Physical Sciences & Engineering

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2

Please note that this internal competition is being run on an anticipated funder deadline based on prior cycles. It is subject to update when we receive additional information from the Packard Foundation. 

Limiting Language
Invited institutions may submit two nominations

Overview
In 1988, the Foundation established the Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering to allow the nation's most promising early career professors to pursue their science and engineering research with few funding restrictions and limited paperwork requirements. Disciplines that will be considered include physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, computer science, earth science, ocean science, and all branches of engineering. Candidates engaged in research in the social sciences will not be considered.

Eligibility 
Candidates must be faculty members at one of the 50 Invited Institutions. Candidates must be eligible to serve as principal investigators engaged in research in the natural and physical sciences or engineering and must be within the first three years of their faculty careers. Disciplines that will be considered include physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, computer science, earth science, ocean science, and all branches of engineering. Candidates engaged in research in the social sciences will not be considered.

Full guidelines are linked here. 

Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 0

M. Bhattacharya (Neuroscience)
P. Arunachalam (Immunobiology)
N. Lee (Pharmacology)

The mission of The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation is to advance knowledge in the life sciences by sponsoring scientific research that will benefit mankind. The foundation’s grants program seeks to support basic science, ideally with potential translational applications. Immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, neuroscience, etc., are some noteworthy examples of current research support.

For many years the Foundation has enjoyed special recognition in the research community for supporting “basic” scientific research, realizing that true transformative breakthroughs usually occur after a thorough understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying natural phenomena. More recently, and with the advent of newer investigative methodologies, technology, and tools, the Foundation now embraces innovative translational research proposals.

The grant duration must be three years. The budget should be reasonable based on the aims of the project. Indirect costs may not exceed 10%. Preliminary Budgets are required during the LOI phase. A detailed budget justification is not required until the proposal phase. The Foundation’s grant award is not intended to be utilized for purchasing capital equipment (“bricks-and-mortar”) for the lab and is intended only to support the actual investigation. The Foundation assumes and expects that capital equipment must be provided by the research institution or university.

Application Guidance:

• Grant budgets cannot exceed $600-750K
• The Foundation primarily supports basic science, ideally with potential translational applications.
• Immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, neuroscience, etc., are some noteworthy examples of current research support.
• Covid-19-related research projects (aims or sub-aims) will not be considered for support.
• Medical imaging technology-related projects and/or electrical engineering technology development projects will not be considered for support.
• Plant Biology Research, Oceanography, Space Exploration. and Global warming-related research will not be considered for support.
• As technology continues to advance, it is apparent that investigations in the area of basic science and translational research may become more and more reliant on collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. It is important to note that any interdisciplinary project proposals may require additional information regarding the collaborator(s)’ achievements and relevant expertise.
• Feedback for declined LOI Requests will not be provided; LOIs or Formal Proposals that have been declined should not be resubmitted at a later date for consideration.
• Renewal applications for the same or related research will not be accorded priority consideration. It is strongly advised that any re-application for grant renewal consider a new direction based on prior research or emphasize some new potential translational aspects and not merely an extension of previously funded research.
• Requests for funding previously federally supported research and/or applications pending federal approval will not be accorded priority consideration.
• Requests for support of clinical trials or drug discovery will not be approved. The Foundation will not support projects which we consider pre-clinical drug development.
  
   

Please note, while RDS will manage submitting the institutional nomination, it is the responsibility of the selected faculty members to complete the portal registration by the January 30, 2026 at 8pm EST deadline.

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

Upcoming office hours 12/8 from 3-4pm EST and 12/11 from 4-5pm EST - register here

This funding opportunity requires institutional coordination with Tech Launch Arizona. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please contact Doug Hockstad.  

Limiting Language
The University of Arizona is eligible for tracks 3, 4, and 5 (high research translation readiness level category). For Tracks 3, 4, and 5, an eligible organization can submit a maximum of one proposal per Track. 

Track Synopses 
  
Track 3: Technology Transfer Resource Centers (RESOURCE)   

• The ART program aims to leverage the experience and resources of IHEs or non-profits with strong research translation capacity (and/or experience) to launch a network of regional Technology Transfer Resource Centers (RESOURCE) that promote regional technology transfer and technology development activities available to multiple IHEs in a region with low or emerging research capacity and little or no dedicated technology transfer or research translation resources.  A Track 3 award for a RESOURCE is expected to provide guidance, training, education, and services to other IHEs in a region who have a low RTRL. A Track 3 award is expected to be up to a total of $8 million for a duration of 4 years. Subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals, NSF plans to make up to 5 RESOURCE awards. Some awardees demonstrating strong performance, as demonstrated by successfully meeting evaluation criteria during the award, including progress toward self-sustainability, may have an opportunity to receive renewal support for up to 4 more years and additional funding of up to $2 million, subject to the availability of funds. As noted above, the lead IHE for this Track is expected to be an IHE with a very high RTRL or a non-profit with significant expertise related to technology transfer, entrepreneurship and related areas leading to sustained economic impacts.      

  Track 4: Education and Training (ET)    

• This nationally focused Track invites proposals from IHEs or non-profits with any combination of either a strong, vibrant and established research translation ecosystem, and/or demonstrated experience to develop, evaluate, and deploy educational and training resources related to entrepreneurship, technology transfer and related activities. The beneficiaries for these education and training resources to be developed will be lower RTRL IHEs located anywhere in the United States (including but not limited to Track 1 and Track 2 awardees). Track 4 awards may be budgeted up to a total of $3 million for a duration of 3 years. Subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals, NSF plans to make up to 4 ET awards. Some awardees demonstrating strong performance, as demonstrated by successfully meeting evaluation criteria during the award, including progress toward self-sustainability, may have an opportunity to receive renewal support for up to 2 more years and additional funding up to $2 million (subject to the availability of funds), to scale up the deployment and adoption of the developed resources and training materials nationally.

Track 5: Coordinating Accelerating Research Translation (CART) 

• This Track invites proposals from IHEs or non-profits for the creation of a unifying center that will facilitate the development of an integrated platform for coordinating, evaluating, and monitoring the progress being made by teams that are supported under both Tracks 1 and 2. The CART awardee would also coordinate activities to be carried out under awards pursuant to Tracks 3 and 4. The Track 5 CART cooperative agreement award may be budgeted up to a total of $3 million for a duration of 5 years. Subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals, NSF plans to make up to 2 awards under the CART Track. Some awardees demonstrating strong performance, as demonstrated by successfully meeting evaluation criteria during the award, including progress toward self-sustainability, may have an opportunity to receive renewal for up to 5 more years and additional funding up to $3 million, subject to the availability of funds. Proposals for this Track must be led by one IHE with a high RTRL with significant expertise and experience in areas related to technology transfer, intellectual property management, entrepreneurship as well as initiatives and programs directed at sustained economic and collective impacts. 

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0 

B. Kim (Materials Science and Engineering)
H. Kim (Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics) 

Limiting Language
Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Program Description
Eligibility for the Powe Awards is open to full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their tenure track appointment at the time of application. If there is a question about eligibility, your ORAU Councilor makes the final determination. Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Research must fall within one of the following five disciplines: 

• Engineering and Applied Science
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics/Computer Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Policy, Management, or Education

Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2
H. Rastgoftar (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering) 

Limiting Language
Any eligible entity may lead the submission of up to three Concept Papers describing distinct technologies and is eligible to receive multiple State 1 prizes.

Overview
Americans are demanding more from our transportation sector—enhanced safety, faster project delivery, lower costs, increased efficiency, and improved resilience against physical and cyber threats for all users. Meeting these goals will require new and emerging innovative transportation technologies that can be scaled, deployed, and commercialized—advanced digital infrastructure, automation, modern air traffic control, novel infrastructure materials, new construction techniques, enhanced operations systems, smart planning tools, precision sensing, high performance computing, and more.  

Authorized in Section 25012 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, Pub.L. 117-58; codified at 49 U.S.C. § 119), the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Infrastructure (ARPA-I) of the U.S. Department of Transportation is poised to accelerate and commercialize the essential breakthrough technologies that can tackle these national goals. ARPA-I is modeled after the successful Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which has a proven track record of success that includes the development of world changing technologies such as the Internet, autonomous vehicles, and GPS.  

The Ideas and Innovation Challenge, or Ideas Challenge, is ARPA-I’s open call to innovators across the public and private sectors to help identify the most promising and transformative Research and Development (R&D) proposals that have the potential to deliver technologies that radically: 

• Enhance the safe, secure, and efficient movement of people and goods,
• Lower the long-term costs of infrastructure planning, construction, and maintenance,
• Strengthen the resilience of infrastructure against physical, natural, and cyber threats, and
• Enhance the United States’ position as a global leader in advanced transportation infrastructure technologies and materials. 

Winning Ideas Challenge proposals may be awarded prizes of up to a total of $320,000 each across two stages, with the winners recognized by U.S. DOT leadership as well as by a distinguished panel of judges from the private and public sectors. The winners will be invited for further in-depth discussion of their ideas and proposals, and their ideas will aid in informing the R&D path forward for ARPA-I and U.S. DOT, including its modal R&D organizations. The organization of the Challenge will include: 

• Stage 1: The submission of a Concept Paper describing a project idea for developing and commercializing a breakthrough transportation technology and/or capability:
  • Up to 15 Stage 1 prizes may be awarded. Each Stage 1 winner will be awarded a prize of $20,000 and invited to an U.S. DOT innovation workshop in late 2025, where they will present and discuss their concept with U.S. DOT R&D leadership and stakeholders and receive feedback to refine their ideas and approach for Stage 2.
• Stage 2: All Stage 1 winners will be eligible to submit a detailed project proposal and R&D plans for their concept. Up to 10 finalists will then be selected to the ARPA-I Ideas Challenge Finals event planned for early 2026 where they will present their project proposal to a distinguished panel of judges and audience members from the public and private sector to compete for Stage 2 prizes:
  • Up to five (5) Stage 2 prizes may be awarded to recognize the best proposals and plans submitted and presented, totaling $700,000. 3 o Stage 2 prizes may be tiered; each prize will have a maximum value of $300,000.
  • More details for Stage 2 will be provided in subsequent communications to Stage 1 applicants.
• The total prize purse for all Stage 1 and 2 cash prizes awarded will be a maximum of $1,000,000.

Limit: 2* // Tickets Available: 1

Category I: Tickets Available: 1
Category II: T. Swetnam (CAIO Institute) 

Limiting Language*
An organization may submit only one proposal as lead institution for each of Category I and Category II for each solicitation deadline but may be a subawardee on other Category I and II proposals responding to this solicitation. The restriction to no more than one submitted proposal as lead institution is to help ensure that there is appropriate institutional commitment necessary for responsible oversight, by the potential recipient institution, of a national data infrastructure resource. This restriction does not apply to Category III proposals. 

Program Synopsis
The Integrated Data Systems and Services (IDSS) program supports operations-level national-scale cyberinfrastructure systems and services that broadly advance and facilitate open, data-intensive and artificial intelligence-driven science and engineering research, innovation, and education.

Through this solicitation, the IDSS program is accepting proposals for three categories of projects:

• Category I. Development, deployment, and operation of novel national-scale integrated data systems and services, which may include interfacing with or leveraging other existing capabilities, systems and services, as appropriate to the project;
• Category II.  Transition of established smaller scale, regional, pilot, or prototype data-focused systems and services to national-scale production/operational quality/level. This may also include enhancement and expansion of existing national-scale data-focused operational systems and services; and
• Category III. Planning grants for future potential development/deployment or transition/enhancement IDSS projects. 

NSF and the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) have long supported the development of innovative foundational and application-specific cyberinfrastructure resources and systems to address data-intensive research needs at the campus, regional, and community scales, through programs such as Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI), Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC*), and other investments. The primary goal of the IDSS program is to support national-scale foundational data cyberinfrastructure that broadly enables data- and artificial intelligence-driven research for many communities. The IDSS program supports foundational transdisciplinary and demonstrably multi-disciplinary projects aimed to broadly impact the science and engineering research and education community. Projects that aim to primarily benefit a single science discipline, domain, project, or application are not supported.

It is recommended that prospective PIs contact program officer(s) from the list of Cognizant Program Officers to gain insight about alignment of their project ideas with the priorities of the IDSS program and Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure. As part of contacting Cognizant Program Officers, prospective PIs are also encouraged to ascertain that the focus and budget of their proposed work are appropriate for this solicitation.

Limit: 3* // Tickets Available: 1 (see below)

Life Sciences - Tickets Available: 0 
M.M. Kaelberer (Physiology)

Physical Sciences and Engineering -  Tickets Available: 0 
E. Krause (Astronomy)

Chemical Sciences - Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

* The University of Arizona may submit three nominations, one in each of the following disciplines: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Chemical Sciences

Overview:
The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists recognize the United States' most promising faculty-rank researchers in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences. One Blavatnik National Awards Laureate in each disciplinary category will receive $250,000 in unrestricted funds, and additional nominees will be recognized as Finalists, and will receive $15,000 in unrestricted funds.

Eligibility Criteria:
The nominee must:

• Have been born in or after 1984*.
• Hold a doctorate degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.).
• Currently hold a tenured or tenure-track academic faculty position, or equivalent, at an eligible institution in the United States.
• Currently conduct research as a principal investigator in one of the disciplinary categories in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, or Chemical Sciences.

Nomination of underrepresented populations in STEM
In spite of tremendous advancements in scientific research, information, and education, opportunities are still not equally available to all. Women, persons with disabilities, and individuals identifying as Black, American Indian, or Hispanic/Latinx continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields1,2.

The Blavatnik Awards strongly encourages all those submitting nominations to the Awards—including institutional nominators, Scientific Advisory Council members, and past Blavatnik Awards Laureates—to diversify the population of candidates nominated for this Award.

The Blavatnik Awards are proud to have honored 158 women scientists since the Awards’ inception in 2007—approximately 30% of all Blavatnik Awards recognize women. Blavatnik Awards honorees hail from 53 countries on six continents, and approximately 60% of all Blavatnik Awards honorees are immigrants to the country in which they were honored.

A more diverse scientific workforce will accelerate discovery and innovation, and the Blavatnik Awards are committed to honoring the most talented young scientists—regardless of race, ethnicity, disability status, gender, or field of study.

No Applicants // Limit: 2 (1 per country of implementation: DRC or Indonesia) // Tickets Available: 2

Limiting Language
Multiple applications from an organization are allowed. Applicants can submit up to one application per country. If multiple applications for one country are received, the most recent application submitted by the deadline will be accepted. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, USDOL will not replace it with an earlier application. Applicant entities are not precluded from participating as partners on another entity’s application.

Executive Summary 
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $9 million total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 2 cooperative agreements aimed at securing fair and reliable critical mineral supply chains free of child labor (CL) and forced labor (FL). ILAB intends to fund one cooperative agreement of up to $5 million in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and one cooperative agreement of up to $4 million in Indonesia. The duration of each project will be 54 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy. Applicants may choose to apply for one or both cooperative agreements. Applicants that wish to apply for both Cooperative Agreements must submit two distinct applications.

The cooperative agreements will be focused on the supply chains of critical minerals identified in the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, published by the Department of Labor as required under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 and subsequent reauthorizations (TVPRA List). Applications must propose a strategy to address CL and/or FL in the supply chains of at least one (1) of the following minerals in one (1) of the following countries:
• DRC: Cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin, and/or tungsten.
• Indonesia: Nickel, with the option to also include tin.

Applicants must propose to work with key stakeholders to identify and address child labor and/or forced labor, and related labor abuses in their proposed country of implementation. Applicants must propose a strategy to conduct activities under each of the following two focus areas:

Focus Area 1: Policy and Legal Frameworks. Applicants will propose a strategy to assist partner governments and supply chain actors to bring their mining, labor, procurement, trade rules, and other relevant policy frameworks into full alignment with international standards,
particularly U.S. forced-labor import requirements, International Labor Organization
conventions, and other due diligence guidelines and best practices

Focus Area 2: Capacity Building for Monitoring, Identification, Enforcement, and
Remediation. Applicants will propose a strategy to improve national and local systems for monitoring and identifying child labor and/or forced labor in critical mineral supply chains. Applicants must also propose a strategy to strengthen public and private sector entities responsible for addressing child labor and/or forced labor in critical mineral supply chains through enforcement actions and through remediation measures for children and individuals placed in conditions of child labor and/or forced labor.

In addition to work under the two Focus Areas outlined above, applicants must propose a strategy to conduct a supply chain research study and produce a final report in close coordination with ILAB. Applicants should plan to produce a final research product within the first three years of the project period of performance.

Eligible applicants include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit
organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs). Please see section III of this funding opportunity announcement for complete eligibility requirements. Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, as are all organizations. Those that meet the eligibility requirements may receive awards under this funding opportunity. DOL will not, in the selection of recipients and administration of the grant, discriminate on the basis of an

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

Limiting Language
Multiple applications from an organization are not allowed. If multiple applications are received, the most recent application submitted by the deadline will be accepted. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, USDOL will not replace it with an earlier application. Applicant entities are not precluded from participating as partners on another entity’s application.

Executive Summary
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $8,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement to fund an $8,000,000 technical assistance project with the objective to contribute to sustaining the future of the shipbuilding industry in the United States by establishing mechanisms for international collaboration to draw on expertise in support of expanding the number of skilled U.S. workers and training institutions with shipbuilding skills and knowledge. The 4-year project will create an international shipbuilding fellowship and training development program that would facilitate the training ofU.S. workers in allied countries with advanced shipbuilding expertise, as well as the
development of a specialized internationally recognized trade curricula to enable subsequent training in the United States. The project will partner U.S.-based educational institutions (career technical education programs, community colleges, etc.), training centers, and, where possible, shipyards, with foreign educational institutions, training centers, and/or shipyards in Canada, Finland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and/or other countries. The duration of the project will be 48 months from the award date. Applicants may propose a shorter period of performance in line with their proposed strategy.

Eligible applicants include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit
organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs). Please see section III of this funding opportunity announcement for complete eligibility requirements.

Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply, as are all organizations. Those that meet the eligibility requirements may receive awards under this funding opportunity. DOL will not, in the selection of recipients and administration of the grant, discriminate on the basis of an organization’s religious character, affiliation, exercise, or lack thereof, or on the basis of conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.

Applicants may propose outcomes they consider realistic and essential to achieving the project objective.

Applicants selected for award will be required, within the first six months of award, to carry out additional in-country needs assessments and consultations with partners and relevant stakeholders to assess and identify gaps, risks, and opportunities, analyze stakeholder capabilities and interests, understand potential harm and refine and/or validate the proposed project design, including performance indicators and targets, assumptions, risk mitigation and project sustainability strategies. All post-award refinements to the project strategy will be subject to approval by USDO

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0

E. Hamden (Space Institute) 

 Limiting Language
Applicants and partners, subcontractors, or consortium members, include, but are not necessarily limited to, registered U.S. and non-U.S. non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations and small businesses; private voluntary organizations; foundations; private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education; and faith-based and community institutions. All applicants must be legally registered organizations prior to applying to this announcement. Applicants may submit only one application.

Synopsis
The United States has a unique opportunity to drive select countries in the Middle East and North Africa firmly into the U.S. space ecosystem. Countries within the Middle East and North Africa region are increasingly eager to develop their space capabilities to both diversify their economies and expand their nation’s expertise in science and technology. These countries are looking to cooperate with partners with advanced capabilities in space sciences, and this project aims to position the United States as the partner of choice by engaging and empowering a new generation of leaders in target countries with the necessary skills to harness the global space economy’s vast opportunities.

This initiative seeks an implementing partner with demonstrated expertise in building capacity for shaping and navigating space policy, diplomatic and leadership skills, technical know-how, and business engagement. This approach ensures participants acquire practical skills for space sector advancement while reinforcing United States Government values of responsible technological practices, transparency, innovation, and security. Emphasizing technological interoperability among space partners will drive substantial commercial opportunities for U.S. private sector companies while building sustainable international cooperation frameworks aligned with American space governance principles.