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)

Manure Management Literature Review
The objective of this short-term research agreement is to conduct a literature review of the manure management literature applicable to U.S. dairy and develop a white paper on the state of academic research relevant to this topic. This work may be used to inform a future FFAR research convening or program. We are seeking a scientist with expertise in dairy manure management and experience conducting literature reviews and familiarity with U.S. agricultural supply chains and stakeholder organizations.

The primary task is evaluating recent literature and relevant reports and drafting of a white paper on critical research needs related to the systems-level manure management and the innovation-level research on specific technologies and practices of U.S. dairy production. The white paper should assess published literature and literature syntheses regarding the topics listed below and identify areas of research community consensus (or lack) on key conclusions and future research needs.
Deadline: Proposals are being accepted until a successful candidate or team is selected.

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)

Development of Resources and Technologies for Enhancing Rigor, Reproducibility, and Translatability of Animal Models in Biomedical Research (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) encourages research project grant applications aimed at developing and implementing broadly applicable technologies, tools, and resources for validating animal models and enhancing rigor, reproducibility, and translatability of animal research. Research projects submitted under this Notice of  Funding Opportunity (NOFO) should be hypothesis driven with strong preliminary data. Proposed studies, models, resources, or technologies under this NOFO must either address research interests of multiple NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), explore multiple organ systems, or be applicable to diseases and processes that impact multiple organ systems in order to align with ORIP’s NIH-wide mission and programs. Applications should aim to enhance the rigor, reproducibility, and translatability of animal research through the development and implementation of technologies, tools, and resources that have significant impact across a broad range of research areas using animal models. Applications must demonstrate how the proposed resources and technologies impact rigor and reproducibility of animal studies.
Deadline: June 05, 2025 

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Environmental Sustainability
The Environmental Sustainability program is part of the Environmental Engineering and Sustainability cluster together with 1) the Environmental Engineering program and 2) the Nanoscale Interactions program. The goal of the Environmental Sustainability program is to promote sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems. These systems provide ecological services vital for human survival. Research efforts supported by the program typically consider long time horizons and may incorporate contributions from the social sciences and ethics. The program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions.

There are five principal general research areas that are supported: Circular Bioeconomy Engineering, Industrial ecology, Green engineering, Ecological engineering, Earth systems engineering.

Deadline: Full proposal accepted anytime. For additional information regarding the removal of deadlines for this program, please refer to the Dear Colleague Letter (NSF 18-082) and Frequently Asked Questions (NSF18-083).

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II
The Small Business Administration (SBA), through the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, provides policy guidance for these programs. A main purpose of the legislation is to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization among small business concerns and enable them to undertake and to obtain the benefits of research and development in order to maintain and strengthen the competitive free enterprise system and the national economy. The goal of Phase II is to continue research and development while increasing the focus on commercialization. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The USDA SBIR/STTR programs Assistance Listing 10.212, is therefore in a unique position to meet both the goals of USDA and the purpose of the SBIR/STTR legislation by transforming scientific discovery and innovation both social and economic benefit, and by emphasizing private sector commercialization.
Deadline: March 18, 2025

Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI)
AG2PI focuses on collaborative science engagement that intends to develop a community of researchers across both crops and animals that will lay the foundation for expanding knowledge concerning genomes and phenomes of importance to the agriculture sector of the United States. Success of the initiative will inform approaches to understanding how variable weather, environments, and production systems interact with genetic diversity present in crops and animals to impact growth and productivity. This will provide greater accuracy in predicting crop and animal performance under variable conditions and more efficient selection of well-adapted, superior genotypes that farmers and ranchers can produce. 

These goals require interdisciplinary approaches that combine technologies such as advanced computing, automated high throughput phenotyping and genotyping as well as climatic modelling to be successful. The initiative seeks to build on efforts such as the Plant Genome Research Project, the National Animal Genome Research Program, and other public initiatives. Key criteria include promoting fair access to data, software, germplasm, and other biological materials through open data sources, standards, and exchange of research materials. The initiative also seeks to connect animal sciences (e.g. animal physiology, meat science, animal nutrition, and veterinary science), plant sciences (e.g. agronomy, crop modeling, and plant physiology) and allied fields including genetics, genomics, artificial intelligence, informatics, statistics and engineering. 
Deadline: March 20, 2025

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems
Applications to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) Request for Applications (RFA) must focus on approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America. These approaches must demonstrate current needs and anticipate future social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. Additionally, the outcomes of the work being proposed should result in societal benefits, including promotion of rural prosperity and enhancement of quality of life for all those involved in food and agricultural value chains from production to utilization and consumption. See AFRI SAS RFA for details.
Deadline: March 27, 2025

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: July 17, 2025

Other Funding Agencies

Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC)
The Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC) is ready to accept viticulture and enology funding proposals for FY26-27 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2027) for the following programs:

• Ohio Competitive Viticulture Research Grant Program
• Ohio Competitive Viticulture Extension Grant Program
• Ohio Competitive Enology Research Grant Program
• Ohio Competitive Enology Extension Grant Program

You can also view the research priorities and industry prioritization survey results, for your reference. 

If you have any questions, please contact Christy Eckstein at (614) 381-0412 or christy.eckstein@agri.ohio.gov. 
Deadline: April 18, 2025

AFOSR Director's Research Initiative
The Office of the Director at AFOSR has issued a call for a Director’s Research Initiative designed to support BASIC RESEARCH of interest to the Space Force and Air Force.  Project budgets will be between $200 and $750k per year for up to 3 years, although most topics still identify $200k/year with ability for exceptions to go higher. The broad theme is ‘Energy for Agility’; however, I encourage you to read the program descriptions and investigate the PO team for each topic. (Descriptions begin on page 10 of the NOFO). Each topic also identifies the anticipated number of awards and funding range for its projects. Based on my quick read, there are opportunities for our ESL, fundamental physics, chem/electro chem/energy systems, and biological/plant science folks. 

Please let RDO know if you intend to apply. We particularly encourage those who may be new to DOD research to reach out. In addition to RDO’s team of professionals, we have an experienced and well-networked DOD consultant available to assist. 

• C.1a  Objective:  Explore biological systems that survive in resource restricted environments with a focus on energy production, storage, waste stream management for efficiency……focus is on modeling of energetics in biotic/abiotic systems containing extremophiles for space applications.
• C.2a Objective: Pursue basic research in the behavior of light in time-varying metamaterials…….offering opportunities to control and interact with electromagnetic waves in new ways. 
• C.3a Objective: new molecular-level methods to predict and/or control rates of electrochemical processes at solid/liquid interfaces. 
• C.4a Objective: underlying basic research pertinent to collaborative resource sharing in vacuum or near-vacuum environments……fundamental limitations anticipated by the proposed hardware/architecture design should be explored……  NOTE: this topic is open to single or multi-investigator teams and will support work up to $750k/year.  

Key dates/deadlines: 
Questions regarding white papers are due January 16th. If you have an inquiry, please read the solicitation for special contact requirements. 
White Papers, although not required, are strongly encouraged and are due Jan 31st with responses received back by Feb 14th. 
Pre-proposal questions must be received by Feb 28th (after this date, they will be unable to discuss) with responses received back by March 14th 
Full proposals due April 1st 

From an email from Deborah Welsheimer Hernandez | ERIK on 12/30/2024

Ohio Soybean Council
The mission of the Ohio Soybean Council is to invest soybean checkoff funds to maximize the value of soybeans and increase profit opportunities for Ohio farmers. To achieve this mission, the Ohio Soybean Council Board of Trustees has developed a three-year strategic plan with several key goals and objectives. A copy of the OSC Strategic Plan is attached for your reference, and also will be available on the online project management system.

After you have clicked on “Create New Proposal” in the online proposal system, you will see a form that requests basic information regarding your proposal, including contact information, an executive summary and a project budget. In addition to completing this information, please attach a document of no more than six pages in either PDF (.pdf) or Word (.doc) format that addresses the following:

• OSC Goal the project would address – please choose from the three OSC Goals in the OSC Strategic Plan;
• Budget – provide a detailed line-item budget – preference will be given to projects that do not contain capital spending and can be completed within 12 months;
• Project Purpose – describe what the project is designed to accomplish and how it would enhance profit opportunities for Ohio Soybean farmers;
• Project Relation to OSC Objectives – describe how this project will assist OSC in accomplishing one or more of the objectives listed in the OSC Strategic Plan;
• Project Work Plan – describe how you propose to accomplish the work outlined in the proposal;
• Measureable Project Milestones – describe project milestones (not less than quarterly), and describe how progress and success will be measured for the project;
• Project Team Members – provide relevant information regarding the background and capabilities of the applicant that would allow OSC to judge the ability of the applicant to successfully complete the project;
• Project Partnerships – identify any support from third parties on the budget summary form; also list each collaborator and whether the support is in-kind, financial, or both.

Please note: Plant Research proposals should include a list of other research projects in which the principal investigator is participating. This should include the title and brief description of the project, the funding source, time period of research and the amount funded.

If you have any questions, please contact Kirk B. Merritt, Executive Director, Ohio Soybean Council.
P: (614) 476-3100 | E: kmerritt@soyohio.org
Deadline: Quarterly

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

Annual OSEP Awards
In collaboration with Ohio State Energy Partners (OSEP), the Office of Academic Affairs has opened a call for grant proposals that align with the university's sustainability goals; align with advancing access, engagement and inclusive excellence goals; or promote research translation. Faculty, staff and students are eligible to apply. Awards range from $10,000 to $50,000
Deadline: March 17, 2025

Peanut Nutrition Grant
The Peanut Institute Foundation is a non-profit 501(C)(3) entity that funds nutrition research. We are requesting scientific proposals that enhance the understanding of how consuming peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, and other peanut products affects health in various populations. For the 2025-2026 cycle, there are two grants that applicants can choose from. You can choose to apply for one or both opportunities:

General Research Grant: Grants of $25,000 to $250,000 will be awarded in support of proposals that increase the understanding of how the consumption of peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, peanut powder, and other peanut products affects human health. 
Brain Health Research: Grants of $350,000 to $650,000 will be awarded to proposals on the effect of consumption of peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, peanut powder, and other peanut products in the diet on brain health in humans. 
Deadline: April 1, 2025

President's Research Excellence Program - Spring 2025 Catalyst Competition
The President's Research Excellence (PRE) program provides seed support to catalyze and accelerate multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary or convergent research teams pursuing external funding. Administered by the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK), the program awards up to $2.5 million per year through two tiers of grants. 

• Accelerator grants of up to $50,000 for 12-month projects are awarded to small teams of 2-3 investigators from two or more distinct disciplinary perspectives that are formed to pursue curiosity-driven, high-risk, high-reward, pilot-scale research towards an identified proposal target. (CLOSED FOR SPRING 2025)
• Catalyst grants of $150,000 - $300,000 for up to 24-month projects are awarded to medium or large teams of 3-5 investigators representing three or more distinct disciplinary perspectives that are formed to pursue high-impact research towards an identified national-leadership level or highly strategically significant proposal target.

During the spring semester, proposals are being accepted for Catalyst projects, with awarded projects beginning on August 1, 2025. Applications in any topic area are invited; however, during this cycle emphasis will be placed on space and/or defense-related research. These topics span nearly every discipline on campus, include approaches from fundamental to applied and involve a range of sponsor targets including NASA and the Department of Defense. 

An additional competition for Accelerator grants will occur during spring semester. Depending on available funding, additional competitions may be announced.
Catalyst Letter of Intent Deadline: Friday, April 11, 2025