Physical Sciences & Engineering

W.M. Keck Foundation: Science & Engineering AND Medical Research Programs - Spring 2025

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: 1
N. Zhao (Nutritional Science and Wellness)
S. Goldman (Medicine) 
H. Sadek (Sarver Heart Center - COM-T)

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.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
05/01/2025
Solicitation Type

2025 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards

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.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
January 8, 2025

DOS DFOP0016763: 2024 FY24 EB ITSI Programs Costa Rica – Statements of Interest

No Applicants  // Limit:  2*  // Tickets Available: 2

 

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.

This solicitation is specific to Costa Rica and includes two (2) categories under which applicants may submit SOIs:
1) Workforce Development
2) Policy and Regulatory Reform

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. 

 

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Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
08/16/2024

DOS DFOP0016764: 2024 FY24 EB ITSI Programs Philippines – Statements of Interest

No Applicants  // Limit:  2*  // Tickets Available: 2

 

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.

This solicitation is specific to the Philippines and includes two (2) categories under which applicants may submit SOIs: 

1) Workforce Development
2) Policy and Regulatory Reform.

 

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.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
08/16/2024

DOS DFOP0016767: 2024 FY24 EB ITSI Programs Mexico – Statements of Interest

Limit:  3*  // Tickets Available: 1

  • Limit of three and 1 per category.

Van Dyke. M ( College of Engineering)- 1) Workforce Development
Van Dyke. M ( College of Engineering) - 3) Supply Chain Development. 

This solicitation is specific to Mexico and includes three (3) categories under which applicants may submit SOIs: 

1) Workforce Development
2) Policy and Regulatory Reform
3) Supply Chain Development. 

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. 

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
08/16/2024

DOS DFOP0016759: FY24 EB ITSI Programs Vietnam – Statements of Interest

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 

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
08/16/2024

DOE DE-FOA-0003289: FY 2025 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator

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

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
10/07/2024

DOE DE-FOA-0003329: FY2025 Smart Manufacturing Technologies for Material and Process Innovation

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.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
08/22/2024 ( Concept paper)

DOE DE-FOA-0003323: 2024 Water Power Innovation Network

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

 

 

An entity may submit only one Concept Paper and one Full Application to this FOA.

This FOA seeks applications for new and/or expanded water power incubation or accelerator programs to address the commercialization needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses in marine energy and/or hydropower. The strategic goals of this FOA are to:

  • Foster business creation, innovation, and competition in the water power field.
  • Increase the diversity of people, perspectives, and ideas in water power.
  • Ease commercialization pathways for water power entrepreneurs and small businesses to accelerate the commercialization of water power systems and solutions.
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
08/01/2024

National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) Consortium: 2024 NSTC Workforce Partner Alliance (WFPA) program

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

 

Up to 10 Projects  |  Up to $2M  |  1-2 Years of Programming

Through the Workforce Partner Alliance program, Natcast plans to make awards to 4-10 high-impact projects. Projects should be one (1) to two (2) years in duration with a total budget between $500,000 to $2 million per award.

Proposals can support established programs with a track record of success seeking to scale; growing programs seeking to expand or realign; or new programs that meet a previously unaddressed need, opportunity, or theory of change. Applicants will be asked to assess the level of maturity for their program as part of the application process.

Illustrative examples of evidence-based workforce development strategies and methodologies that may be considered for this program include, but are not limited to initiatives that:

  • Support paid work-based learning, including registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs
  • Issue industry-recognized credentials
  • Confer semiconductor industry-relevant degrees, such as undergraduate or graduate programs in computer engineering, electrical engineering, technology, informatics, computer programming, chemical engineering, or industrial engineering, offered by two- or four-year colleges or universities
  • Modernize or create curriculum, including with direct input from employers
  • Combine on-the-job training, industry-aligned curriculum, effective classroom instruction, mentorship, credentialing, and/or recognized wage gains for demonstrated skills milestones  
  • Provide training integrated with wraparound supports that reduce barriers to entry in program participation e.g. childcare, transportation
  • Facilitate experiential learning opportunities such as co-ops, externships, internships, or capstone projects 

Construction activities are not an allowable cost under this program.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

The NSTC Workforce Partner Alliance program is open to:

  • For-profit organizations that are incorporated in the United States
  • Accredited institutions of higher education
  • Training providers
  • State and local government agencies
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Unions
  • Other organizations

Eligible entities for this program must have a presence in the United States.

Individuals and unincorporated businesses are not eligible, nor are foreign entities or entities associated with foreign countries of concern.

While entities are not required to be NSTC members at the time of application, Natcast will work with each awardee so they can become an NSTC member at the time of Award. 

Please see the full CFP documentation for further details.

Funding Type
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
07/26/2024
Solicitation Type