Defense, Security

Institutionally Coordinated by NCAE-C Points of Contact // Limit: Each designation (NCAE-CD, NCAE-R, NCAE-CO) may submit one proposal per initiative. Please reach out to the point of contact for the designation you wish to submit a proposal on behalf of to proceed. 

Request Ticket for "OPEN" Focus Area // Limit: 1 Phase I or Phase II Application per Focus Area (99 total) - Each PI may only submit one proposal but can be senior/key personel on an unlimited number of proposals

Important Institutional Deadlines: 
Ticket Request Deadline -  The deadline to request a ticket for this funding opportunity is 5:00PM Monday, April 6. After this time, no additional tickets will be issued. 

Engineering Faculty - the cutoff for engineering faculty request limited submissions tickets is 5:00pm 3/30. ERAS is unable to provide support to tickets requested after this time. 

Topic Area 1: Reenvisioning Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Productivity // Limit: 6 // Tickets Available: 3
Focus Area A - Agentic AI-Driven Chemical Manufacturing (BES) - OPEN
Focus Area B - AI-Driven Materials Processing (BES) - H. Kim (Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics)
Focus Area C - AI-Enabled Manufacturing for Extreme Energy Systems (FES) - OPEN 
Focus Area D: Digitalization of Industrial Processes (ITO) – M. Shafae (Systems and Industrial Engineering)
Focus Area E: AI-Enabled Smart Manufacturing (AMMTO) - P. Satam (Systems and Industrial Engineering) 
Focus Area F: Energy Material Manufacturing (AFFO) - OPEN

Topic Area 2: Scaling the Biotechnology Revolution // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: Biomolecular Science (BER) – T. Wheeler (Pharmacy Practice and Science)
Focus Area B: Genotype to Phenotype (BER) L. Meredith (School of Natural Resources and the Environment
Focus Area C: Predictive Engineering of Microbial Communities (BER) – M. Tfaily (Environmental Sciences) 
Focus Area D: Bio Design (BER) - OPEN
Focus Area E: AI-Enabled Biological Reaction Engineering, Bioreactor Design, Process Scale-up
and Integration (AFFO) - OPEN

Topic Area 3: Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply // Limit: 7 // Tickets Available: 3
Focus Area A: Resource Mapping and Development (AMMPTO) – J.G. Duan (Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics)
Focus Area B: AI-Enabled Materials Discovery and Engineering (AMMTO) – J.L. Bredas (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Focus Area C: Economic Modeling and Market Analysis (ASO) - OPEN
Focus Area D: Extraction and Processing Technologies (AMMPTO, AMMTO) - N. Risso (Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources)
Focus Area E: Geological Finder/Keepers – Y. Song (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences)
Focus Area F: Connections for Isolation (BES) - OPEN 
Focus Area G: Biological Pathways to CMM (BER) - OPEN

Topic Area 4: Delivering Nuclear Energy that is Faster, Safer, Cheaper // Limit: 8 // Tickets Available: 8
Focus Area A - Accelerated Nuclear Power Plant Design and Licensing: Create an automated
process to enable rapid design, including safe and secure autonomous monitoring
and control of plant operations, licensing considerations, and rapid deployment of
advanced nuclear technologies using AI - OPEN
Focus Area B - Autonomous Power Plant Operations: Develop AI digital twin systems that
interpret plant operational data in real time, detect anomalies, and recommend
preemptive actions to maintain safety and operational performance - OPEN
Focus Area C: AI-Assisted Manufacturing and Construction: Support site selection, born certified
manufacturing, construction, supply chain reliability, and factory modular
production methods with AI technologies - OPEN 
Focus Area D: Autonomous Research and Development: Condense nuclear material research and
qualification timeframes using AI-driven pipelines for modeling, characterization,
evaluation, and qualification, while integrating decades of global historical
irradiation data - OPEN
Focus Area E: Accelerated Fuel Cycle Facility Design and Licensing to Secure the Domestic Fuel
Supply: Create automated processes to enable rapid design, licensing
considerations, and accelerated deployment of advanced fuel cycle technologies
using AI - OPEN
Focus Area F: AI-Assisted Site Characterization: Accelerate waste disposition site characterization
through AI Modeling - OPEN
Focus Area G: AI-Assisted End Disposition Design: Concept Design for Disposal of Used Nuclear
Fuel and Reprocessed Fuel Waste Streams - OPEN
Focus Area H: Development, Utilization and/or Adoption of AI and ML Tools to Support the
Efficient Review, Classification and Release of Legacy Documents to the Nuclear
Industry - OPEN

Topic Area 5: Accelerating Delivery of Fusion Energy // Limit: 7 // Tickets Available: 5
Focus Area A: Structural Materials (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Plasma-Facing Materials (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Advancing Confinement Approaches – C. Chan (Steward Observatory and Department of Astronomy)
Focus Area C: Advancing Confinement Approaches (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area D: Fuel Cycle and Tritium Processing (FES, NE) - OPEN
Focus Area E: Tritium Breeding Blankets (FES, NE) - OPEN
Focus Area F: Fusion Plant Engineering and System Integration – D. Ebert (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area G: Plasma Science and Technology (FES) - OPEN

Topic Area 6: Transforming Nuclear Restoration and Revitalization // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 3
Focus Area A: EM AI R&D Roadmap Implementation (EM-3.2, ASCR, LM) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Scale-Bridging AI Foundation Model (EM-3.2, ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Treatment Process Optimization (EM-3.2, ASCR) - OPEN

Topic Area 7: Discovering Quantum Algorithms with AI // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 3
Focus Area A: Application-aware Error Correction (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Computational Tools for Fault Tolerant Quantum Computational Science (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Hybrid Quantum-Classical Optimization Algorithms (BES) - J. Chen (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area D: Quantum Algorithms for Nonlinear Plasma Physics (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area E: Quantum Advantage for Nuclear and Hadronic Systems (NP, HEP) – P. Siwach (Physics)

Topic Area 8: Realizing Quantum Systems for Discovery // Limit: 4 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: AI for Quantum Systems Design - OPEN
Focus Area B: AI for Control of Quantum System (HEP, NP) - OPEN
Focus Area C: AI for Quantum Imaging and Sensing (HEP, NP) – D. Soh (Wyant College of Optical Sciences) 
Focus Area D: AI for Quantum Computing and Networking (ASCR) – N. Rengaswamy (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Topic Area 9: Recentering Microelectronics in America // Limit: 10 // Tickets Available 4
Focus Area A: Angstrom (sub-1-nm) Scale Microelectronics Manufacturing (AMMTO) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Materials and Architectures for Non-von Neuman Computing Devices (BES) – X. Yan (Materials Science and Engineering)
Focus Area C: AI-Driven Architecture Design (ASCR) – J. Dass (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area D: 3D Non-Volatile Compute-In-Memory Technology (ASCR) – S. Salehi (Electrical and Computer Engineering) 
Focus Area E: Physics-Based Circuit Design, Simulation, and Emulation (ASCR) – H. Yang (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area F: Microelectronics in Harsh Environments (HEP) - J. Roveda (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area G: Plasma-Enabled Microelectronics Manufacturing (FES) -OPEN
Focus Area H: Power Electronics and Communication Networks (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area I: Low-temperature Electronics for Sensors and Computation (ASCR, HEP) – M. Hassan (Physics)
Focus Area J: Transform Neuromorphic Computing Connectivity, Communication, and System
Hardware Integration (ASCR) - OPEN

Topic Area 10: Securing U.S. Leadership in Data Centers // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: Data Center Load Flexibility (ITO) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Data Center Thermal Management (ITO) - OPEN

Topic Area 11: Achieving AI-Driven Autonomous Laboratories // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: Advanced Robotics for Dynamic Laboratory Environments (ASCR) - S. He (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area B: AIOps - AI for Network Operations (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: AI-Accelerated Science: Correlation to Understanding (BES) - A. Black (Information Science)
Focus Area D: AI-Enabled Diagnostics and Remote Handling (FES) - B. Liu (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area E: Accelerate the design and prototyping of neuromorphic computing circuit primitives for robotic embodied physical artificial intelligence (ASCR) - OPEN

Topic Area 12: Designing Materials with Predictable Functionality // Limit: 7 // Tickets Available: 4
Focus Area A: Functional to Quantum Materials (BES) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Structural Materials (BES, FES, AMMTO) - M. Latypov (Materials Science and Engineering) 
Focus Area C: Biomolecular Materials (BES) - OPEN
Focus Area D: Plasma-Facing Materials (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area E: Targetry by Design (IRP) - OPEN
Focus Area F: AI-Enabled Materials Discovery, Development, and Qualification (AMMTO) - M. Beidaghi (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)
Focus Area G: Electrochemical Energy Conversion Catalyst Discovery and Scale up (AFFO) - Z. Yan (Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Topic Area 13: Enhancing Particle Accelerators for Discovery // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: AI-driven Accelerator Facilities (BES, HEP, IRP, NP) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Integration of Digital Twins for Fusion Systems and Actuators (FES) - OPEN

Topic Area 14: Unifying Physics from Quarks to the Cosmos // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
Focus Area A: Foundation Models of Particle Interactions and Cosmic Physics – S. Pandey (Astronomy and Steward Observatory)
Focus Area B: AI Accelerated DUNE Science (HEP) - OPEN 
Focus Area C: Expedited Discovery from High Complexity and Petabyte-Scale Datasets (HEP, NP) - T. Eifler (Astronomy and Steward Observatory) 

Topic Area 15: Predicting U.S. Water for Energy // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1 
Focus Area A: Cloud Microphysics and Atmospheric Turbulence – X. Dong (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences)
Focus Area B: Water and Energy (BER) - A. Bennett (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences)
Focus Area C: Weeks to Years Prediction (BER) - OPEN

Topic Area 16: Scaling the Grid to Power the American Economy // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1 
Focus Area A: Grid Modeling and Analysis (OE, CMEI-IESO, SC-ASCR) – M. Chertkov (Mathematics)
Focus Area B: Grid Operations Optimization (OE, CMEI-IESO, SC-ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Uncertainty Quantification (SC-BER, SC-ASCR, OE, CMEI-IESO) – R. Tandon (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Topic Area 17: Unleashing Subsurface Strategic Energy Assets // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: Chemical and Hydrologic Transport in Subsurface – S. Saleska (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology)
Focus Area B: Evolution of Fractures in the Upper Crust (BES) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Control of Subsurface Fractures (HGEO) - OPEN

Topic Area 18: HPC Code Curation, Translation, and Development for Accelerated Scientific Discoveries  // Limit: 7 // Tickets Available: 7
Focus Area A: AI-Driven Code Porting and Optimization (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Automated Scientific Problem-to-Code Generation (ASCR) - OPEN 
Focus Area C: Neuro-Symbolic Agents for Code Development (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area D: Performance Prediction and Feedback Loops (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area E: Trustworthy AI for Scientific Software (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area F: Multi-Modal Data Integration for Code Intelligence (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area G: Partnerships for HPC AI Advancement (ASCR, AMMTO) - OPEN

Topic Area 19: AI for Scientific Reasoning // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
Focus Area A: Trustworthy Mathematical and Symbolic Reasoning (ASCR) – E. Blanco (Computer Science)
Focus Area B: Hypothesis Generation from Multi-Modal Data (ASCR) - A. Zabludoff (Astronomy and Steward Observatory)
Focus Area C: Composable and Modular Foundation Models (ASCR) - OPEN

Topic Area 20: Cybersecurity for AI-Driven Science Workflows // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 0
Focus Area A: AI for Adversarial Robustness and Resilience– M. Krunz (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area B: Data Provenance and Integrity Verification (ASCR) – D. Alharthi (College of Information Science) 
Focus Area C: Real-Time Attack Detection and Mitigation for AI Models (ASCR) – M. Li (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Topic Area 21: Artificial Intelligence in Fluid Flow for Energy Components and Technologies // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
Focus Area A: Physics-Informed AI for Complex Flow Modeling – K. Kratter (Astronomy and Steward Observatory)
Focus Area B: AI-Driven Design and Control for Performance and Durability (IESO, ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Data-Driven Operational Intelligence and System Resilience (IESO) – L. Zhang (Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics)

Limiting Language
Applicant institutions are limited to no more than one application as the lead institution per focus area for Phase I and Phase II applications combined. Phase II applications must list a primary focus area but will have the option to list secondary focus areas. The primary focus area will be used for determining limitations on institutional submissions.

There is no limitation to the number of applications for which the institution is not the lead in a multi-institution team using collaborative applications.

The PI on an application may also be listed as a senior or key personnel on an unlimited number of separate submissions but can be the lead PI on only one application.  However, the PI on an awarded Phase I award may submit a Phase II proposal as part of the FY27 go/no-go decision process.  

The full RFA is linked here. 

Executive Summary 
The DOE Office of Science (SC), Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), Office of Environmental Management (EM), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Electricity (OE), and Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Office (HGEO) hereby announce interest in receiving applications from interdisciplinary teams addressing the Genesis Mission National Science and Technology Challenges to accelerate scientific discovery and research and development (R&D) workflows using novel artificial intelligence (AI) models and frameworks. By achieving AI advantage, these teams will advance the DOE's mission and ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through science and technology. Teams are encouraged to leverage the extensive scientific and data resources of the DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the National Laboratories, U.S. industry, and academia. The resulting AI models and workflows, if successful, may be integrated into the American Science Cloud. 

DOE is soliciting new FY26 Phase I small team and Phase II large team applications in the following topic areas: advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, quantum information science, semiconductors and microelectronics, discovery science, and energy (see specific focus areas in Section III Program Descriptions). 

In addition, this RFA will remain available to allow the recipients of FY26 Phase I awards to apply for larger team Phase II awards. In a few weeks, DOE plans to amend the RFA to clarify the LOI and application guidelines for FY26 Phase II awards. In FY27, DOE plans to amend the RFA or to issue an alternative funding opportunity to update the topic and focus areas to allow a second competition of Phase I small team applications and Phase II large team applications. 

Additional applications for Phase I and Phase II may be submitted after the corresponding deadline listed on the cover of this RFA, however, DOE reserves the right to decline such applications without review.

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce an open competition for proposals to administer the FY 2026 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program. NSLI-Y increases the number of American youth (ages 15 to 18) who learn critical foreign languages in support of bolstering U.S. national security; promoting U.S. competitiveness and economic prosperity; and building mutual understanding with critical regions of the world. The award will support approximately 275 American teens to study critical languages through intensive overseas language programs in locations where the target languages are widely spoken, and through virtual programming. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations, meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3), may submit proposals to cooperate with ECA in the overall administration of NSLI-Y and the3 implementation of summer, academic year, and virtual programs according to the guidance in this solicitation.

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, through its Office of Citizen Exchanges, invites proposals to design and implement the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship. The program advances U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific by developing a network of emerging leaders from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states who share America’s founding principles of liberty, opportunity, and self-reliance. By promoting free enterprise, open markets, and innovation, the program fosters shared prosperity and supports a secure, free, and open Indo-Pacific.

Through professional fellowships and reciprocal exchanges, YSEALI PFP advances U.S. leadership by strengthening commercial ties, promoting regional stability, and supporting peace and security across the Indo-Pacific. Each year two cohorts of approximately 144 Fellows from Southeast Asia will travel to the United States for five to six weeks of professional and leadership development. Participants, ages 25 to 35, will be placed with U.S. public, private, and nonprofit institutions for customized fellowships aligned with four strategic themes central to U.S. foreign policy: Economic Prosperity, Strategic Energy and Minerals, Liberty and Freedom, and Peace and Security.

The exchange will culminate in a YSEALI Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C., where participants will share lessons learned and explore future collaboration. Following each U.S. fellowship, approximately 72 American professionals will travel to Southeast Asia on Reciprocal Exchanges to extend engagement, transfer expertise, and strengthen bilateral partnerships.

Limit: 1 (Scholarship Track - Innovation Track is not limited) // Tickets Available: 0 

J. Pauli (College of Information Science)

Limiting Language
There is no restriction for the Innovation Track.

For the Scholarship Track, each performing organization is limited to one (1) proposal submitted for the same competition date. Institutions with an active CyberAI SFS scholarship project must wait until they are within 14 months of the current award's expected end date before submitting a new proposal.

Each institutional office of research may have internal processes used to select proposals for submission to the Scholarship Track

Per the program officer: The collaborative non-lead submission is considered as one submission from the institution, and limits the institution from submitting another scholarship track proposal.

Program Synopsis
Government and the nation face a talent shortfall in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. The CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS) program welcomes proposals that address AI and cybersecurity education and workforce development. CyberAI refers to using AI in cybersecurity as well as providing security and resilience for AI systems.

• The Scholarship Track provides funding to establish, or to continue, scholarship for service programs with integrated AI and cybersecurity components (CyberAI). Scholarship recipients must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and work after graduation in the AI or cybersecurity mission of a government organization for a period of at least the length of the scholarship.
• The Innovation Track supports projects that enhance preparation of AI and/or cybersecurity professionals. Projects may expand existing educational opportunities, curricula, degree programs, educational pathways, methods and interventions, and partnerships among institutions of higher education, government, and employers.

Two statutes authorize this program:  15 USC §7442 (cybersecurity) and 42 USC §18993 (AI). CyberAI SFS aligns with the Executive Order 14277 to prioritize AI within scholarship for service programs. CyberAI is managed by NSF’s Directorate for STEM Education in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal; however, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other organization(s) listed as sub-recipient partner(s).

Project Description 
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to aimed at reducing recruitment by organized crime groups in Mexico. This project will advance U.S. security interests by promoting a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, prosecution, and legal reform. The initiative will engage stakeholders in key Mexican states to implement intelligence-driven prevention strategies, strengthen public advocacy, enhance prosecutorial capacity, support disengagement programs, and advance legislative reform to criminalize organized crime recruitment. These efforts will disrupt criminal networks that facilitate the flow of illicit drugs, violence, and illegal migration into the United States. By fostering stability and the rule of law in Mexico, this project not only supports our regional partners but also directly contributes to the safety and security of the United States.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Primary applicants may submit one application in response to this NOFO.

Executive Summary 
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor, Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a program to provide emergency financial assistance to victims of religious persecution and defenders of religious freedom. 

IRF promotes religious freedom as a core objective of U.S. foreign policy that makes America stronger, safer, and more prosperous. IRF’s mission is guided by its statutory mandate established by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRF Act) and the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016 (Wolf Act). The IRF Act provides that it is the policy of the United States, “standing for liberty and standing with the persecuted, to...promote respect for religious freedom by all governments and peoples.” To that end, the Wolf Act calls for the State Department to issue foreign assistance awards to promote respect for religious freedom and combat religious freedom violations.

As declared in President Trump’s Executive Order 13926, the promotion of international religious freedom is a “national security imperative” and “a foreign policy priority of the United States.” Pursuant to that Executive Order, IRF funds foreign assistance programs to “anticipate, prevent, and respond to attacks against individuals and groups on the basis of their religion, including programs designed to help ensure that such groups can persevere as distinct communities; to promote accountability for the perpetrators of such attacks; to ensure equal rights and legal protections for individuals and groups regardless of belief; to improve the safety and security of houses of worship and public spaces for all faiths; and to protect and preserve the cultural heritages of religious communities.”

Information on religious freedom conditions globally can be found in the State Department’s annual International Religious Freedom Report.

Applicants will be responsible for ensuring program activities and products are implemented in accordance with the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Applicants can submit one application in response to the NOFO.  If more than one application is submitted by an organization, only the final application received, and time stamped by grants.gov will be reviewed for eligibility.  Each application can include multiple projects that will be evaluated independently.  

Executive Summary
Priority of Regions:

1. Western Hemisphere (WHA)
2. East Asia and the Pacific (EAP)
3. South and Central Asian (SCA)
4. Europe and Eurasia (EUR)
5. Middle East and North Africa (NEA)
6. Africa (AF)

The Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) is a key component of the Department’s and ACN’s efforts to advance the Administration’s top national security and foreign policy objectives in a cost-effective and impactful manner.  CTR uses programming and training with foreign partners to advance President Trump’s America First Investment Policy (NSPM-3) and America’s AI Action plan by disrupting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) exploitation of critical U.S. intellectual property (IP) and dual-use technologies, including AI, biotechnologies, quantum, semiconductor, and space technologies, through research security, cybersecurity and IP protection training.  As the programmatic lead for the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor [SMR] Technology (FIRST) program, CTR implements Section 8(e) of EO 14299 on Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security by helping U.S. vendors deploy secure, safe U.S. SMRs to strategic regions, including Latin America, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East, to outcompete strategic competitors for decades-long partnerships, generating multi-billion dollar deals for U.S. companies and creating thousands of American jobs.  CTR implements maximum pressure on Iran (NSPM-2), by training foreign partner countries to implement U.S. sanctions on Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, and disrupts proliferation networks tied to the CCP, DPRK, and Russia that undermine U.S. interests.  CTR also advances EO 14292 by preventing U.S. adversaries from advancing biological weapons capabilities through targeted biosecurity, physical security, and cybersecurity trainings and disrupts Iran’s and other U.S. adversary chemical weapons programs through assisting supply chain security of precursor chemicals and equipment. Finally, CTR advances EO 14285 Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals, by training critical mineral holders to derisk from reliance on Chinese and Russian Private Military Companies in favor of U.S. security firms.

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0
H. Budinoff (Systems and Industrial Engineering)
B. Kim (Materials Science and Engineering)

This opportunity is being institutionally coordinated by Research Development Services and the Office of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives. If you are interested, please check your eligibility then contact Riley McIssac. 

Limiting Language
Limit on number of proposals per university: 2

About ASCENDʳ
ASCENDʳ Research is a competitively funded DOD research program that is aligned to the U.S. National Defense Science and Technology Strategy and the DOD Critical Technology Areas and part of the HSRU’s Advancing STEM Careers through Education, Networking, Development + Research (ASCENDʳ) Initiative (for more information about ASCENDʳ visit www.hsru.org) For this opportunity, research priority areas are: Advanced Materials, Human-Machine Interfaces, and Space Technology. Through this competitively funded research program, HSRU Alliance member institutions’ research strengths will be leveraged, faculty leadership development will be provided, and graduate student researchers will be integrated. This research program will have the aims to (1) expose both faculty and students to military operations and defense and national security real-world challenges, (2) deploy and enhance the research environments conducive for the successful progression and participation of the students in the process (e.g. mentoring, professional development, and financial support), and to (3) conduct research and deliver research outcomes to meet DOD technical challenges/gaps.

Eligibility 
The proposal must originate from an HSRU member institution in good standing.

1.  Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator(s) must be a Research Faculty member or Tenure/Tenure Track Faculty member that is early to mid-career, defined as within the first 8 years of their professional career.
2. The Principal Investigator must hire and integrate at least one Graduate Research Assistant for this project. The graduate assistant must be enrolled at the start of the project and maintain enrollment eligibility throughout the proposed project.
3. All PIs, Co-PIs, and the graduate assistant working on this project must be U.S. Persons, defined as U.S. born or U.S. Naturalized Citizen.b.
4. The Principal Investigator and Co-PIs must agree to jointly participate in the ASCENDʳ Leadership Program.

Program Webpage | RFP (box login required) 
 

Limit: 25* // Tickets Available: 10

* RTX has invited the University of Arizona to participate in submission to five (5) topic areas (listed below) for funding of up to $100,000/project. Each institution is limited to five (5) submissions per topic area and each tenure track faculty member may request one limited submissions ticket for one topic area. 

Autonomy // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 0
H. Rastgoftar (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)
M. Chertkov (Applied Mathematics)
J. Thanga (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)
E. Azimi (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
N. Risso  (Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources)

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 1
P. Deymier (Materials Science and Engineering) 
E. Madenci (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)
V. Yurkiv (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)
B. Chalifoux (Optical Sciences)

Microelectronics // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 5

Digital Lifecycle // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 3
A. Salado (Systems and Industrial Engineering)
H. Budinoff (Systems and Industrial Engineering)

Integrated Battlespace // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 4
B. Bash (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Program and Submission Details:
For more information on each of these topics of interest, login to box and click here. Please note technical data is strictly prohibited. 

The full submissions consists of: 

• Acknowledgement of Terms of Use and agreement that no Technical Data is included.
• 700 Word Description including: relevance of your proposed project to the specific technology needs; how the work will advance the field of research; how the deliverables and outcomes would lead to a continued and deeper research partnership with RTX businesses; opportunities for future collaborations with institutions, organizations, or experts; follow-on funding opportunities and specific funding agencies who would have interest in the technology, and the outcomes necessary to stimulate that interest.
• Scope of Work (SOW) that breaks down the proposed project into tasks explaining in brief terms how you would secure and allocate resources; how you address any risks, including delays; defined tasks and their associated milestones, schedule, and deliverables.
• Budget Form 

Topics of Interest: 

1. Autonomy
2. Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
3. Microelectronics
4. Digital Lifecycle
5. Integrated Battlespace

Upcoming Informational Webinars
Please note that webinars will not be recorded. If you are unable to attend and have questions, please contact Christine Gemelli, Director for University Relations and Technical Learning at RTX, at christine.gemelli2@rtx.com. 

New Date:  Microelectronics
Monday November 10, 10 to 11:00 am (Arizona time)
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16124740608?pwd=Vkk3ZWFSM25COUJMeTRNdU83cktNUT09&omn=1600648772&from=addon
Meeting ID: 161 2474 0608 | Passcode: 615506


Integrated Battlespace
Friday November 7, 1:30 to 2:30 pm (Arizona time)
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16124740608?pwd=Vkk3ZWFSM25COUJMeTRNdU83cktNUT09&omn=1618313830&from=addon 
Meeting ID: 161 2474 0608 | Passcode: 615506

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
Monday November 17 1pm to 2 pm (Arizona time)
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16124740608?pwd=Vkk3ZWFSM25COUJMeTRNdU83cktNUT09&omn=1613346598&from=addon 
Meeting ID: 161 2474 0608 | Passcode: 615506

Digital Lifecycle
Friday, November 7, 8 am to 9 am (Arizona time)
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16124740608?pwd=Vkk3ZWFSM25COUJMeTRNdU83cktNUT09&omn=1608750769&from=addon
Meeting ID: 161 2474 0608
Passcode: 615506

Autonomy
Friday, November 7, 9 am to 10 am (Arizona time)
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16124740608?pwd=Vkk3ZWFSM25COUJMeTRNdU83cktNUT09&omn=1609280784&from=addon
Meeting ID: 161 2474 0608
Passcode: 615506