Environmental Sciences

Limit: 1 (Lead Institution) // Tickets Available: 0

M. Arora (Community, Environment & Policy)

Limiting Language 
EPA encourages eligible applicants to form a consortium to operate this program. Eligible applicants may be a member of a consortium in more than one application. However, such applicants may not apply as the sole applicant or as the applicant for a consortium in more than one application.

Executive Summary
The National Environmental Education and Training Program is authorized under Section 5 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-619). The purpose of this program is to deliver environmental education (EE) training and long-term support to formal and non-formal education professionals across the U.S. in the development and delivery of environmental education and training programs and studies, bolstering their ability to effectively teach about environmental issues. Eligibility for funding is open to U.S. institutions of higher education, not-for-profit institutions as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which are exempt from taxation pursuant to provisions of section 501(a) of such Code, or a consortium of such institutions may apply to operate this program.
 

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 Engineerng) 
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 (School of 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)
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)
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.

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 0

J. Schaibley (Physics)
D. Soh (Optical Sciences)
S. Ndlovu (Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources)

Limiting Language
Applicant institutions are limited to no more than three pre-applications or applications as the lead institution.

An individual may not be named as the PI (EFRC Director) on more than one pre-application or application. Directors of existing EFRC awards that do not have project end dates in 2026 cannot be named as the EFRC Director on any pre-application or application in response to this NOFO.

There is no limitation to the number of applications on which an institution appears as a subrecipient. 

Should DOE receive submissions in excess of the applicable limits, DOE reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to request additional or clarifying information to ascertain the institution’s intended submissions. Otherwise, DOE will consider the latest received submissions to be the institution’s intended submissions.
• Pre-applications in excess of the limited number of submissions may be discouraged.
• Applications in excess of the limited number of submissions may be declined without review.

Program Description
The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces a re-competition of the Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) program. The purpose of this program is to bring together world-class teams of scientists from universities, DOE national laboratories, and other institutions to perform energy-relevant basic research with a scope and complexity beyond what is possible in single-investigator or small-group awards. These multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary centers accelerate transformative scientific advances for the most challenging topics in materials sciences, chemical sciences, geosciences, and biosciences. EFRCs integrate experiments, theory, computation, and AI/ML; develop innovative experimental and theoretical tools that illuminate fundamental processes in unprecedented detail; and create an enthusiastic, interdisciplinary, workforce of energy-focused scientists.

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

Limiting Language
Applicants may only submit 1 application under this opportunity. Applicants that submit more than 1 application will be contacted to determine which application to evaluate. The remaining application(s) will be deemed ineligible.

Executive Summary 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks applications from land grant colleges and universities, non-land grant colleges of agriculture, and 1994 Institutions to develop training for pesticide registrants on regulatory procedures according to the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA). The goal is to improve the efficiency, clarity, and consistency of EPA's pesticide registration and registration review processes. In addition to developing training, the awardee will also assist EPA in determining agricultural focus areas for crop tours. The overall objectives are to improve skills, align competencies with EPA's mission, address best practices, improve processes, promote consistency, and educate stakeholders on regulatory procedures.

The University of Arizona has an existing award for this program and thus is not eligible to apply for additional awards.

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0

A. Favela (Plant Science)

Limiting Language
Institutions may submit one nominee to the New Innovator Award program.

Eligibility 

• FFAR welcomes applications from all applicants who meet the following eligibility criteria:
• The nominated faculty member must have been hired on or after August 1, 2022, for a tenure-track or equivalent position and may work in any discipline or any department within the institution.   
  Preference will be given to individuals near the onset of their independent research career and who are within eight (8) years of receiving a Ph.D. or equivalent degree.   
• Individuals with significant research experience prior to obtaining their faculty position will not be considered for this award. For this funding opportunity, significant research experience is defined as a nominee that has been awarded a substantial research grant (three to five years of support) or has received project funding totaling over $1M within the time of their tenure position or has been awarded similar career development awards with similar budgetary scopes.
• The proposed research application must directly benefit U.S. agricultural interests. 

FFAR recognizes that agriculture and food sciences are highly complex, requiring individuals from a variety of disciplines to realize the potential in each field or research area. Particularly for early-stage investigators, collaborators are often essential for success. While this award is given to an outstanding early-career investigator, applicants should include information regarding any essential collaborators and include letters of support from those collaborators. In these letters, the collaborators should comment on the potential of the individual to achieve success. 

Research must align with one of the following priority areas:

• Cultivating thriving production systems
• Sustaining vibrant agroecosystems
• Bolstering healthy food systems
• Strengthening the scientific workforce 

Due to application requirements, the University of Arizona is not able to participate in this opportunity.

The University of Arizona is ineligible for this cycle due to updated limiting language: "The Foundation will consider only one proposal from an organization in any calendar year". The next cycle the University of Arizona is eligible for will occur with a June 15, 2026 concept application deadline. 

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

Limiting Language
Only one application per eligible applicant may be submitted as determined by the applicant Universal Entity Identifier (UEI) number.

Executive Summary
The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) is a coordinating program for earthquake monitoring, research, implementation, education, and outreach activities developed and conducted by these four agencies:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency;

• National Institute of Standards and Technology;

• National Science Foundation; and

• U.S. Geological Survey.

The FEMA NEHRP Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance (MSNEA) grant program makes funds available to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education that possess the critical skills necessary to develop and implement regional (multi- state) and/or national earthquake risk mitigation activities. 

In accordance with this MSNEA NOFO, awardees are selected by a national review panel comprised of FEMA NEHRP subject matter experts (SMEs), who evaluate each applicant’s experience, proposed work plan, deliverable schedule, anticipated outcomes and proposed budget.

All activities funded by the MSNEA grant program must be consistent with the NEHRP vision, mission, and strategic goals.

Limit: 1 per department 

L. O'Neill - (Center on Aging)

Limiting Language
My organization is a government, a tribal entity, or a university: You may submit one application per department. You may submit another if, and only if, you are collaborating with another organization.  
o If you would like to submit a second application on behalf of a collaborative group of organizations, submit only one application per project. This means choosing just one organization to submit the collaborative application.  
o If several departments are applying for the same project, please treat it as a collaborative application. 
o A government or tribal agency, or university may apply for projects separate from those the individual departments apply for.   

Grant Description
All organizations requesting grants must provide services that directly benefit populations residing in Cochise County and eastern Santa Cruz Counties. 

The Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona is seeking applications for Innovative grants.  

Grant Cycle – June 2, 2025 through September 26, 2025. Awards will be announced by December 13, 2025.  Grants will be awarded January 2026.  

Every year the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona funds Innovation Grants for projects up to $50,000 that are aligned with the Foundation Mission of Promoting Population Health and Community Wellness. 

Collaboration and forging partnerships with other community organizations are key determinants in funding decisions. 

The Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona will kick off the Innovative Grant Cycle with a workshop that will provide full information regarding the goals of the cycle.