Current Funding Opportunities
Below is a list of current external funding opportunities. Please note, it is not meant to be an exhaustive list of everything available. ORSP Pre-Award strives to present opportunities that can appeal to a variety of disciplines. If you are interested in pursuing any of them, please submit an ORSP Proposal Intake Form and ORSP will contact you.
| Sponsor | Program Information | Amount | Proposal Due Date |
| CSU BIOTECH | CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM 2027 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The CSU Biotechnology Program (CSUBIOTECH) aims to innovate biotechnology education across the CSU. Education researchers, federal agencies, employers and professional societies have called for change in undergraduate life science education and other biotechnology-related disciplines.1,2 Curriculum improvement efforts aim not only to increase student engagement and retention, but also to ensure undergraduate education reflects “how science is done in the laboratory and in the field." The 2025 Curriculum Development grant program will support the development of innovative general education courses, laboratories, and first-year experiences, as well as revisions to lower-level or introductory biotechnologyrelated courses. CSUBIOTECH emphasizes the system-wide dissemination of curricular materials and outcomes https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/research/csubiotech/Pages/grants-and-awards-programs.aspx | $20,000 | February 1, 2027 before 5PM |
| CSU BIOTECH | FACULTY-STUDENT COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: NEW INVESTIGATOR GRANT PROGRAM 2027 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The CSU Biotechnology program (CSUBIOTECH) aims to increase the number of externally-funded biotechnology researchers across the California State University (CSU) system. CSUBIOTECH recognizes the importance of research experiences in biotechnology student success. Research is a form of engaged learning, but also offers https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/research/csubiotech/Pages/grants-and-awards-programs.aspx | $20,000 | February 2, 2027 before 5PM |
| CSU BIOTECH | FACULTY-STUDENT COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM 2027 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The CSU Biotechnology (CSUBIOTECH) program aims to increase the overall number of externally funded biotechnology research investigators across the California State University (CSU) system. In addition, CSUBIOTECH recognizes the importance of research experiences in biotechnology student success. Research is a form of engaged learning, but also offers students the opportunity to acquire abilities on which to build a life science career. The Faculty-Student Collaborative Research Development (RD) Grant program aims to provide https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/research/csubiotech/Pages/grants-and-awards-programs.aspx | $20,000 | February 1, 2027 before 5PM |
| National Institutes of Health | NIGMS Institutional Biomedical Undergraduate Research Training (BURT) Program (T34) The goal of the Institutional Biomedical Undergraduate Research Training (BURT) program is to strengthen research training environments and develop a pool of well-trained students who: Complete their baccalaureate degrees in biomedically-related fields, and Applicant organizations must enroll undergraduate students and have received NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) funding averaging less than $50 million in total costs (direct and F&A/indirect) per year over the last three fiscal years (FY). To promote undergraduate research training opportunities across a range of eligible organizations, the program will accept applications in two tracks: Single Site: To support trainees from a single baccalaureate-degree granting organization. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) does not allow Trainees to lead an independent clinical trial, but does allow them to obtain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. | Varies - Not Limited | September 25, 2026 January 25, 2027 May 25, 2027 September 25 2027 |
| National Institutes of Health | Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) The purpose of this Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions is to support small scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the NIH, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students, and enhancing the research environment at applicant institutions. The three objectives of this NOFO are to:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-25-134.html | $375,000 per year not including F&A costs | October 25, 2026 February 25, 2027 June 25, 2027 |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | NSF: Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) CAREER: The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply. | $400,000 | July 28, 2027 |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | NSF 26-525: Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions) https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/expeditions-expeditions-computing/nsf26-525/solicitation | Up to $15M for 7 years | December 2, 2026
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| National Science Foundation (NSF) | NSF 26-517: Core Research in Biological Sciences (BIO Core) BIO Core broadly encompasses topics that fall into the following thematic areas of NSF BIO:
See "Other Opportunities for Funding" for additional topic areas for proposal submission to NSF BIO. BIO Core research may focus on a single topic area, span sub-disciplines of biology, or cross the boundaries of disciplines outside biology. Participation can vary from single investigators to small groups to consortia of investigators. BIO Core proposals focus on basic research in all areas of biology that advances fundamental understanding, whether driven by scientific curiosity or inspired by potential uses. Basic and foundational research supported by BIO Core may have major implications for healthcare, biotechnology, and biomanufacturing. However, research focused on routine application of established methods, product or drug development, and later-stage deployment are outside the scope of this core opportunity. | No Budgetary Limitations | Proposals Accepted Anytime |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | NSF 26-516: Geosciences Core Research: Atmospheric, Geospace, Earth and Ocean Sciences (GEO Core)
These programs support projects that expand the frontiers of knowledge in science and technology. The programs encourage projects that advance research on Earth's atmosphere and the near-Earth space environment; solid Earth sciences and Earth surface processes; and all fields of ocean science. Projects may focus on foundational research in a specific domain or cover multiple disciplines. NSF is particularly interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, or commercial outcome, nor need they address later-stage development to be competitive. | No Budgetary Limitations | Proposals Accepted Anytime. |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | NSF 26-520: MPS Mathematical Sciences Research Programs (MPS MathSci) The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF MPS) supports multiple research programs at the frontiers of discovery in theoretical and applied mathematical sciences. Programs include:
NSF anticipates a portfolio of awards for these programs with a range of budgets, durations and scopes. Program budgets, number of awards, award sizes and durations are subject to the availability of funds. NSF MPS is particularly interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, or commercial outcome, nor need they address later-stage development to be competitive. | No Budgetary Limitations | Proposals Accepted Anytime. |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | NSF 26-519: MPS Chemistry Research Programs (MPS Chem) The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF MPS) supports foundational research through multiple programs in the chemical sciences. Programs include:
NSF MPS is particularly interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, or commercial outcome, nor need they address later-stage development to be competitive. | No Budgetary Limitations | Proposals Accepted Anytime after September 1, 2026. |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | NSF 26-522: MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro) The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF MPS) supports multiple research programs in the astronomical sciences. NSF MPS funds foundational astronomical sciences research and instrumentation focused on exploring space and advancing fundamental understanding of the universe. The programs covered by this funding opportunity are:
Research supported by these programs is essential for ongoing discovery in a range of fields. The programs provide a strong scientific foundation for America's capabilities in multiple areas: predicting solar storms, discovering potentially habitable planets in other solar systems, understanding the physical workings of extreme astrophysical objects like black holes, and more. NSF MPS is particularly interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, or commercial outcome, nor need they address later-stage development to be competitive. |