Programs of Interest

TRIO SSS Applications for New Awards

Applications for New Awards; Student Support Services Program. The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Student Support Services (SSS) Program.

The purpose of the SSS Program is to increase the number of disadvantaged students, including low-income college students, first-generation college students, and college students with disabilities, who successfully complete a program of study at the postsecondary level.

Early-Career Investigators

National Science Foundation (NSF):

NSF Faculty Early Career development programs (CAREER). The 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.

NSF Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research Initiation Initiative (CRII). The National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) will award grants to initiate the course of one’s independent research. Toward establishing that independence early in one’s career, funds will be used to support untenured faculty or research scientists (or equivalent) in their first three years in a primary academic position after the PhD, but not more than a total of five years after completion of their PhD.

Department of Energy:

Department of Energy Early Career Research Program. DOE’s Early Career Research Program supports the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and stimulates research careers in the disciplines supported by the DOE Office of Science.

Department of Defense:

Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Research Program

The Air Force YIP supports scientists and engineers who have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees within the last seven years and show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. The objectives of this program are to foster creative basic research in science and engineering, enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators, and increase opportunities for the young investigator to recognize the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering.

Army Research Office Young Investigators Program (see list of current BAAs). This program for outstanding young university faculty members is designed to support their research related to Army interests, and to encourage their teaching and research careers.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award. The DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) program provides funding, mentoring and industry and DoD contacts to awardees early in their careers so they may develop their research ideas in the context of national security needs. The program’s goal is to develop the next generation of academic scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who will focus a significant portion of their career on DoD and National Security issues.

Office for Naval Research (ONR) Young Investigator Program. This program supports the research and teaching careers of outstanding young academic scientists and engineers in research areas of interest to the Department of the Navy’s Science and Technology research program.

National Institutes of Health (NIH):

NIH Early Research Career Development.

The NIH offers several programs designed to help early-career researchers establish themselves as the experts in their chosen research areas as they move to fully independent positions as investigators, faculty members, clinician scientists, or scientific team leaders in industry.

Supplemental Funding

NSF INTERN: Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students. The PI of an active NSF award may request supplemental funding for one or more graduate students to gain knowledge, skills and experiences that will augment their preparation for a successful long-term career through an internship in a non-academic setting.

COVID-19 Funding

UNC Charlotte’s Center for Research Excellence is maintaining a database of funding opportunities related to COVID-19.