Upcoming

Institutionally Coordinated - contact RDS if you are interested in this funding opportunity // Limit: 2 (lead organization)

SUBJECT TO CHANGE STATEMENT: The terms of this funding opportunity are actively under ORP review and the competition is thus subject to change. The solicitation indicates that academic institutions are not the end goal for this funding. 

Limiting Language 
An eligible organization can submit a maximum of two Written Proposals per Topic Announcement for Phase 0 as a lead organization. Senior/Key Personnel may be listed on a maximum of one Written Proposal per Topic Announcement.

Topic Description

Every revolution in science has been preceded by a revolution in what we can measure, from the telescope to modern Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. Today, the frontier is starved for radically new modalities for sensing and imaging. We cannot watch a non-crystalline enzyme work at atomic resolution, probe the full dynamics of a working synapse, or identify the most reactive surface defect structures on advanced catalytic materials.

NSF X-Labs in this Topic will target specific platform technologies in sensing, imaging and supporting technologies that will form the basis for revolutionary new capabilities in scientific discovery and technology sectors. Teams might, for example, draw on quantum sensing, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven computational imaging, adaptive AI-based sensing algorithms, and/or entirely new modalities to redefine what we consider knowable. 

Examples of relevant, currently unmet R&D challenges may include, but are not limited to: detection of molecular-scale single-reaction events across timescales of femtoseconds to seconds; MRI-free deep-tissue imaging; non-destructive biomolecule microscopy at exquisite resolution; high-sensitivity quantum sensors suitable for operation in a variety of environments; instruments intentionally engineered for next-generation AI training pipelines; and sensors to resolve whole-brain activity at cellular resolution across long timescales. 

An NSF X-Labs Mission in this Topic must be transformative, accelerating breakthrough R&D in scientific instrumentation towards creating or reshaping new lines of research and technologies. Successful teams will overcome technical barriers facing sensing and imaging, develop platform technologies, demonstrate measurable impact on the U.S. science and technology landscape, and position their technologies for widespread use and investment in research and/or other sectors. 

Examples of challenges not considered in scope for this Topic include computational or software solutions without practical integration into an instrumentation system, development of technologies where the impact is narrow and not widely deployable, fundamental research without potential for application in platform technologies, incremental advancement of the state of the art, or advancement of technologies that are already appropriately developed to the point of full-scale commercialization.

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here. 

Upcoming Webinars
Thursday, May 28, 1–2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) 
Introduction to NSF X-Labs Funding Opportunity – Scientific Instrumentation for Sensing and Imaging
Register for the May 28 webinar.

Tuesday June 23, 2:30–3:30 p.m. EDT
Q&A for NSF X-Labs – Scientific Instrumentation for Sensing and Imaging
Register for the June 23 Q&A session.

Institutionally Coordinated - contact RDS if you are interested in this funding opportunity // Limit: 2 (lead organization)

SUBJECT TO CHANGE STATEMENT: The terms of this funding opportunity are actively under ORP review and the competition is thus subject to change. The solicitation indicates that academic institutions are not the end goal for this funding. 

Limiting Language 
An eligible organization can submit a maximum of two Written Proposals per Topic Announcement for Phase 0 as a lead organization. Senior/Key Personnel may be listed on a maximum of one Written Proposal per Topic Announcement.

Topic Description
Quantum computing and quantum information processing systems sit at the cusp of a watershed moment: through years of federally funded foundational discovery in quantum phenomena coupled with more recent industry investment in the buildout of quantum components and systems, the world is about to witness a new era in modern computation. Future quantum computing is expected to rapidly accelerate scientific discovery and use-driven applications in a range of technology sectors, while unlocking entirely new frontiers beyond the reach of classical computing. But to realize future functional and connected quantum systems will require further investment in foundational platform technologies centered on quantum interconnects and integrated quantum photonics, which will be key enablers to combine different quantum capabilities into a single system. 

Future quantum systems are expected to rely on interconnects to transfer quantum information – coherence and entanglement – between discrete physical subsystems. Quantum photonic technologies that utilize photons as robust carriers of quantum information in distributed architectures offer a compelling pathway toward scalable quantum computing, sensing and metrology, and networking. Integrated quantum photonics will further extend this capacity by enabling dense integration of optical components (e.g., entangled sources, interferometers, filters, switches, and detectors) onto compact chips and packages. 

NSF X-Labs in this Topic will focus on the research and development of technologies to enable next-generation quantum interconnects, integrated quantum photonics and/or their supporting technologies. NSF X-Labs teams will target specific platform technologies that, if successful, will provide a roadmap for the integration of second-generation quantum systems. Examples of relevant, currently unmet R&D challenges may include, but are not limited to: scalable modular architectures based on the interconnection of discrete processing units; interconnection of heterogeneous quantum sub-systems via quantum transducers; reconfigurable quantum photonic circuits for compact multi-qubit operations; and next-generation quantum light sources, low-loss waveguides, and integrated single-photon detectors. NSF X-Labs in this Topic will aim to develop foundational platform solutions that can form the basis for broad industry adoption and integrated, system-level capabilities. 

An NSF X-Labs Mission in this Topic must be transformative, accelerating breakthrough R&D in quantum technologies towards creating or reshaping new lines of research and technologies. Successful teams will develop platform technologies, overcome technical barriers facing quantum systems, demonstrate measurable impact on the U.S. science and technology landscape, and position their technologies for widespread use and investment. 

Examples of challenges not considered in scope for this Topic include computational or software solutions without practical integration into a quantum system, solutions that are inherently unsuitable for future scaling and commercial adoption, development of technologies where the impact is narrow and not widely deployable, fundamental research without potential for application in platform technologies, incremental advancement of the state-of-the-art, or advancement of technologies that are already appropriately developed to the point of full-scale commercialization.

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here. 

Upcoming Webinars 

Thursday, June 4, 2–3 p.m. EDT
Introduction to NSF X-Labs Funding Opportunity - Quantum Systems: Interconnects and Integrated Photonics
Register for the June 4 webinar.

Tuesday, June 30, 2–3 p.m. EDT
Q&A for NSF X-Labs - Quantum Systems: Interconnects and Integrated Photonics 
Register for the June 30 Q&A session.

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique UEI number) is allowed. As defined in the HHS Grants Policy Statement, applications received in response to the same NOFO generally are scored individually and then ranked with other applications under peer review in their order of relative programmatic, technical, or scientific merit. CDC/NIOSH will not accept any application in response to this NOFO that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application.

Purpose
 
NIOSH is seeking applications from qualified organizations for a National Center for Construction Safety and Health Research and Translation (also known as the NIOSH National Construction Center). Applicants are expected to propose multi-disciplinary approaches for impactful applied and intervention research and hazard identification and controls, to develop partnerships for implementing prevention and intervention activities, and to serve as leaders in research translation and research-to-practice for the protection of construction workers in the United States. The NIOSH National Construction Center will accomplish these goals by 1) integrating and advancing research, 2) translating and disseminating best practices, 3) disseminating information, 4) informing policy, and 5) building capacity. Applicants must describe the occupational health and safety burden(s) addressed in their proposals. In addition, they must link the need for the proposed research and related activities to the planned outputs and outcomes that will help address or alleviate the construction sector burdens described. Applicants should also describe the anticipated impacts and potential outcomes of the proposed research and related activities that will occur during the 5-year project period and beyond.

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

Limiting Language
The University of Arizona may submit two proposals for each cycle. 

Program Description
The APS Foundation supports programs that enhance academic achievement in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Since 1981, the Foundation has invested more than $44 million in projects throughout Arizona that help prepare students to compete in a 21st century economy.

A workforce proficient in STEM skills is critical to attracting and retaining high-quality businesses and industries to the state. The APS Foundation targets projects that help educators increase content knowledge in STEM subjects as well as the ability to transfer this knowledge effectively to students.

Typical funding amount to universities if $50-75k. 

Program Information: 

• Organizations must be registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity in good financial and public standing. At this University of Arizona, this means that your proposal will route through the University of Arizona Foundation. For more information on this, please contact Cyndi Laughren.
• Programs should demonstrate their ability to improve educational outcomes, increase access and/or offer an innovative approach to learning. The impact should be described and quantified where possible.
• Programs that support teacher professional development is APS Foundation’s primary focus. 
• Programs that impact students, supporting them in achievements in STEM, are the next priority.
• Pilot projects may be funded, and those awards are generally in the $10,000 - $30,000 range
• Programs requesting substantial funding (≥$75,000) should demonstrate proof of concept, detailed budget, and have a detailed execution plan.
• Strong measurements for proof of success are essential, especially for higher dollar asks. (At minimum, a pre, during, and post survey or variation of measurement will be required)
• Criteria used for evaluation include scalability, sustainability, and ability to leverage other funding (not required).
• Programs that serve underserved/under resourced students are well-received.
• All grantees will have specific reporting requirements and must submit a final evaluation before they can be considered for additional funding.

Please note, the APS Foundation will not support:
• Individuals
• Individual K-12 schools
• Religious organizations, churches and programs that are purely denominational in purpose
• Political, labor or fraternal organizations, associations or civic service clubs
• Legislative, lobbying or advocacy efforts or organizations
• Private or family foundations
• Animal shelters or agencies
• Foundations or organizations which are grant-making entities or that distribute funds to other nonprofit organizations (pass through)
• Start-up organizations defined as nonprofits whose ruling year has been granted by the IRS for less than three years
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status or any other classification protected by law
• Health organizations whose primary focus is funding programs or services for a specific disease or illness
• Sports teams or sporting programs
• Scouting troops
While not a part of our traditional grant program, the APS Foundation occasionally supports capital requests of our long-standing partners on an invite-only basis.

Proposal Tips from the spring cycle webinar: 

• Proposals should be written in lay language accessible to a broad audience.
• A detailed overview of the program is recommended. Instead of stating that you plan to support the professional development of teachers, outline how you plan to do so and what the deliverables will be.
• Describe and quantify the program's intended impact (number of students, teachers, etc) and reach.
• Multi-year funding is not available.
• Higher asks will be scrutinized at a higher level. Please ensure you have a solid description, strong success measurements, and have an established program/project for best chance of being successful.
• Pilot projects are allowable but tend to be funded at a lower dollar amount, typically in the $10,000 to $30,000 range.

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here. 

If you are interested in the FY 2027 Fulbright Specialist Program, please reach out to Danielle Barefoot, Associate for International Research Development and Fulbright Scholar Liaison. 

Internal Competition Under Peer Review // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 0

Limiting Language 
The Mathers Foundation Grants Program is a limited competition, where eligible organizations may submit up to three (3) institute-nominated Letter of Inquiry (LOI) applications per grant cycle. 

Program Overview
Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

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.

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

The University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) is coordinating this limited submission. For more information please contact: UACC-PreAward.

Limiting Language
The University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center (UACCC) can nominate up to two proposals for the Phi Beta Psi Research Grant 2026.

Applicant Eligibility
Research applications must be focused on brain, breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, gastrointestinal tract or prostate cancer.

• Preference is given to young investigators with documented evidence of potential for conducting novel research of either basic or clinical aspects of cancer and cancer-related problems.
• Applications from established investigators exploring new and innovative areas of cancer research will be considered.
• Post-doctoral fellows are not eligible.
• Research assistant professors may be eligible.
• The gold standard is as follows: if the individual is eligible to submit an R01 from their institution as Principal Investigator then they are eligible to submit a Phi Beta Psi grant application.

Funding Information:

• The research grants are based on the amount of donations from each Chapter to our Nation Project, cancer research. The organization anticipates six awards this year
• There is no set amount for this award but awards have ranged from $50,000 - $100,000+ in past years. (In 2025, the national membership voted to give $572K to six grant recipients. Each doctor received more than $95K.)
• Salaries of the Principal Investigators may not be included in the budget.
• The grants are intended to cover the salaries of people in the lab (post-docs, technicians, and biostatistician), not the PI or other senior-level faculty.
• Please note that Phi Beta Psi Charity Trust is a non-profit organization, which does not allow overhead costs to be charged by the host institution.
   

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 1 Coordination Hub Proposal

This funding opportunity is being institutionally coordinated by the Office of the Chief AI Officer. Please contact Dr. David Ebert, Cheif AI and Data Science Officer at ebertd@arizona.edu. 

Limiting Langauge
Coordination Hubs are limited to one proposal per institution.

Program Synopsis
TechAccess: AI-Ready America is a national-scale initiative to accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness and adoption across the U.S. by strengthening coordination, leveraging partnerships and resources, filling gaps, and scaling what works — so local and state priorities can lead in shaping an AI-driven economy that benefits all Americans.

Unlike initiatives centered around K – 16 education, AI-Ready America additionally reaches businesses, public-serving organizations, and individuals, among others, expanding access to AI knowledge, tools, and resources. The program also emphasizes practical implementation through hands-on assistance and workforce up-skilling, including experiential learning such as internships, project-based work, and apprenticeships, to ensure stakeholders can effectively apply and innovate with AI.

The program supports: 

1. State/Territory Coordination Hubs (Coordination Hubs) – one in every state, the District of Columbia (DC), or territory in the United States – connecting partners, strengthening planning and deployment, and rapidly scaling approaches;
2. A National Coordination Lead (National Lead) – facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among Coordination Hubs, coordinating priority economic sectors, and informing national AI strategies; and
3. AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions – a series of topic-driven competitions issued over the course of the program to pilot and scale innovative approaches that address critical national AI readiness needs.

This funding opportunity focuses on Coordination Hubs. The National Lead will be funded as an Other Transaction (OT) offered through an Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering. AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions will be announced through an NSF-approved mechanism, with proposals submitted according to the instructions provided at the time of announcement.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The institutional selection process is currently on hold. The Keck Foundation has made significant updates to their application process and number of allowed submissions. RDS is working to gain additional information on the new process and will provide an update to internal competition applicants as soon as one is available.

Internal Competition on Hold // Limit: 8 Concept Papers, 2 Phase I Proposals (1 Medical Research, 1 Science and Engineering)

 Program Description

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

The mandate of the W.M. Keck Research Program is to support pioneering discoveries in Science, Engineering, and Medical Research.  The Foundation funds the high-risk and high-impact work of leading researchers to lay the groundwork for new paradigms, technologies, and discoveries that will save lives, provide innovative solutions and add to our understanding of the world.

Keck funded projects are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field.  We prioritize grants that pioneer biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation or methodologies.

Fit Self-Test: A Keck-ready idea can answer “yes” to most of the following questions:

• Does it discover how something works?
• Does it challenge an existing assumption?
• Is failure still scientifically valuable?
• Would federal agencies likely say, “too early”?

Keck Prioritizes:

• Work that is paradigm shifting, or challenges a prevailing hypothesis
• Work that creates a new field, or bridges disparate fields
• Work that departs from current approaches or challenges existing assumptions or frameworks
• Fundamental basic science questions focused on how systems work and the underlying mechanisms that govern them
• Discovery-driven logic
• Research where failure is informative

Keck Disfavors:

• Clinical or translational research (i.e., development of therapeutics)
• Outcome or patient impact framing
• Biomarkers as endpoints
• Engineering for its own sake
• Large mammal studies when they function as clinical or validation trials
• Already funded or derivative work

Important notes:

• Keck seeks to fund basic science that advances fundamental understanding
• Keck funds science, not engineering – unless engineering is essential to answer a scientific question
• Keck funds medical research, not clinical research
• Federal rejection is not required, but Keck fills gaps where federal agencies are too risk adverse.
• Keck does not consider tools, platforms, or methods as the primary idea. Tools, AI, and engineering may be supported only if required to answer a basic scientific question.