Physical Sciences & Engineering

The submission for this funding program is coordinated by the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing. Please contact Dan Moseke, Projects Director, for more information.

Limiting Language
Institutes should limit their submissions to no more than 2 proposals for each degree cohort.

Overview
Intel Corporation, in collaboration with Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), invites universities located in Ohio, Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico to submit proposals for participation in the Intel Scholarship & Fellowship Program. This program is designed to build a pipeline of highly skilled professionals with advanced degrees in semiconductor-related disciplines in regions where Intel has significant operations. The initiative will provide funding to support scholarships and fellowships for eligible MS and PhD students. A key desired outcome is to increase retention and degree attainment in advanced degrees in engineering and STEM disciplines of interest to the semiconductor industry.   Selected institutions will collaborate with SRC and Intel personnel to recruit, mentor, and support students in critical academic disciplines, preparing them for careers in semiconductor innovation 

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

Limiting Language
Yes, each lead organization can submit only one application.

Program Description
ENERGYWERX, through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) program, is looking to fund pilot tests of innovative interconnection solutions under the Interconnection Cost Reduction Solutions for Distribution (iCRS-D) program. This program will help address the National Energy Emergency by supporting innovations to streamline and expedite interconnection services by implementing cutting-edge technology solutions, such as grid enhancing technologies, grid-interactive loads, flexible interconnection, micro-grids, and many other innovations. The iCRS-D program aims to reduce interconnection costs related to grid upgrades by 70% for generators, large loads, and hybrid facilities connecting to the distribution grids.

To usher in a new era of American prosperity, we must ensure all Americans and domestic industries have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity. United States electricity demand is growing at an extraordinary pace due to the rapid rise of large commercial and industrial loads (e.g., data centers) and electrification. The challenge is compounded as Americans face rising electricity prices across the country.

The iCRS-D Program will provide $4 million to fund up to four organizations, each of which will lead a multi-stakeholder partnership at the local, state, or regional level. Each partnership will execute a Lighthouse Project - a pilot program that develops and demonstrates new technologies and effective solutions - to increase data access and transparency, streamline and expedite interconnection services, and maximize economic efficiency. Lead organizations, with their partners, will apply their distribution-level interconnection expertise to prioritize and adapt practical solutions for load and generation interconnection. These efforts will deliver tested approaches to scalable interconnection innovations that improve processes, reduce overall costs, and maintain a reliable grid.

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.

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0

K. Muralidharan (Materials Science and Engineering) 

Limiting Language
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1

Program Description 
NSF NQNI responds to national and community research priorities that will advance nanoscale and quantum science and engineering and grow U.S. leadership in critical and emerging technologies. These include quantum technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), manufacturing, biotechnology, and others.

NQNI will provide broad access to domestic QISE research infrastructure as called for in the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-368) and Administration priorities. NSF support for world-class research infrastructure will help U.S. researchers meet the needs of innovative quantum systems.

NSF developed the NQNI program with input on future research infrastructure needs from academia, government, industry, and U.S. National Laboratories. The workshop report, Nanotechnology Infrastructure of the Future (2023, NSF award 2331369), emphasized the need to continue supporting nanotechnology infrastructure; it concluded that such resources are "essential for quantum science and engineering and other emerging national research priorities." The workshop report, Workshop on Quantum Engineering Infrastructure II (2025, NSF award 2405015), affirmed that NSF nanofabrication infrastructure programs are highly valuable for quantum research; it also stated that such infrastructure should support quantum "technologies that require higher-levels of integration, yet have the flexibility to work with emerging platforms."

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

Limiting Language
The University of Arizona is only eligible to submit to Topic Area 2: General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI)

Topic Area 2: General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI)
An eligible applicant may submit only one application to this topic area. If an entity submits more than
one full application, the DOE will only review the last submission.

Program Purpose 
The Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) program purpose is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet U.S. energy, environmental and economic needs. NE enables innovation, supports unique research infrastructure, and solves crosscutting challenges facing the nuclear energy sector through research, development and demonstration. NE has identified the following goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, and leverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation:

• Enable continued operation of existing U.S. nuclear reactors.
• Enable deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.
• Develop advanced nuclear fuel cycles.
• Maintain U.S. leadership in nuclear energy technology.

Investing in the next generation of nuclear energy leaders and advancing university-led nuclear
innovation is vital to fulfilling NE's mission, which is primarily accomplished through NE’s Nuclear Energy
University Program (NEUP). NEUP was established in 2009 to consolidate NE’s university support and
enable the integration of university research within NE’s technical programs. Through various
competitive award opportunities, the program engages with U.S. universities and colleges to conduct
research and development (R&D), enhance infrastructure, and support student education, thereby
contributing to the development of a world-class nuclear energy and workforce capability.

Expected Performance Goals:
Topic Area 2: General Scientific Infrastructure (GSI)

• Procurement of equipment, software, instrumentation, and associated non-reactor upgrade
  requests that support nuclear energy-related R&D or education.
• Procurement of equipment and instrumentation for specialized facilities, classrooms, and
  teaching laboratories, and non-reactor NS&E research.
• Procurement of infrastructure that supports the sharing and use of equipment and
  instrumentation by multiple campuses of a university, multiple universities, or with national
  laboratories is encouraged.

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 0

Kenry (Pharmacology and Toxicology)
B. Miles (Astronomy)

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: 1

Track 3: Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Track 4: Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0
D. Hockstad (Tech Launch Arizona)

Track 5: No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

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.