This monthly round-up features funding opportunities compiled by the Research Development team in the Office of Research. For a more comprehensive listing of opportunities, we encourage researchers to use the Pivot-RP database.
Questions or feedback? Email research@bu.edu.
Grant Spotlight
National Science Foundation Translation to Practice Programs (9/16)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) has released a solicitation for its new Translation to Practice (TTP) program. TTP aims to identify and support translational research, develop partnerships between higher education and industry, government, open-source ecosystems, and other entities to advance STEM education and training for all Americans, especially students and postdoctoral researchers. The NSF TTP program has three funding tracks: TTP-Explore, TTP-Translate, and TTP-Partner. More information about each can be found on the Office of Research website.
Interested investigators should reach out to Lloyd Munjanja in Research Development for help in proposal development and Industry Engagement for help in securing an industry partner. The first submission deadline is Tuesday, September 16.
Limited Submissions
STEM
NSF Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratories (9/8)
Funding to establish and support distributed autonomous laboratory facilities focused on developing consistent practices for collecting, sharing, and exploiting AI methods. Apply by Monday, September 8 via InfoReady Review.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers Program (9/12)
Up to $850k per year for four years to support interdisciplinary collaboration and advance environmental health research. Apply by Friday, September 12 via InfoReady Review.
MED/STEM
National Institute of General Medical Sciences Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (9/16)
Up to $7.5M over five years to support highly integrated research teams of three to six principal investigators. Apply by Tuesday, September 16 via InfoReady Review.
HUM/SOC
Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program 2026 (9/15)
$200k for up to two years of research focused on political polarization in the US. Apply by Monday, September 15 via InfoReady Review.
Limited submissions are funding opportunities that limit the number of applications an institution may put forward. Faculty may not apply directly for an opportunity without institutional endorsement. All current competitions can be found at bu.infoready4.com.
Other Upcoming Deadlines
Grants – Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- The Korea Foundation Support for Employment of Teaching Staff to support Korean language program instructors (9/9)
- National Humanities Center Fellowship for mid-career faculty (10/2)
- American Educational Research Association (AERA) Research Grants focusing on STEM learning (10/6)
- Social Science Research Council Economic Research Rescue Fund for researchers previously funded by NSF (rolling)
- Brady Education Foundation Research Project and Existing Program Evaluation Proposals (11/1)
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Innovation Grants across five distinct calls for natural and social science disciplines (11/15)
- Gerda Henkel Stiftung General Research Grants: Scholarships for historical humanities (11/20)
Grants – Medicine & Related
- Foundation for Women’s Health Grants for studies on women’s and girls’ health in under-researched areas (letter of intent due 9/2)
- Leducq Foundation International Networks of Excellence for cardiovascular and neurovascular research (letter of intent due 9/3)
- Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Inflammatory Bowel Disease Ventures Initiative for product-oriented research (letter of intent due 9/17)
- Pershing Square Foundation Maximizing Innovation in Neurosciences Discovery Prize for early- and mid-career faculty (letter of intent due 9/29)
- International Brain Research Organization Speaker Support Grants to support speakers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds (9/30)
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Exploring Equitable Futures for projects focused on health science (rolling through 10/15)
- Foundation Fighting Blindness Individual Investigator Research Award (letter of intent due 10/16)
Grants – STEM
- Raymond Corporation University Research Program for industry collaboration on material handling technology. (Concept paper due 8/31. Please reach out to Industry Engagement for additional support)
- AI Security Institute Alignment Project Research Grants (9/10)
- A Transition Towards a Circular Economy Call for Fostering Collaborative Innovation for proposals collaborating with mission-driven partnerships on Danish climate goals (9/17)
- Simons Foundation Fellows in Mathematics Program for a 1-year sabbatical (10/1)
- AgroServ Call for Projects for research support in agroecology (10/15)
- Simons Foundation Collaborations in Ecology and Evolution (letter of intent due 10/16)
- Simons Foundation Collaborations in Mathematics and the Physical Sciences (letter of intent due 10/29)
- Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans and Nippon Foundation Call for Training Cruise Hosts for early-career oceanographic scientists (rolling)
- Foundation for Food & Agricultural Research Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research for urgent research areas (rolling)
Grants – Doctoral & Postdoctoral
- “la Caixa” Foundation Postdoctoral Junior Leader Retaining Fellowship supporting STEM research projects in Spain or Portugal (9/25)
- AERA-NSF Dissertation Grants focused on STEM learning (10/6)
- Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship for early-career theological educators (10/15)
- Autism Science Foundation Post-Doctoral Save Our Scientists Grant Program (10/17)
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Innovation Grants (11/15)
- Deutscher Academischer Austausch Dienst ERA Fellowships – Green Hydrogen for masters, doctoral, and postdoctoral (rolling monthly)
- soQuiet Misophonia Student Research Grants for current graduate students (rolling)
Nomination Opportunities
- Dan David Prize for history, archeology, digital humanities, and human paleontology (9/24)
Reach out to the Foundation Relations team member for your academic unit and Industry Engagement for support with foundation and industry opportunities, respectively. All proposals for external funding must be submitted to Sponsored Programs at least five business days before the sponsor deadline.
Events & Updates
Navigating NIH’s Simplified Review Framework: Insights from Recent Reviewers (9/4)
Join the Proposal Development Office for a virtual panel discussion featuring faculty who served as reviewers in the latest NIH Simplified Review Framework cycle (May 2025). Hear firsthand experiences, ask questions, and walk away with practical tips to help you adapt your proposal submissions for upcoming funding opportunities. This program is open to faculty and postdocs from the medical and Charles River campuses. Register on the Proposal Development website.
Meet the Funder: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (10/1)
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute PCORI funds patient-centered comparative effectiveness research that typically compares two evidence-based interventions with large participant groups and meaningful stakeholder engagement as well as other types of projects. The overarching goal of work supported by PCORI is to help patients and providers make more informed healthcare decisions. PCORI makes grants of up to $12M and pays an additional 40% in indirect costs. Program Officer Mandy Rounds, PhD, will be joining a Zoom webinar on Wednesday, October 1 at 12 pm to present PCORI’s priorities, processes, and research expectations. Register here.
News & Resources
Information & Updates on Federal Actions
The Office of Research has created a page of resources, updates, and frequently asked questions about the latest developments impacting federal funding. As of now, research should continue as planned. The University will continue to monitor and share information relevant to researchers on that webpage. If you have specific questions, the Sponsored Programs office (ospera@bu.edu) remains the best point of contact for award-specific questions.
Foundation Funding Tables
BU Foundation Relations now compiles foundation grants by category, including neuroscience; education; diversity, equity, and inclusion; environment and sustainability; biomedical and life sciences; and more.
Federal Grant Opportunities
BU Federal Relations has curated primers of federal grant opportunities on their website, including programs equipment and infrastructure, behavioral and social sciences, arts, and humanities, and tips for meeting with federal agencies (Kerberos login required).
BU Proposal Library
The Office of Research curates a proposal library, organized by funder and grant component, as a resource for researchers preparing grant applications. We are currently seeking successful faculty proposals to the following funders:
- Carnegie Corporation
- Ford Foundation
- Gates Foundation
- Schmidt Futures
- Simons Foundation
- Spencer Foundation
We are also looking to add successful PhD and postdoc proposals for any grant. Please send your proposals to research@bu.edu.
Pivot-RP Database
BU offers all faculty and staff a free subscription to Pivot-RP, a database updated daily with a wide variety of federal, non-federal, foundation, and private funding opportunities in every discipline. With the BU subscription, members can save search criteria and receive weekly updates on new and upcoming funding opportunities. Learn how to set up your account to get started on the Office of Research website.
More Funding & Grants