematodes. Pesticidal compounds of interest include (1) biochemical molecules such as proteins, peptides, and RNA or other macromolecules appropriate for in planta production and (2) chemical compounds, also referred to as small molecules. Such compounds may be derived from bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, algae, and plants. We welcome both naturally occurring compounds and engineered or derived variants. Actives of high interest will be considered for licensing agreements. Finalists may be asked to sign a material transfer agreement and ship their actives for internal evaluation, at BASF’s expense. Solutions of interest include new pesticidal compounds exhibiting significant activity against the following pest groups. Solutions of interest include:

• Lepidopteran insects such as armyworms, diamondback moths, and bollworms
• Coleopteran insects such as beetles, rootworms, and weevils
• Hemipteran insects such as stink bugs, planthoppers, leafhoppers, and thrips
• Plant-parasitic nematodes such as root-knot nematodes (RKN), root lesion nematodes (RLN), and soybean cyst nematodes (SCN)

OCP Nutricrops is looking for innovative, sustainable solutions that improve nitrogen use efficiency by enhancing crop uptake and minimizing losses, enabling crops to deliver the same or better performance with less nitrogen applied while reducing environmental impact. Solutions of interest include:

• Natural nitrification and urease inhibitor compounds
• Biodegradable analogs of common nitrification and urease inhibitors
• Microbial inoculants for nitrogen fixation or soil cycle modulation
• Enzyme-based solutions to suppress urease or nitrifying bacteria
• Biodegradable polymers or coatings for controlled urea release
• Smart delivery systems for timed inhibitor release

Our world is facing big, complex, and rapidly changing environmental and societal challenges. Regardless of what the future may hold, learners will need support to develop capacities to learn about, care for and take action to protect our world. How do you imagine the future for our planet and its people? What skills, attitudes, and knowledge do people need in order to design a future for our planet that leads to healthier outcomes for people and nature? What are the learning solutions that can develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills to enact that future? How might we change minds and behaviors to achieve positive impacts for the immense biodiversity of our planet and its people?

To meet this future we will need to develop and scale models of what effective learning looks like – not just in formal education but also in informal and community education spaces, through career-connected learning, and with learners of any age from young children to adults. Through our grants program we are looking for education projects that:

• Advance knowledge about how to spark curiosity and inspire learners of all ages to care for and protect our world
• Pilot new, or scale proven, educational solutions
• Enable learners to acquire new knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes that help them care for and protect our world
• Use interdisciplinary approaches

USDA/FAS is requesting the design and delivery of a training program for marketing U.S. poultry meat for 8 Georgian participants who are expected to be mid- to senior-level private sector actors from the South Caucasus Region’s leading firms involved with poultry importation, marketing and transshipment in and through the country of Georgia. The purpose is to promote imports to Georgia. The training program is envisioned as being 1-2 consecutive weeks in duration, to be completed before June 30, 2026. The host institution shall propose the place(s) of performance within the United States. USDA/FAS will be entirely responsible for the recruitment of the Georgian participants, which will be completed after the close of this Notice of Funding Opportunity.