Grants for Researchers

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF EPSCoR program (E-CORE) funds jurisdiction-wide efforts to build research infrastructure and capacity in eligible EPSCoR jurisdictions. Eligibility is limited to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, certain non-profit non-degree-granting research organizations with 501(c)(3) status, jurisdictional or state governments, and Tribal governments, and proposals must come from organizations within EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions. Submissions must be multi-organizational. Specific award amounts are not provided here, and the EPSCoR-jurisdiction restriction significantly narrows eligibility.

NASA Headquarters · Amount varies

This NASA program funds participation in the Hemispheric Airborne Measurements of Air Quality science team, part of NASA's ROSES-2025 research solicitation. Proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES, and NASA generally funds only U.S. institutions, with special rules for non-U.S. organizations. Specific award amounts are not provided here. Applicants should review the detailed program element text on NSPIRES, and the institutional-affiliation requirement narrows eligibility.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $300K–$2.5M

The NSF CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service program funds AI and cybersecurity education and workforce development, including scholarship programs and innovation projects. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education (community colleges only as sub-awardees on the Scholarship Track) and certain non-profit non-academic organizations on the Innovation Track. PIs must hold qualifying academic or research appointments, and scholarship recipients must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who later work in government. Awards range from about $300,000 to $2.5 million.

U.S. National Science Foundation · From $400K

The NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program offers prestigious awards supporting early-career faculty who integrate research and education. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education and certain non-profit, non-academic research organizations applying on behalf of faculty, and a PI may submit only one CAREER proposal per year and participate in at most three competitions. The listed minimum is about $400,000 with no stated maximum. PECASE recognition is selected from CAREER awardees and cannot be applied for directly.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $50K–$200K

This NOAA program funds projects to sustainably manage coral reef fisheries, including developing fishery management plans and addressing science gaps. Eligibility is limited to regional fishery management councils, nongovernmental organizations or research institutions with demonstrated coral reef expertise, designated coral reef research centers, U.S. states, territories or local governments with reef authority, and Native entities. Awards are expected to range from $50,000 to $200,000, and proposals under $50,000 will not be accepted. Applicants must demonstrate specific coral reef conservation expertise, so this is narrowly targeted.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award supports individual investigators pursuing novel engineering research in priority areas such as AI, bioengineering, quantum, robotics, and nuclear engineering. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education and certain non-profit, non-academic research organizations applying on behalf of a PI. The PI must hold a tenured or tenure-eligible associate or full professor appointment (or equivalent) with engineering credentials, and only single-PI proposals are accepted. Specific award amounts are not listed, and the faculty-rank and single-PI requirements make this narrowly targeted.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture · $50K–$500K

This USDA NIFA program funds research, education, and extension on urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production through competitive grants. A broad set of applicants is eligible, including agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, research institutions, federal agencies, national labs, private organizations and corporations, individuals, and groups of these entities. Applications must include local community organizations on the project team. Awards range from about $50,000 to $500,000, and proposals involving multiple eligible applicants receive priority.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

NSF's SBIR/STTR program, with a pilot emphasis on scientific instrumentation, funds startups and small businesses developing next-generation instrumentation and enabling technologies. Eligibility is limited to small business concerns (up to 500 employees including affiliates), and STTR proposals must include a partner research institution. Phase I requires an invitation following a Project Pitch, and Phase II is limited to prior NSF Phase I awardees. Specific award amounts are not stated here, and the invitation and prior-award gates restrict who can apply.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $500K–$30M

The NSF Integrated Data Systems and Services (IDSS) program funds national-scale data cyberinfrastructure systems and services that broadly enable data- and AI-driven research. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, certain non-profit non-academic research organizations, and other federal agencies and FFRDCs. Awards range widely, from about $500,000 to $30 million. Projects that primarily benefit a single discipline or application are not supported, narrowing the program's focus.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Department of War (Defense Health Agency) Kidney Cancer Research Program Concept Award supports highly innovative, untested, high-risk basic kidney cancer research that could open new avenues of investigation. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any type of entity, subject to clarification in the full announcement. Preliminary data are not allowed, and the review is double-blinded, so applications must not identify the investigator or organization. Specific award amounts are not provided here.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Department of War / Defense Health Agency (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Research Advancement Award supports fundamental research that contributes to patient care or quality of life in a congressionally directed FY26 topic area, and applications must include preliminary data. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any entity type, though this is research funding typically pursued by institutions and investigators. Awards are capped at about $1.4M each over up to four years, with roughly 14 awards anticipated.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Biological Anthropology Program funds basic research on human and primate evolution, biological variation, and the interactions between biology, behavior, and culture. Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, certain non-profit non-academic research organizations, and federally recognized Tribal Nations applying on behalf of a PI. PIs must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent sufficient for independent research. Specific award amounts are not provided here.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Developmental Sciences program funds basic research on perceptual, cognitive, social, emotional, language, and biological development across the lifespan. A relatively broad set of applicants is eligible, including U.S. institutions of higher education, non-profit non-academic research organizations, for-profit organizations including small businesses, state and local governments, Tribal Nations, and (for cooperative projects) foreign organizations for the U.S. portion only. PIs must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent. Budgets vary widely and no fixed award amount is specified; the program does not fund clinical trials or health-outcome research.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Department of War / Defense Health Agency (CDMRP) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Discovery Award supports novel, high-risk, high-reward research within a congressionally directed FY26 topic area, and applications must not include preliminary data. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any entity type, though this is research funding typically pursued by institutions and investigators. Awards are capped at about $385,000 each over a two-year period, with roughly 29 awards anticipated.

NASA Headquarters · Amount varies

This NASA ROSES-2025 Solar System Science (C.2) program supports planetary and solar system research and generally funds only U.S.-affiliated institutions; proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES, which typically means universities and research organizations rather than individuals. Non-U.S. organizations may participate only under a no-exchange-of-funds policy. Award amounts are not specified here and depend on the detailed program element text. There is no fixed due date, but August 1, 2026 is the last day to submit under ROSES-25 rules.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $850K

This is a limited-competition NIH/NHGRI (UM1) opportunity supporting ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) research in human genetics/genomics. It is restricted to domestic organizations that received less than $30 million per year in total NIH funding over the past three fiscal years, deliberately favoring institutions underrepresented in NHGRI funding. The maximum award is around $850,000. Because of the funding-history cap and transdisciplinary research requirements, eligibility is narrow and aimed at research institutions.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The U.S. National Science Foundation's Science and Technology Studies (STS) program supports interdisciplinary research on the conceptual foundations, history, and social context of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Eligibility varies by proposal type: most categories are limited to U.S. institutions of higher education and U.S. non-profit, non-academic organizations, while dissertation grants are limited to higher-ed institutions and conference support has no limitations. This is research-oriented funding; review the PAPPG for the eligibility tied to your proposal type. Award amounts are not specified here.

Fish and Wildlife Service · $2K–$500K

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking research, restoration, and Regional Project proposals under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, open to states, Indian Tribes, and other interested entities. A key restriction is that proposed work must be within the Great Lakes Basin or affect a species present there. Funded proposals have ranged from about $2,000 to $500,000 (averaging around $217,000), with roughly $3.5 million expected this year, subject to Congressional appropriations.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The U.S. National Science Foundation's Perception, Action & Cognition (PAC) program supports empirical and theoretical research on human perceptual, motor, and cognitive processes and their interactions. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any entity type, though awards typically go to universities and research organizations. Proposals focused mainly on neural structure/function mapping, clinical populations, or non-human animals may be returned without review. Award amounts are not specified here.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The U.S. National Science Foundation's Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program supports projects that strengthen the mathematical sciences research community, including infrastructure, training, and conferences/workshops with regional or national impact. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, open to any entity type subject to clarification, though in practice these awards typically go to universities and research organizations. Proposals must demonstrate impact beyond the submitting institution. Specific award amounts are not provided here.