CFAES Give Today
Office for Research and Graduate Education

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Funding Opportunities


As funding opportunities are announced and shared with the Office for Research & Graduate Education we will compile the opportunities, here. This page will be updated periodically as new opportunities come about. 

External Funding Opportunities

Foundation for Food and Agriculture (FFAR)

Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research
The Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program provides nimble deployment of funds to support research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems. ROAR participants, including but not limited to university researchers, farmers or producers, commodity groups and government officials, may apply for funds in response to an outbreak for development of diagnostics, monitoring and mitigation strategies. The ROAR program fills the gap until traditional, longer-term funding sources can be secured.
Deadline: Ongoing

National Institute of Health (NIH)

Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health (U54) – Cooperative Agreement: Only one application per institution is allowed
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) invites applications for the Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health (Ag Centers). These centers are expected to conduct high quality research and subsequently disseminate their findings and recommendations in audience appropriate products to contribute to improving the safety and health of agriculture, forestry, and fishing workers. Center structure should take advantage of diverse scientific resources and focus on local, regional, and/or national worker safety and health issues. Emphasis should be placed on the creation and implementation of evidence-based solutions that address important agricultural, forestry, and fishing safety and health problems. Centers should also use innovative approaches to identifying, understanding, and developing strategies for overcoming barriers to the adoption, adaptation, integration, scale-up and sustainability of evidence-based solutions. Collaborations with other academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other occupational safety and health focused groups are expected. Applicants must concisely describe the occupational safety and health burden within their service area and directly link research and outreach activities to help alleviate the burden. Applicants should also clearly articulate the anticipated impacts of the proposed work, both during the project period and beyond.
Deadline: October 24, 2023; October 22, 2024 (with Letter of Intent 30 days prior to application due date)

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)
The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31) award is to enable promising predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The proposed mentored research training must reflect the candidate’s dissertation research project and is expected to clearly enhance the individual’s potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientist.
Deadline: December 8, 2023

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH)
The purpose of this interagency program solicitation is to support 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. Transformations hinge on scientific and engineering innovations by interdisciplinary teams that develop novel methods to intuitively and intelligently collect, sense, connect, analyze and interpret data from individuals, devices and systems to enable discovery and optimize health. Solutions to these complex biomedical or public health problems demand the formation of interdisciplinary teams that are ready to address these issues, while advancing fundamental science and engineering.
Deadline: November 9, 2023

Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program: Instrument Acquisition or Development
The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program (MRI Program Website) serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. An MRI award supports the acquisition of a multi-user research instrument that is commercially available through direct purchase from a vendor, or for the personnel costs and equipment that are required for the development of an instrument with new capabilities, thereby advancing instrumentation capabilities and enhancing expertise for instrument design and fabrication
at academic institutions. MRI instruments are, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to obtain next-generation research instruments by developing instruments with new capabilities that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.

Deadline: November 15, 2023

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Individual Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
The Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) STEM Education Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (STEM Ed PRF) Program funds postdoctoral fellowship projects designed to enhance the research knowledge, skills, and practices of STEM Education research by recent doctoral graduates in STEM, STEM Education, Education, and related disciplines.
Deadline: December 5, 2023

Decision, Risk and Management Sciences (DRMS)
Supports research that increases understanding of how individuals, organizations and societies make decisions. Areas include judgment, decision analysis and aids, risk analysis and communication, public policy decision making and management science.
Deadline: January 18, 2024

Economics
The Economics program supports research designed to improve the understanding of the processes and institutions of the U.S. economy and of the world system of which it is a part. This program also strengthens both empirical and theoretical economic analysis as well as the methods for rigorous research on economic behavior. It supports research in almost every area of economics, including econometrics, economic history, environmental economics, finance, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics, and public finance.
Deadline: January 18, 2024

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
The CFPCGP is intended to bring together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system and to foster understanding of national food security trends and how they might improve local food systems. Understanding that people with low incomes experience disproportionate access to healthy foods, projects should address food and nutrition security, particularly among our nation’s most vulnerable populations. Nutrition security is defined as having consistent access, availability, and affordability of foods and beverages that promote well-being. Applications from organizations that address food insecurity in rural, tribal, and underserved communities are encouraged.
Deadline: October 30, 2023

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials
NRCS is announcing the availability of CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials) to stimulate the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers. For 2023, applications will be accepted from eligible entities for projects addressing at least one of the following priorities: irrigation management technologies; feed management and enteric methane reduction; grazing lands; nutrient management; and soil health demonstration (SHD) trials.
Deadline: October 30, 2023

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program
NRCS is announcing the availability of up to $15 million in CIG funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers through the development of technical manuals, guides and for practical instruction for the private sector.
Deadline: October 30, 2023

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) program focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and Extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. NIFA requests applications for the AFRI’s Education and Workforce Development program area to support: 

  • professional development opportunities for K-14 educational professionals 

  • non-formal education that cultivates food and agricultural interest in youth 

  • workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges 

  • training of undergraduate students in research and Extension 

  • fellowships for predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars 

Deadline: December 7, 2023

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science Program
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas are: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA). See Foundational and Applied Science RFA for specific detail.
Deadline: Varies by Program until December 29, 2023

Other Funding Agencies

PCORI – Advancing the Science of Engagement
PCORI’s initial PFA on the Science of Engagement will solicit applications that focus on: 1) Development and/or validation of measures to capture structure/context, process, and outcomes of engagement, for both stakeholders and investigators; 2) Development and testing of engagement techniques to generate evidence on the most effective engagement approaches, particularly for underrepresented populations, and how effectiveness varies by context.
Deadline: October 3, 2023

North Central Region SARE – Research and Education Grant
The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program is a competitive grant program for researchers and educators involved in projects that explore and promote environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially responsible food and/or fiber systems.
Deadline: October 5, 2023 (pre-proposals)

North Central Region SARE – Youth Educator Grant Proposal
Youth Educator Grant projects provide opportunities for youth educators in the North Central Region to teach young people about sustainable agriculture (farming and ranching that is ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible)

Educators use the grants to encourage young people and their families to try sustainable practices and see sustainable agriculture as a viable career option. Projects should help youth discover that sustainable farming and ranching is good for the environment long term; economically sound; and good for families, communities, and their quality of life.
Deadline: November 9, 2023

Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) – Rapid Funding
CIGLR provides short-term funding up to $10,000 to form an initial response to an emergency or time-sensitive need in the Great Lakes (e.g., Flint water crisis, Toledo water crisis, oil or chemical spill, 100-year storm, etc.). Decisions on rapid proposals can be made internally in 2 days, and provide the seed funding researchers need to be ‘first-responders’ even as they solicit more substantial funds from an appropriate agency or organization. Any principal investigator or student from a Regional Consortium University Partner institution or Private Sector Partner organization may request rapid funding.
Deadline: None

Awesome Foundation Grant 
A micro-granting organization, funding “awesome” ideas, The Awesome Foundation set up local chapters around the world to provide rolling grants of $1000 to “awesome projects.” Each chapter defines what is “awesome” for their local community, but most include arts initiatives and public or social practice art projects.
Deadline: None

Internal Funding Opportunities 

President’s Research Excellence Program
Proposals are now being accepted for the President’s Research Excellence program, which will provide up to $2.5 million in seed support during the 2023-24 academic year. Established in 2021 by ERIK, PRE provides funding for cross- and interdisciplinary research that has the potential to attract external funding. PRE Accelerator awards of up to $50,000 are for small teams formed to pursue curiosity-driven, novel, high-risk and high-reward research. The deadline to apply for funding in the Fall 2023 period is October 27. PRE Catalyst awards of up to $200,000 are for large cross- and interdisciplinary teams to pursue large-scale, high-impact research that addresses emerging or existing challenges of national and international societal importance, generates long-term, sustained, and significant impact, and positions Ohio State as the leader in this area. The deadline for Catalyst concept papers is January 1. More information and the RFP can be found on the Office of Knowledge Enterprise website.
Deadline: October 27, 2023