Research

Limit: 2 // Available: 0

C. Cartmell (Pharmacology)
Y. Bai (Optical Sciences)

The U of A may submit two (2) nominations. 

The Moore Inventor Fellows fellowship focuses on supporting scientist-inventors at a critical prototyping stage to capture opportunities that otherwise might be missed. We seek to provide freedom and support to promising inventors with the most compelling ideas to pursue creative and disruptive innovations.

The scope of this call is intentionally wide: proposed projects do not need to fall within our current funding priorities but should be broadly within the program areas of foundation interest (science, environmental conservation and patient care). Patient care inventions should resonate with our focus on improving the experience and outcomes of patients with solutions that improve clinical diagnosis.

The U of A may submit up to three (3) proposals.

The Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program provides financial assistance to organizations and entities working to preserve historic Japanese American confinement sites and their history, including: private nonprofit organizations; educational institutions; state, local, and tribal governments; and other public entities, for the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II.

Projects funded through the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program must benefit one or more historic Japanese American confinement sites. The term historic confinement sites is defined as the ten War Relocation Authority sites (Gila River, Granada, Heart Mountain, Jerome, Manzanar, Minidoka, Poston, Rohwer, Topaz, and Tule Lake), as well as other historically significant locations, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. These sites are specifically identified in Confinement and Ethnicity: An Overview of World War II Japanese American Relocation Sites, published by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Western Archaeological and Conservation Center, in 1999. This document may be seen at www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/anthropology74 and at other internet sites.

U of A may submit eight (8) concept papers: four (4) in medical sciences and four (4) in science & engineering.

Medical Research: Limit: 4 // Available: 2 // Request Ticket 
N. Zhao (Nutritional Science and Wellness)
S. Goldman (Medicine) 

Science and Engineering - Limit: 4 // Available: 0
A. Zabludoff (Astronomy & Steward Observatory)
S. Kong (Astronomy & Steward Observatory) 
E. Lee (Electrical and Computer Engineering) 
B. Vasic (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Required U or A pre-proposal elements

The UA pre-proposal contains the following required sections:

1. Overview
2. Methodology
3. Justification for Keck Funding
4. Key Personnel
5. Estimated Budget

A template is provided in the documents section of this limited submission. Use this template, complete it, and upload it as a PDF as part of this limited submission opportunity.

Uploaded as a PDF:

1. One-page Concept Paper based on attached template.
2. PI BioSketch or CV
   Agency-specific BioSketch preferred. There is a 5-page limit on CVs

Program Description

Full sponsor guidelines https://www.wmkeck.org/research-overview/

Post selection as one of the pre-proposals, a concept review Zoom will be held with the W.M. Keck Foundation, RDS, and the UA Foundation in January will determine which one medical research and one science and engineering concept paper will be moved to a Phase 1 Submission.

The W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program uses a three-step process for this opportunity. The first step is a Concept paper. The next steps are by the foundation’s invitation. U of A review criteria reflect previous interactions with the W.M. Keck Foundation. Proposals should focus on basic, fundamental science with broad applications. Grants range from $1 million to $5 million and are typically $2 million or less, and more specifically in the $1.2 to $1.3 million range.

The proposed work should show a significant leap forward rather than an extension of existing work.

To be considered by Keck, applicants must have a statement expressing that the project is not a good fit due to risk (rather than technical or theoretical fit) or a decline from a federal program where the summary statement or individual reviews highlight the incredible novelty, but the high-risk nature that makes it difficult to fund at the federal level.

The Science and Engineering Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting high-risk/high-impact projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach to intractable problems, push the edge of their field, or question the prevailing paradigm. Past grants have been awarded to support pioneering science and engineering research and the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation, or methodologies.

The Medical Research Program seeks to advance the frontiers of medicine to benefit humanity by supporting high-risk/high-impact projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach to intractable problems, push the edge of their field, or question the prevailing paradigm. Past grants have supported pioneering biological research, basic research, and the development of promising new technologies. The Keck Foundation does NOT fund work that is clinical, applied, or translational; treatment trials; or research for the sole purpose of drug development.

Both senior and early career investigators are encouraged to apply. Team approaches, including interdisciplinary teams, are encouraged.

Submit ticket request  // Limit:  1*  // Tickets Available: 0

Patriricia Thompson-Carino (Cancer Center)

Apply to the UA internal competition  // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2

Hyundai Hope On Wheels creates awareness for pediatric cancers and awards large grants to doctors and premiere research centers for life-saving research. This 23-year HHOW commitment awards grants in various categories to researchers at eligible Children's Oncology Group member institutions. The highly-competitive grants are aimed at expanding the knowledge base of the disease and improving the standards of care. The foundation is encouraged by the advances of technology, and by the potential breakthroughs enabling scientists to understand the disease better than ever.

Hyundai Hope On Wheels® [“HHOW”] is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that joined the fight against childhood cancer in 1998. The organization funds life-saving research and creates awareness for childhood cancer. Since its inception, HHOW has donated more than $225 million to fund pediatric cancer research.

In 2024, the following categories of research grants for pediatric cancer are available per this RFP:

• Hope Scholar Grant: $400,000 (two-year award)

• Young Investigator Grant: $250,000 (two-year award)

Eligibility to apply for a Hope Scholar or Young Investigator Grant is limited to Children’s Oncology Group (“COG”) member institutions in the U.S. Each eligible institution may submit up to one application per grant category. Applicants will be notified by March 15, 2025, about grant awardees. If selected, the first funding installment is planned for release on December 31, 2025. Approved research projects may begin upon receipt of the initial grant award disbursement. If selected, material conditions for the institution that receives a grant are to agree to all terms and conditions of the grant agreement, and to agree to host a Hyundai Hope On Wheels handprint ceremony at its location or virtually during August or September of 2024.

Apply to the UA internal competition  // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0

Eung-Joo Lee (ECE)

Brian Kim (MSE)

Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

These competitive research awards provide seed money for junior faculty members that often result in additional funding from other sources. The award amount provided by ORAU is $5,000. The applicant’s institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. This is a one-year grant (June 1 to May 31).

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.

Junior faculty members interested in applying should consult their ORAU Councilor, and visit the frequently asked questions.

Submit ticket request  // Limit:  2*  // Tickets Available: 1 

Organizations may submit no more than two (2) SOIs and only one (1) SOI per category. The applicant must explicitly identify the category for each SOI submitted.

Van Dyke. M ( College of Engineering)- 1) Workforce Development

1. Category 1 – Workforce Development
2. Category 2 – Policy and Regulatory Reform

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) announces an open competition for organizations to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a program under the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, created by the CHIPS Act of 2022. Please carefully follow all instructions below. 

The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise no more than three (3) page statement of interest designed to clearly communicate the program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.  

EB administers a portion of the ITSI Fund, the “ITSI Promote” line of effort, to help expand international semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging (“ATP” or “downstream”) capacity in key partner countries that will in turn diversify the global semiconductor supply chain. EB’s objectives under the ITSI Fund are to: 1) Expand and diversify the required workforce for semiconductor ATP facilities to ensure growth; and 2) Improve regulatory environments that will encourage private sector efforts that generate additional capabilities in ATP facilities. 

Award Floor: $1,000,000 

Award Ceiling: $5,000,000 

Program Performance Period: 36 months or less 

Limit: 1 // J. M. Roveda  (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Supporting the current semiconductor workforce and building the workforce of tomorrow are critical to the economic health and competitiveness of the United States. Jobs in the industry range from researchers to engineers to technicians and can offer gainful employment across the nation to workers from all demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Making investments in the U.S. semiconductor workforce is an opportunity to serve underserved communities, to connect individuals to good-paying sustainable jobs across the country, and to develop a robust workforce ecosystem that supports an industry essential to the national and economic security of the U.S.

Submit ticket request  // Limit: 3*  // Tickets Available: 1 

An entity may submit only one Concept Paper and one Full Application for each topic area of this FOA.

With this FOA, SETO aims to promote innovative solar research, technology development, and product demonstration that can substantively increase U.S. domestic manufacturing across the solar energy supply chain and expand private investment in America’s solar manufacturing sector. These investments will help accelerate the growth of the solar industry, identify emerging opportunities, and drive down costs for our domestic energy market, positioning the United States on the leading edge of solar industry advances.

Topic Area 1: Solar Research and Technology Development
Topic Area 2: Solar Technology Demonstration
Topic Area 3: Solar Permitting Software Outreach, Education, and Development

Submit ticket request  // Limit:  4*  // Tickets Available: 1

*An entity may submit only one Concept Paper and one Full Application for each topic area of this FOA.

A. Anani (Department of Mining and Geological Engineering)– Topic 4: Smart Technologies for Sustainable and Competitive U.S. Mining 

Q. Hao (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering) - Topic 3: Smart Manufacturing for High Performance Materials 

Topic Areas:

• Topic 1: Smart Manufacturing for a Circular Economy 
• Topic 2: Smart Manufacturing of Tooling and Equipment for Sustainable Transportation 
• Topic 3: Smart Manufacturing for High Performance Materials 
• Topic 4: Smart Technologies for Sustainable and Competitive U.S. Mining 

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO). The mission of AMMTO is: “We inspire people and drive innovation to transform materials and manufacturing for America's energy future.” This is in alignment with AMMTO’s vision for the future – a globally competitive U.S. manufacturing sector that accelerates the adoption of innovative materials and manufacturing technologies in support of a clean, decarbonized economy.

This FOA seeks applications to address the development of smart manufacturing technologies –including through “smart RD&D” – that can contribute to a resilient, responsive, leading-edge, and efficient manufacturing sector that delivers the technologies needed for the nation’s clean energy transition. The manufacturing community can reduce manufacturing costs and accelerate time-to-market by integrating performance characteristics of final products with processes aided by a smart manufacturing framework. The information-driven collaborative orchestration of physical and digital processes across the entire value chain is one aspect of smart manufacturing. Smart manufacturing relies on a combination of physical and virtual technologies to make designing, processing, and manufacturing faster, higher value-added, more resilient, sustainable, and more cost-effective. Individual processes within a plant, factory, or entire value chain are integrated and continually monitored with sensing, process modeling, and predictive analytics. The physical processes focus on controlling and optimizing processing conditions for desired outcomes, while virtual processes uncover underlying complex interactions between the physical processes and provide insight into better ways to design and manufacture products (i.e., feedback for physical processes). This FOA seeks to implement smart manufacturing across several diverse application areas and market sectors to: (a) show the benefits of incorporating smart manufacturing in areas aligned with AMMTO’s mission, and (b) to provide practical experience which will be used to further refine AMMTO’s smart manufacturing strategy and future R&D direction.