NSF Grants

Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) is sponsored by NSF CISE. Supports the development of transformative high-risk, high-reward advances in computer and information science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, behavioral and/or cognitive research to address pressing questions in the biomedical and public health communities.

NSF 25-509: Emerging Mathematics in Biology (eMB) is a grant from NSF that funds integrative research projects applying innovative mathematical theories and techniques to significant biological questions. The program supports truly interdisciplinary work at the interface of mathematics, biology, and public health, encouraging novel use of mathematical tools to advance biological understanding and inform public health policy. Eligible applicants include accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education with campuses in the United States. Full proposals are due March 1 annually, with total funding ranging from $2 million to $6 million across multiple awards.

America's Seed Fund NSF SBIR Phase I is a grant from the National Science Foundation that provides non-dilutive seed capital of up to ,000 to early-stage startups for research and development of deep technologies based on discoveries in fundamental science and engineering. Since 1977, the program has funded approximately 400 companies per year across nearly all technology areas and markets, including artificial intelligence, energy, medical devices, robotics, and semiconductors. NSF takes no equity in funded companies, allowing founders to retain full control over their team, direction, and intellectual property. Applications are evaluated based on technological innovativeness, commercial potential, and possible societal impact. Eligibility is limited to for-profit U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The program encourages participation from first-time entrepreneurs across all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education (FIRE) program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF FIRE program supports bold, coordinated research and education efforts to advance wildland fire science, education, and resilience. This includes research on fire behavior prediction, community safety near wildlands, and innovative solutions in research and education.

Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education (FIRE) is a grant from the NSF Directorate for Engineering that funds convergent research, education, and networking activities to improve understanding, prediction, and community resilience to wildland fire. The program addresses the growing complexity of wildland fire and its interactions with communities, infrastructure, and natural environments. Supported activities include fundamental fire science research, interdisciplinary approaches linking natural and social sciences, and education initiatives to build the fire science workforce. Eligible applicants include academic institutions and non-profit organizations. Applications were due April 7, 2026. Award amounts vary based on project scope.

Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education (FIRE) program is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The FIRE program invites innovative multidisciplinary and multisector investigations focused on convergent research and education activities in wildland fire. All areas of science, engineering, and education supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation are included.

Digital Health (DH) Grant (NSF SBIR) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This grant supports entrepreneurs and startups in the earliest stages of developing innovative, differentiated, and novel technologies that aim to improve physical or mental well-being or health, enable or assist individuals to increase or regain independence and quality of life, and improve healthcare delivery, including efficiency, reducing cost, or improving outcomes. Technologies in this portfolio include those applying AI in healthcare, personalized medicine, EHR/EMR, clinical decision support, and smart/connected medical devices. Specific sub-topics include Healthcare Workflow, Economics, and Delivery.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program - Space (SP) Topic is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America's Seed Fund, offers non-dilutive funding to U. S. -based startups and small businesses developing high-risk, high-impact technologies with strong commercial potential.

Digital Health (DH) Topic is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR/STTR. The Digital Health topic supports entrepreneurs and startups developing innovative technologies to improve physical or mental well-being or health, enable or assist individuals to increase or regain independence and quality of life, and improve healthcare delivery. This includes technologies applying AI in healthcare, medical image analysis, personalized medicine, EHR/EMR, clinical decision support, computer-aided diagnostics, support or therapy, and smart/connected medical devices.

National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NQNI) is a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) that funds the development and expansion of shared research infrastructure supporting quantum information science and nanotechnology education and research. The program aims to build a national network of accessible, state-of-the-art facilities enabling faculty, students, and researchers to conduct cutting-edge work in these emerging fields. Eligible applicants are typically institutions of higher education and related organizations involved in STEM education and research. The application deadline is May 14, 2026.

Law and Science Dissertation Grant (LSDG) Program is sponsored by Arizona State University (funded by NSF SBE #2016661). The Law and Science Dissertation Grant (LSDG) program provides financial support for graduate students in diverse law-and-science disciplines to conduct their doctoral dissertation research. Although administered by ASU, any doctoral student in law and science at a U.S. institution is eligible to apply.

AERA-NSF Grants Program (Research Grants) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) (administered by American Educational Research Association - AERA). This program, funded by NSF, offers small grants to support field-initiated research using large-scale designed and administrative data sets from federal agencies. The goal is to enhance the capability of the education research community and promote rigorous education research.

AERA-NSF Grants Program: Dissertation Grants is a grant from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds advanced doctoral students to analyze data and complete their dissertations in education research. The program supports field-initiated research using large-scale designed and administrative datasets from NCES, NSF, and other federal agencies, with a focus on producing policy- and practice-relevant studies in STEM education. Over 600 graduate students and early career scholars have received support through this program over three decades. Eligible applicants are advanced doctoral students who have not yet earned their degree. Research Grants for postdoctoral and doctoral-level scholars are also available. The 2026 proposal deadline is May 20, 2026.

Cloud and High-Performance Computing (CH) SBIR/STTR Program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This NSF SBIR/STTR program funds small businesses developing innovations that result in substantial improvements to cloud computing or high-performance computing platforms. This includes improvements in computing power, efficiency, energy management, data storage, latency, data integrity and availability, and cost, which can be software or hardware-based.

Cloud and High-Performance Computing (CH) - NSF SBIR is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This NSF SBIR topic focuses on innovations that significantly improve cloud computing or high-performance computing platforms, including aspects like computing power, efficiency, and energy management, which can result from software- or hardware-based innovations, including thos…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) (SBIR Program) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This SBIR program focuses on cutting-edge technologies in deep learning-based AI systems and AI-based hardware. It emphasizes next-generation AI technologies that are safe, reliable, fair, robust, privacy-preserving, and efficient. It also includes cutting-edge hardware technologies needed for sustainable AI and edge devices.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) SBIR/STTR Phase I is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This NSF SBIR/STTR topic focuses on cutting-edge AI technologies that are safe, reliable, fair, robust against adversaries, privacy-preserving, and efficient. It also includes novel hardware technologies for sustainable AI, edge devices (i.e., intelligent systems on a chip for applications such as voice assistants), and AI technologies that lead to better hardware systems. The program funds high-risk, high-impact technologies with strong commercial potential.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) (NSF SBIR) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR. This topic focuses on cutting-edge technologies in deep learning-based AI systems and AI-based hardware. It emphasizes next-generation AI technologies that are safe, reliable, fair, robust, privacy-preserving, and efficient, including those that can improve surgical outcomes or identify mental health challenges.

Quantum Information Technologies (QT) is sponsored by NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR). This NSF SBIR/STTR topic focuses on innovations in information and communications technologies that fundamentally rely on quantum mechanical properties and interactions. This includes developing faster, more efficient, or more secure information processing and communications, with an emphasis on robustness, reliability, scalability, and practical operation. Examples include qubit generation and detection, error correction, and quantum cryptography.

The NSF Convergence Accelerator is a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds multidisciplinary teams working to solve national-scale societal challenges through convergence research and innovation. Launched in 2019 under NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, the program operates in two phases: Phase 1 awards are up to $750,000, with successful teams advancing to larger Phase 2 awards. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education and nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Track I and Track K focus on specific high-priority topics announced each funding cycle. The next deadline is June 15, 2026. Proposals must comply with updated NSF research security policies effective July 2025.

TechAccess: AI-Ready America is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). This program, supported by NSF CISE, focuses on making America AI-Ready. Given CISE's emphasis on broadening participation in computing and developing a diverse workforce, this program is likely to include initiatives that benefit underrepresented populations in tech.

NHMRC-SNSF Joint Research Projects (JRP) Call for Proposals 2026 is sponsored by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) & Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). This joint call invites research proposals addressing key challenges related to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare for populations of diverse sex, gender or sexual orientations or other underrepresented population groups.

AI Forge: Accelerating AI breakthroughs for national security is sponsored by DARPA and U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). AI Forge is a joint research and development program by DARPA and NSF, in collaboration with NIST, to catalyze breakthroughs in AI for national security. It aims to accelerate progress towards AI that is reliable, predictable, understandable, and secure in contested environments.

AI Forge Initiative for University Research on AI Interpretability, Control, and Adversarial Robustness is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The AI Forge initiative is a university-only research forum that funds Project Ventures focusing on AI interpretability, AI control, and adversarial robustness. It aims to accelerate trustworthy and secure foundation-model and frontier-AI research at U.S. universities by pairing academic teams with a rapid, milestone-driven venture structure. The program is designed to solve critical AI challenges for national security.

NSF SBIR NewActive Small Business Innovation Research is a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds high-risk, high-impact research and development by U.S. small businesses with strong commercial and societal potential. Awards reach up to 305,000 dollars for Phase I. Eligible companies must have fewer than 500 employees, be located in the United States, and have at least 50% equity owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents. NSF does not fund companies majority-owned by venture capital, private equity, or hedge funds. All funded work must be performed in the United States. The principal investigator must be employed at least 20 hours per week by the applicant company. Applications begin with a Project Pitch submission, with funding decisions typically issued approximately six months after full proposal submission.

Behavioral Health Integration – Medications for Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorder is sponsored by Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) - Oklahoma Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This funding opportunity expands access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) for rural communities in Oklahoma. It supports evidence-based provider upskilling and/or integrated/alternative care delivery models (e.g., hub-and-spoke, mobile units, telehealth-enabled approaches). Awards must benefit rural populations (55,000 or fewer).

Scientific Instrumentation for Sensing and Imaging is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). Part of the NSF X-Labs initiative, this funding opportunity seeks proposals to build the next generation of scientific instruments, drawing on quantum sensing, artificial intelligence-driven computational imaging, and entirely new chemical modalities. This can include developing platform technologies for advanced imaging, potentially incorporating self-supervised learning for image processing and quantitative analysis.

TechAccess: AI-Ready America is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL ETA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This program aims to expand access to AI knowledge, tools, training, and capacity building for all Americans.

Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Education Innovation and Scholarship for Service - Scholarship Track (NSF 26-503) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This program addresses the talent shortfall in AI and cybersecurity by welcoming proposals that focus on education and workforce development. It funds academic institutions to establish or continue scholarship-for-service programs with integrated AI and cybersecurity components.

CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service, solicitation NSF 26-503, is the artificial intelligence era successor to NSF's 25-year-old CyberCorps Scholarship for Service programme. The rename is substantive rather than cosmetic: CyberAI is defined as both using AI in cybersecurity and providing security and resilience for AI systems, and the solicitation supports scholarships and educational innovations that integrate AI and cybersecurity training to prepare a skilled US workforce for the AI and cybersecurity mission of government organisations. Two tracks are available. The Scholarship Track, capped at 2.5 million dollars over a mandatory three-year budget duration, funds student stipends, tuition and professional allowances for CyberAI students who commit to federal, state, local or tribal government service after graduation. The Innovation Track, capped at 500,000 dollars, funds curriculum and capacity-building work without the scholarship pipeline commitment. Two Scholarship Track competitions ran under this solicitation in 2026: a fiscal year 2026 competition with a target date of 3 April 2026 and a fiscal year 2027 competition with a hard deadline of 21 July 2026, after which proposals are not accepted. Community colleges are eligible as subawardees under the Scholarship Track, which makes this one of the few large federal AI workforce instruments with a real two-year college on-ramp. Institutions considering this programme should recognise that it is a placement programme first: award performance is judged partly on whether graduates actually enter government service, and proposals without a credible agency placement strategy are weak regardless of curriculum quality.

The NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) is a grant from the National Science Foundation that funds early-career faculty who demonstrate potential to serve as academic role models and lead advances in research and education. Awards range from $400,000 to over $500,000 across five years, with a minimum of $400,000 for the Chemistry directorate. The program is also the NSF component of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Eligible applicants are untenured, tenure-track assistant professors at U.S. institutions who are within 10 years of earning their PhD, have not previously received a CAREER award, and have not exceeded three career submissions. The next deadline is July 22, 2026.

NSF 26-502: NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) is sponsored by NSF Directorate for Engineering, Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities. NSF 26-502: NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) is a grant from the NSF Directorate for Engineering that supports individual investigators proposing novel research with the potential to catalyze new industries or make significant progress toward national engin…

Advanced Manufacturing (M) SBIR/STTR Program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF funds startups and small businesses to create advanced manufacturing technology through research and development grants. The program supports emerging innovations in manufacturing with the potential to stimulate the nation's manufacturing sector by improving efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability. Proposals should be driven by a foundational technology that significantly advances the way products are made, including new manufacturing processes, equipment, automation, modeling, and materials/minerals.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (Artificial Intelligence Topic) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF SBIR program funds small businesses to develop cutting-edge deep learning-based AI systems, AI-based hardware, and other novel AI technologies with significant commercial and societal impact, supporting early-stage feasibility and technical validation. This program offers non-dilutive funds for use-inspired research and development (R&D) of unproven, leading-edge, technology innovations that address societal challenges.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF SBIR/STTR programs provide non-dilutive funding for research and development (R&D) of unproven, leading-edge technology innovations with commercial and societal potential. The program encourages participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses. It funds startups and small businesses to translate scientific and engineering discoveries into scalable products and services. Mobile app software development with a strong technological innovation component would be relevant.

Artificial Intelligence Grant (SBIR/STTR) is a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation that funds early-stage R&D in artificial intelligence and other deep technology areas for small businesses. Through America's Seed Fund, NSF provides up to $275,000 in Phase I funding with no equity taken, allowing founders to retain full control of their intellectual property and company direction. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based small businesses with fewer than 500 employees and at least 50% U.S. citizen or permanent resident ownership. Applications for the new solicitation cycle open June 2, 2026, with proposals due July 27, 2026.

Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support (ACCESS) - Maximize Allocations is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF ACCESS program provides U. S. -based researchers with free access to High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, including GPU clusters. Maximize allocations are for the largest awards and follow a semi-annual review cycle.

Rural Clinical Fellowship for Advanced Practice Providers and Other Clinicians (Rural Health Transformation Program) is sponsored by Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (via federal Rural Health Transformation Program). This RFP supports the development of rural clinical fellowship programs to prepare and train advanced practice providers, behavioral healthcare professionals, and oral healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive rural clinical care.

Law & Science (LS) Program is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The Law & Science program supports research that advances scientific theory and understanding of the connections between human behavior and law, legal institutions, or legal processes; or the interactions of law and basic sciences. Topics include, but are not limited to, legal decision making.

NSF Dynamic Language Infrastructure - NEH Documenting Endangered Languages (DLI-DEL) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This joint funding program supports projects to develop and advance scientific and scholarly knowledge concerning endangered human languages, with an emphasis on digital recording, documentation, analysis, and archiving of endangered language data.

RHTP 5.3 Modification of Existing Clinical Facilities for Mental Health Crisis is sponsored by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (Federal - Rural Health Transformation Program). This RFA provides funding for equipment and enhancements to hospitals and behavioral health providers to expand crisis response, stabilization, and substance use withdrawal services in rural areas.

Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Geosciences (GEO). While not directly focused on climate risk, this program supports advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agent Ecosystems. Research that leverages AI for climate risk assessment, environmental modeling, or developing open-source tools for environmental consulting could be relevant.

Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) - Directorate for Engineering (ENG) and Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). This program supports departments that want to rethink engineering education and design 'revolutionary new approaches to engineering education, ranging from changing the canon of engineering to fundamentally altering the way courses are structured to creating new departmental st…

A Science of Science Approach to Analyzing and Innovating the Biomedical Research Enterprise is sponsored by NSF Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate. This program, a collaboration between NSF and NIH, seeks proposals that advance the understanding of the biomedical research enterprise using scientific expertise from the science of science policy research community.

Computer and Information Science and Engineering: Core Programs is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Computer, Communication, and Information Systems (CISE). This program supports foundational and interdisciplinary research across all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering to advance the future of technology, systems, and human-centered innovation.

Computer and Information Science and Engineering : Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) NSF 25-543 is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). This program supports transformative research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering. SLX JAVORIAN TECHNOLOGY INC.'

CISE Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) Programs is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) CISE Directorate. The NSF CISE Directorate supports research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering through various Future CoRe programs. This includes areas relevant to computing infrastructure and advanced computing.

The NSF CISE Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) program supports research in computing and communication foundations, intelligent systems, and network systems. The program funds innovative research that advances the frontiers of computing including artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics. This is one of NSF's largest computing research programs with $280 million in total budget. Projects can address fundamental computing challenges, novel AI architectures, scalable intelligent systems, and next-generation network infrastructure.

NSF Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) - NSF TTP-Translate (NSF TTP-T) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF TTP program focuses on real-world applications of all areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Proposers can tailor their research and/or innovation activities to solve specific problems faced by consumers, industries, and/or governments.

Joint DMS/NIGMS Initiative to Support Research at the Interface of the Biological and Mathematical Sciences (DMS/NIGMS) is sponsored by NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) / National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). This initiative supports research in mathematics and statistics necessary to answer important questions in biological and biomedical sciences.

Joint DMS/NIGMS Initiative to Support Research at the Interface of the Biological and Mathematical Sciences is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). Supports fundamental research in mathematics and statistics necessary to answer questions in the biological and biomedical sciences, fostering collaboration between the mathematical and life sciences communities.

Structural and Architectural Engineering and Materials (SAEM) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The SAEM program supports fundamental research for advancing knowledge and innovation in structural and architectural engineering and materials that promotes a holistic approach to analysis and design, construction, operation, maintenance, retrofit, and repair of structures. This includes research in new engineering concepts and design paradigms for buildings with significantly reduced dependence on municipal infrastructure through, for example, building components that can aid in minimizing fresh water consumption or can promote self-heating-cooling-ventilating. For buildings, all components including the foundation-structure-envelope (the façade, curtain-wall, windows, and roofing) are of interest.

Physical Oceanography is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences (GEO/OCE). This program supports research into the structure and movement of the ocean, how the ocean transports various materials, how the seafloor and other geologic features interact with marine life and chemistry, and how the ocean interacts with the atmosphere, solid Earth, and ice th…

Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The SaTC 2.0 program supports interdisciplinary research and education to build a more secure, resilient, and trustworthy global cyber ecosystem. This includes addressing vulnerabilities, improving trust in cyber systems, and cultivating a well-trained cybersecurity workforce. It welcomes proposals that address trust in cyberspace, broadly defined, drawing on expertise in computer and information science and engineering, education, mathematics, statistics, and social, behavioral, and economic sciences.

NSF Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) Program for Trustworthy AI and Generative AI Security Research is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorates for CISE, MPS, SBE, and EDU. SaTC 2. 0 is NSF's flagship cybersecurity, privacy, and trust research program reorganized to address emerging threats including generative AI security, open-source software security, quantum computing security, and supply chain security.

Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). Our world is at a pivotal moment where the boundaries dividing the physical and social worlds from the cyber world have become blurred. Cyberspace has evolved from an interconnected digital environment into a complex and interdependent cyber ecosystem that involves hardware, software, networks, data, people, organizations, countries, and the physical world.  Critical functions of everyday life are deeply intertwined with computing, including health, government, commerce, the public sphere, education, critical infrastructure, interpersonal communication, and transportation. The complexity and inter-dependencies in cyberspace can be misused and exploited by malicious actors. These in turn can trigger adverse outcomes such as disruption of critical infrastructure and systems; theft of intellectual property and sensitive data; amplification of inequalities; disclosure of private information of individuals, organizations, and governments; and threats to lives, livelihoods, and reputations. Furthermore, constant attacks on the data and assets of corporations, governments, and individuals undermine people’s trust in decision-making and processes that depend critically on these cyber systems.   The Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) program aims to build trust in global cyber ecosystems. Trust is the core tenet of this program and, for the purposes of this solicitation, is broadly defined to include our confidence in the security, privacy, and resilience of cyberspace, particularly in the face of malicious intent. Achieving this level of confidence in cyberspace requires not only understanding the vulnerabilities in a system that could be exploited and how they can be addressed, but also understanding the social and technical dimensions of trust in cyber systems, along with the educational efforts needed to increase public awareness of risks in cyberspace, and building a well-trained corps of privacy and security professionals. SaTC 2.0 spans the interests of NSF's Directorates for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), and STEM Education (EDU). Proposals must be submitted pursuant to one of the following designations, each of which may have additional requirements:   RES: The Research (RES) designation is the focus of the multidisciplinary SaTC 2.0 research program. RES projects are limited to $1,200,000 in total budget, with durations of up to four years. Proposals with a total budget of more than $600,000 have additional requirements including Broadening Participation in Computing and collaboration plans. RES proposals may include an optional Transition to Education (TTE) plan with a budget up to $50,000 (within the RES total budget request) to co-evolve novel educational initiatives in the context of the proposed research. EDU: The Education (EDU) designation is used to identify proposals focusing on education and workforce training in building trust in security, privacy, and resilience of cyberspace.  EDU proposals are limited to $500,000 in total budget, with durations of up to three years. EDU proposals that primarily focus on education research with demonstrated collaboration, as reflected in the PI team between cybersecurity subject matter experts and education researcher(s), may request an additional $100,000 beyond the $500,000 limit.  SEED: The Seedling (SEED) category is intended for special topics defined by accompanying Dear Colleague Letters. SEED projects are limited to $300,000 in total budget, with durations of up to two years. Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0). Program guideline: NSF 25-515. Upcoming due date listed in NSF feed.

Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) is sponsored by NSF Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS). This program supports research to strengthen the security and resilience of the U.S. cyberinfrastructure and cyberspace. This includes research on secure and resilient cyberinfrastructure, and security, privacy and trust in cyberspace research. Network systems research with a focus on security, privacy, and trust aspects would be highly relevant for this program.

SaTC 2.0 is NSF's flagship cybersecurity, privacy, and trust research program reorganized to address emerging threats including generative AI security, open-source software security, quantum computing security, and supply chain security. Funded scope covers the bidirectional role of AI as both a cybersecurity threat (adversarial attacks on AI systems, AI-enabled cyberattacks, data poisoning) and a defensive tool (AI for intrusion detection, automated vulnerability discovery, secure-by-design AI). The program supports interdisciplinary collaboration across computer science, mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, and STEM education to build trust in global cyber ecosystems.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Biological Research has the potential to pave the way for breakthroughs in biotechnology and bio-system design that will create innovations, new industries, and jobs. To capitalize on this promise, the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) will make awards for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent doctoral degree recipients, for proposals with a research and training focus at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Biological Sciences to Strengthen and Safeguard Biotechnology Innovations. Applying AI to highly complex biological systems will reveal unknown mechanisms in the natural world that hold promise for technological developments. Candidates with AI and/or biology experience will develop deep expertise in both by proposing additional training in both areas. These combinations of current expertise and new cross-training will produce scientists who work seamlessly at the intersection of AI and biology. The fellows are expected to become field leaders who use AI capabilities to extrapolate from biological data to technological advances. Proposers are encouraged to consider how to leverage the nation’s diversity of existing biological data, and biological infrastructure, such as Biofoundries, Programmable Cloud Labs, Manufacturing USA Institutes, and NEON, to accelerate discovery, innovation and the biotechnology that improves human lives, promotes the U.S. economy, and benefits the nation.  Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB). Program guideline: NSF 26-504. Upcoming due date listed in NSF feed.

NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) program provides opportunities for recent doctoral recipients to conduct independent research in biology. While primarily postdoctoral, it's relevant for universities as they host these fellows, and it can cover areas like microbiology and ecology.

NSF 26-504: Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) is sponsored by NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure. NSF 26-504: Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) is a grant from the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences that funds postdoctoral researchers proposing projects at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Biological Sciences to strengthen and safeguard b…

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Biological Sciences to Strengthen and Safeguard Biotechnology Innovations (NSF 26-504) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO). This fellowship supports postdoctoral research and training at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Biological Sciences, aiming to develop expertise in both areas to advance biotechnology and bio-system design.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO). This program awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent doctoral degree recipients, with a specific focus on proposals with a research and training focus at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Biological Sciences to Strengthen and Safeguard …

America's Seed Fund (Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). America's Seed Fund, powered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), offers funding for U. S. -based startups and small businesses developing deep technologies with commercial and societal potential through the SBIR and STTR programs.

Molecular Foundations for Sustainability: Sustainable Polymers Enabled by Emerging Data Analytics (MFS-SPEED) is sponsored by NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) and Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) in partnership with BASF, Dow, IBM, PepsiCo Inc., and Procter & Gamble Co.. Molecular Foundations for Sustainability: Sustainable Polymers Enabled by Emerging Data Analytics (MFS-SPEED) is sponsored by NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) and Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) in partnership with BASF, Dow, IBM, Pepsi…

Division of Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs (CHE-DRP) - Chemical Catalysis (CAT) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF program supporting experimental and computational research on fundamental chemistry aspects of catalytic processes at the molecular and bond level, including polymerization catalysis, organocatalysis, organometallic catalysis, photoredox catalysis, and sustainable chemistry …

WINDOWS ON THE UNIVERSE: THE ERA OF MULTI-MESSENGER ASTROPHYSICS (Nuclear Physics - Theory and Experiment) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program supports experimental and theoretical research in nuclear physics, including nuclear astrophysics, structure and reactions, nuclear and hadron quantum chromodynamics, and precision measurements of fundamental symmetries and constants.

NSF's Expanding K-12 Resources for AI Education Dear Colleague Letter invites current NSF awardees to request supplemental funding up to $300,000 (or 20% of their original budget) to scale and expand established AI education activities into new K-12 settings. Eligible work includes producing open-access AI curricula, teacher professional development, AI literacy modules, student-facing AI tools, evaluation studies of AI education programs, and partnerships with school districts. The DCL aligns with the Presidential AI Challenge and broader federal priorities to accelerate AI literacy in U.S. schools. Awards are issued as supplements to existing grants administered by the Directorate for STEM Education and adjacent NSF directorates.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The ATE Program strengthens the education and training of skilled technicians in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. It supports innovative partnerships between two-year colleges, higher education institutions, industry leaders, and community organizations to improve technician education and address workforce demands in high-growth STEM sectors. While not exclusively for Kenya, it can support international collaborations.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). With a focus on two-year Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program supports the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy. The program involves partnerships between academic institutions (grades 7-12, IHEs), industry, and economic development agencies to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians. It is strongly recommended that projects be faculty-led and required that courses and programs are credit-bearing, although materials developed may also be used for incumbent worker education. Materials may also be adapted and implemented as credit-bearing courses. The ATE program supports curriculum development; professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; career pathway development for both students and incumbent workers; and other activities including applied research projects that advance the knowledge base related to technician education. The ATE program encourages partnerships with other entities that may impact technician education. For example, with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) ( http://www.nist.gov/mep/index.cfm ) as applicable to support technician education programs and the industries they serve; and Manufacturing USA Institutes ( https://manufacturing.gov/ ) addressing workforce development issues. The ATE program encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions  as well as other institutions that support the recruitment, retention, and completion (certificate, degree, program) of the full spectrum of diverse talent that society has to offer, which includes underrepresented and underserved communities, in STEM technician education programs that award associate degrees.  Advanced Technological Education (ATE). Program guideline: NSF 24-584. Upcoming due date listed in NSF feed.

EDU Core Research (ECR:Core) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The EDU Core Research (ECR) program offers this ECR:Core solicitation and invites proposals for fundamental research (curiosity-driven basic research and use-inspired basic research) that contributes to the general, explanatory knowledge that underlies STEM education in one or more of the three broadly conceived Research Areas: Research on   STEM Learning and Learning Environments , Research on Broadening Participation in STEM fields , and  Research on STEM Workforce Development . Within this framework, the ECR program supports a wide range of fundamental STEM education research activities, aimed at learners of all groups and ages in formal and informal settings. Fundamental research  generates knowledge and understanding with the potential for broad relevance. The potential implications of ECR fundamental research for improving STEM education practice may be indirect and long-term rather than direct and immediate. Moreover, whether they include basic or use-inspired basic research, all successful ECR:Core proposals focus on the advancement or refinement of foundational knowledge for STEM education. The amount of funding and duration requested in proposals submitted to the ECR:Core solicitation should align with the maturity of the proposed work and the size and scope of the empirical effort. The solicitation has three levels of funding with a range of budget sizes, and proposals may request a duration of 3 to 5 years for any level: (1)  Level I proposals may request up to $500,000; (2)  Level II proposals may request up to $1,500,000; (3)  Level III proposals  may request up to $2,500,000. All proposals should justify the level of funding and duration in the project description. EDU Core Research (ECR:Core). Program guideline: NSF 21-588. Upcoming due date listed in NSF feed.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program supports the education of the skilled technical workforce at the undergraduate and secondary school levels. It focuses on two-year Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and involves partnerships between academic institutions, industry, and economic development agencies. The program supports curriculum development, professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers, and career pathways, including renewable energy programs.

ATE is the largest federal program aimed squarely at educating technicians for high-technology fields, and the FY2026 competition is the practical vehicle for community colleges building artificial intelligence technician pathways. The solicitation is explicit that emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum information sciences are expected to be supported as industry defines its needs for skilled technical workers, which means an AI technician program - data annotation and pipeline work, model deployment and MLOps support, AI-enabled maintenance and inspection, prompt and agent operations - is squarely fundable rather than a stretch. The defining structural requirement, and the one that most often derails outside applicants, is that faculty from two-year institutions of higher education must hold significant leadership roles on all projects. A university or nonprofit can participate, but the community college has to lead in substance, not on paper. The second requirement is a genuine industry partnership: ATE exists to align curriculum with employer demand, and proposals without documented employer commitments to advisory boards, work-based learning placements or hiring do not compete. Four tracks accommodate very different scales, from Track 1 small-scale projects at up to USD 475,000 through Track 4 ATE Centers at up to USD 7,500,000 over five years, and the program encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions and work that supports recruitment, retention and completion of diverse talent in associate-degree technician programs. The FY2026 full proposal deadline is 1 October 2026 by 5:00 PM submitter local time, with the deadline recurring on the first Thursday in October annually thereafter.

Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) Core Research (ECR:Core) is sponsored by NSF Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). The EDU Core Research (ECR: Core) program supports fundamental research that contributes to the general, explanatory knowledge that underlies STEM education in one or more of three broadly conceived Research Areas: Research on STEM Learning and Learning Environments, Research on…

Grants to USA IHEs and Nonprofits for Research Projects Related to STEM Education is sponsored by Federal (likely NSF or DOE, but specific agency not provided in snippet). This federal funding opportunity supports fundamental research studies related to STEM education. It is open to researchers associated with Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations, and tribal nations across the USA.

NSF 22-548: EDU Core Research: Building Capacity in STEM Education Research is sponsored by NSF - Directorate for STEM Education. Supports STEM education research that advances progress toward the strategic goals of the Directorate, with respect to STEM learning and learning environments, broadening participation in STEM, and STEM workforce development.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Grant is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The ATE program supports institutions that award two-year degrees in advanced technology fields, with an emphasis on skilled technical workers. It supports curriculum development, professional development for faculty and teachers, and career pathway development, encouraging partnerships with industry and economic development agencies.

EDU Core Research (ECR: Core) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) - Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). The ECR: Core program supports fundamental research that contributes to the general, explanatory knowledge that underlies STEM education in one or more of three broadly conceived Research Areas: Research on STEM Learning and Learning Environments, Research on Broadening Particip…

The Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (SCH) program is a joint NSF/NIH effort supporting high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research that leverages AI, machine learning, sensing, imaging, and data science to transform health and biomedical research. Projects receive up to about $1.2 million over four years (~$300,000 annually), with an estimated 10-16 awards per cycle and roughly $15-20 million awarded per year. Full proposals are due October 3 annually.

NSF/NIH Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of AI and Advanced Data Science (SCH) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). Joint NSF/NIH interagency program (NSF 25-542) supporting transformative, high-risk/high-reward advances in AI and advanced data science for biomedical and public health research.

NSF Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). This joint NSF-NIH program supports innovative, high-risk/high-reward research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data science, and biomedical or public health applications.

Joint NSF/NIH interagency program (NSF 25-542) supporting transformative, high-risk/high-reward advances in AI and advanced data science for biomedical and public health research. Funds interdisciplinary teams developing novel methods to collect, sense, connect, analyze, and interpret health data from individuals, devices, and systems. Six priority themes: fairness and trustworthiness in health AI systems, transformative analytics using AI/ML for biomedical research, multimodal wearable and implantable biomarker sensing systems, cyber-physical systems for closed-loop health interventions, robotics for health outcomes, and biomedical image interpretation combining human perception with computational analysis. All proposals require a mandatory Collaboration Plan demonstrating cross-disciplinary integration.

Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), and Engineering (ENG). This grant aims to address foundational gaps in AI through interdisciplinary research on mathematical and theoretical foundations for sustainable, trustworthy, and socially responsible AI.

Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (MFAI) is sponsored by NSF Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Engineering (ENG), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE). Supports research collaborations between mathematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, engineers, and social and behavioral scientists to establish innovative and principled design and analysis approaches for AI technology.

MFAI is the program to target if the research question is why modern AI works rather than what it can be made to do. NSF funds mathematical and theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence here, explicitly including the capabilities and limitations of foundation models, generative models, deep learning, statistical learning and federated learning, alongside the development of mathematically grounded design principles for current and next-generation AI systems. That framing has become considerably more consequential than it was when the solicitation first appeared: the empirical success of large language and diffusion models has outrun theoretical understanding of them, and a program funding rigorous accounts of foundation model behavior - expressivity, generalization, scaling, sample complexity, the mechanics of in-context learning - sits directly on that gap. Awards are $500,000 to $1,500,000 over 36 months with up to 15 awards per competition against roughly $8,500,000 in annual new-award funding, which puts the effective success rate in ordinary NSF core-program territory rather than the long odds of a center competition. This is a joint MPS and CISE program, and proposals that are genuinely bilingual - mathematically serious and connected to real machine learning practice - do better than those legible to only one of the two communities. A practical eligibility constraint catches some applicants off guard: PIs, co-PIs and senior/key personnel must hold a tenured or tenure-track position, or a primary full-time paid appointment in a research or teaching position, at an eligible U.S. organization, which excludes many postdoctoral and soft-money researchers from leading proposals. The October 9, 2026 deadline continues an established annual cycle on approximately October 10, so groups that miss it have a predictable next opportunity, and the recurring schedule makes MFAI worth building a multi-year strategy around rather than treating as a one-off.

Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (MFAI) is sponsored by NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Division of Mathematical Sciences (MPS/DMS), Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CISE/CCF), Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (CISE/IIS), Directorate for Engineering (ENG), Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (ENG/CMMI), Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ENG/ECCS), Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SBE/SES). Supports research collaborations to establish innovative and principled design and analysis approaches for AI technology using mathematical and statistical frameworks.

Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Engineering (ENG), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE). This grant supports interdisciplinary research on mathematical and theoretical foundations for sustainable, trustworthy, and socially responsible AI. It addresses foundational gaps in AI through collaborations between mathematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, engineers, and social and behavioral scientists. The goal is to establish innovative and principled design and analysis approaches for AI technology, yielding explainable and interpretable models for sustainable, socially responsible, and trustworthy AI.

The MFAI program funds interdisciplinary research collaborations among mathematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, engineers, and social scientists to establish the mathematical foundations of AI systems, including deep learning, foundation models, and generative models. Goals include fundamental mathematical understanding of AI capabilities and limitations, mathematically grounded design and analysis principles, rigorous validation of ML algorithms, and provably reliable, trustworthy, and explainable AI. Full proposals due October 9, 2026.

Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (MFAI) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are enabling extraordinary scientific breakthroughs in fields ranging from protein folding, natural language processing, drug synthesis, and recommender systems to the discovery of novel engineering materials and products. These achievements lie at the confluence of mathematics, statistics, engineering and computer science, yet a clear explanation of the remarkable power and also the limitations of such AI systems has eluded scientists from all disciplines. Critical foundational gaps remain that, if not properly addressed, will soon limit advances in machine learning, curbing progress in artificial intelligence. It appears increasingly unlikely that these critical gaps can be surmounted with increased computational power and experimentation alone. Deeper mathematical understanding is essential to ensuring that AI can be harnessed to meet the future needs of society and enable broad scientific discovery, while forestalling the unintended consequences of a disruptive technology.   The National Science Foundation Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Engineering (ENG), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) will jointly sponsor research collaborations consisting of mathematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, engineers, and social and behavioral scientists focused on the mathematical and theoretical foundations of AI. Research activities should focus on the most challenging mathematical and theoretical questions aimed at understanding the capabilities, limitations, and emerging properties of AI methods as well as the development of novel, and mathematically grounded, design and analysis principles for the current and next generation of AI approaches. Specific research goals include: establishing a fundamental mathematical understanding of the  factors determining the capabilities and limitations of current and emerging generation s of AI systems, including, but not limited to, foundation models, generative models, deep learning, statistical learning, federated learning, and other evolving paradigms; the development of mathematically grounded design and analysis principles for the current and next generations of AI systems; rigorous approaches for characterizing and validating machine learning algorithms and their predictions; research enabling provably reliable, translational, general-purpose AI systems and algorithms; e ncouragement of new collaborations in this interdisciplinary research community and between institution s. The overall goal is to establish innovative and principled design and analysis approaches for AI technology using creative yet theoretically grounded mathematical and statistical frameworks, yielding explainable and interpretable models that can enable sustainable, socially responsible, and trustworthy AI.     Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (MFAI). Program guideline: NSF 24-569. Upcoming due date listed in NSF feed.