Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program 2025 Solicitation 1 is a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. This program creates a pathway for doctoral students to advance their PhD thesis research by conducting extended residencies at DOE National Laboratories alongside world-class scientists using state-of-the-art facilities. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents actively pursuing PhDs at accredited U.S. institutions whose thesis research aligns with DOE Office of Science priority areas. Supplemental stipend awards cover living expenses during the laboratory residency, which typically lasts 3 to 12 months. Applications for 2025 Solicitation 1 are due May 6, 2026. Participants may also have opportunities for short international research visits to institutions such as CERN or RIKEN.

Building EPSCoR-State/National Laboratory Partnerships is a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science that funds fundamental, early-stage energy research collaborations between universities in EPSCoR states and DOE National Laboratories. The program aims to advance understanding of the physical world by building research capacity in jurisdictions historically underrepresented in competitive federal research funding. Participation by undergraduate students, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows is required, and early career faculty are especially encouraged to apply. Use of DOE user facilities is encouraged. Eligible applicants are universities and national laboratories in EPSCoR-eligible states. The deadline is May 21, 2026.

The Department of Defense FY2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) provides funding for U.S. universities to acquire research equipment and instrumentation in areas important to national defense, including AI and machine learning hardware. The program is administered jointly by the Army Research Office (ARO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), with approximately $34 million available and 95 awards anticipated. DURIP funds the acquisition of specialized computing hardware for AI/ML research (GPU clusters, TPUs, neuromorphic processors), robotics and autonomous systems testbeds, sensor arrays and data collection systems for machine learning training, high-performance computing infrastructure for defense-relevant AI research, and laboratory equipment for human-AI interaction studies. The program specifically supports equipment that enhances research-related education in DoD-priority disciplines. While general-purpose computing is not eligible, computing equipment directly supporting DoD-relevant AI research programs qualifies. No cost sharing is required.

Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants is sponsored by California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). This program supports Caltrans' mission to improve lives and communities by funding projects that promote sustainable, safe, and accessible transportation across California. It includes Sustainable Communities Grants, which encourage local/regional planning supporting state goals and greenhouse gas reduction targets, and Strategic Partnerships Grants, which address statewide, interregional, or regional transportation deficiencies on the State Highway System in partnership with Caltrans.