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ERI Funding Opportunities

Welcome to the ERI Funding Opportunities Site

College of Engineering campus
Research drives excellence in the College of Engineering by serving as a magnet to attract and retain outstanding faculty and students. Funding opportunities relevant to the College of Engineering will be posted here. If you are interested in pursuing any of these opportunities please contact Lori Jarmon (ljjarmon@iastate.edu, 294-3316) for assistance or additional information. New opportunities are posted weekly. To have the new opportunities delivered directly to your inbox please subscribe using your ISU email address. One email per week.

Biocompatible adhesives and adhesion promoters

HALO

https://www.halo.science/request_for_solutions/adhesives-and-adhesion-promoters

Posted Date: June 09, 2025

Proposal Due Date: July 31, 2025

What we’re looking for

We are seeking an innovative adhesion promoter suitable for non-transparent artificial nails. We are open to collaborating with experts in materials science, polymer chemistry, or biomedical engineering to develop a viable solution. Feasible cost is essential as the final product would be commercially available to consumers.

Solutions of interest include:
  • Next-gen glue formulations
  • Smart adhesives (triggered by pressure, heat, or moisture)
  • Novel polymer systems
  • Improved stick-on tabs with enhanced hold
  • Adhesion promoters or surface treatments
  • Functional adhesive tapes
Our must-have requirements are:
  • Supported by rationale or existing evidence for safe use on skin and nails
  • Adheres effectively to both ABS plastic and natural nail surfaces
  • Adhesive performance lasts at least 2 weeks
Our nice-to-have’s are:
  • Supports easy consumer application and non-damaging removal
  • Maintains aesthetic thickness (1-3 mm)

PROtein SEquencing (PROSE) Industry Day

DARPA

Solicitation: DARPA-SN-25-82

https://sam.gov/opp/73e4e374fac34f04a5e8f6aceeee9883/view

Posted Date: June 06, 2025

Registration Due Date: June 23, 2025 by 5:00 pm ET  Register HERE

Industry Day Date: June 30, 2025 at 9:00 am ET

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION:
The objective of the PROSE program is to demonstrate molecular readers that can accurately read a
broad range of amino acids and post translational modifications (i.e., letters) in sequence for unknown
protein samples. The program will seek hardware demonstrations of novel read element designs
integrated with microsystem architectures. The program is open to a wide range of translocation and
measurement approaches as well as microsystem designs. However, these approaches must overcome
the challenges associated with reading long protein sequences with high accuracy at high throughput.
Additionally, the readers must demonstrate scalability across the broad range of chemical complexity in
the protein letter space.

It is anticipated that PROSE will be a 36-month program with a 15-month Phase 1 and a 21-month Phase
2. It is anticipated that Phase 1 will focus on demonstrating novel read-element approaches to reading
the protein alphabet at high accuracy. It is anticipated that in Phase 1, performers will also develop
microsystem designs, amino acid calling algorithms, and models to predict throughput and accuracy of
designed microsystems. It is anticipated that Phase 1 will culminate with a technical demonstration of
read element capabilities, as well as a design review of microsystem performance with a simulation/projection of accuracy and throughput capability.
It is anticipated that Phase 2 will focus on realizing complex microsystems capable of high-accuracy, fulllength protein sequencing through novel fabrication and integration approaches. In Phase 2, it is also
anticipated that there will be a series of technical demonstrations showcasing improved read-element
performance across a broader chemical complexity space.

NASA Entrepreneurs Challenge 2023

NASA

Solicitation: 80JSC025BR0001

https://www.nasa-beyond-challenge.org/

Posted Date: June 10, 2025

Submission Due Date: July 25, 2025 by 8:00 PM ET

Breakthrough computing methods show promise in overcoming processing power, efficiency, and performance limitations of conventional computing methods. Once fully harnessed, these methods could transform many areas of American life. Rapid flood analysis is one such area. Flood hazards affect personal safety and land use initiatives, directly affecting individual  livelihoods, community property, and infrastructure development and resilience. By beginning to apply these new methods in an Earth observation context, NASA is driving American leadership in pushing computing technology frontiers. The challenge asks participants to provide solutions or potential solutions to improve flood water analysis by using one or more unconventional computing methods.
In Phase One, participants will submit a short 5-page white paper and a 2- to 3-minute video of their idea. Submissions will be evaluated per challenge Judging Criteria. Approximately three weeks after the submission deadline, up to 10 Finalists will be selected to present their ideas to a panel of judges at a live Pitch Event in September 2025.
In Phase Two, Finalists will upload any code solutions to GitHub or a similar code repository (if their solution includes code) and present their ideas to a panel of judges at a live Pitch Event. Up to three 3 winners will be chosen, with each winner being awarded a $100,000 prize. Note that the ownership and use of intellectual property arising from this competition remains with the competitor.
In Phase Three, winners will be invited to attend a “Funding 101” webinar course. Additionally, winners will be contacted 12 months after Pitch Event completion for follow up surveys on further challenge research development and implementation.

CoasterChase Proposers Day

DARPA

Solicitation: DARPA-SN-25-79

https://sam.gov/opp/bc32a2465de44f18b39883094bfb448c/view

Posted Date: June 10, 2025

Registration Deadline: July 02, 2025 by 12:00 PM

Conference Date: July 07, 2025  in Arlington, VA.

The Proposers Day goals include:
1. Introducing the CoasterChase program vision and goals to the research community;
2. Explaining the mechanics of a DARPA program in general and the objectives and milestones of this program in particular;
3. Increasing efficiency in proposal preparation and evaluation;
4. Encouraging and promoting teaming arrangements among organizations that have the relevant expertise, research facilities, and capabilities for executing research and development responsive to the CoasterChase program goals.
The Proposers Day will include brief overview presentations by government personnel as well as an information session during which the DARPA Program Manager, BAA coordinator, and Contracting Officer will respond to questions from participants. The Proposers Day will also include 5-minute “lightning talks,” during which potential performers can highlight their technical capabilities to facilitate teaming relationships. CoasterChase will require strong teaming efforts to successfully innovate and integrate multidisciplinary critical technologies necessary to meet all of the metrics of the program.

 

C4ISR, Information Operations, Cyberspace Operations and Information Technology System Research, Cryogenics & Quantum

DoD / NIWC Pacific

Solicitation: N66001-25-S-4700

https://sam.gov/opp/8ece31a8ab57473d8e00cf94c392ed1c/view

Posted Date: June 10, 2025

White Paper and Proposal Due Date: June 9, 2026 by 4:00 pm PT

Proposed research should investigate unique and innovative approaches for defining and developing next generation integratable C4ISR capabilities and command suites. The area topics reflect the interest of the NIWC Pacific, but interest from other Team NAVWAR components could be generated and selections could be made for funding by other than NIWC Pacific.

Technical topics of interest include:

1. General C4ISR
2. Command and Control
3. Communications
4. Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
5. Unmanned Vehicles
6. Information Operations/Cyberspace Operations
7. Ubiquitous Communications and Computing Environment
8. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Research
9. Advanced Power and Energy Production and Efficient Use
10. Cryogenics & Quantum

Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide BAA Defense Sciences Office

DARPA

Solicitation: HR001125S0013

https://sam.gov/opp/c3f0bedbf22c4e2daf5bb0a713f4ce4a/view

Posted Date: June 3, 2025

Proposal due Date: June 02,, 2026 by 4:00 pm ET

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is soliciting proposals that investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems for national security applications. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.
The DARPA DSO regularly publishes Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) requesting responses to specific program topics. This announcement seeks revolutionary research ideas for topics not being addressed by ongoing DSO programs or other published solicitations.
To avoid proposals that duplicate existing activities or are responsive to other published DSO solicitations, potential proposers are highly encouraged to review current DSO programs and solicitations, respectively listed at http://www.darpa.mil/about-us/offices/dso and http://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities. Contacting DSO program managers to discuss
their research interests is strongly encouraged. A current list of program managers is available at
http://www.darpa.mil/about-us/people.

Defense Community Infrastructure Program

DoD

Solicitation: OLDCC-25-F-0001

https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/358802

Posted Date: May 28, 2025

Pre-proposal Seminars: June 3, 2025, and June 11, 2025  REGISTER HERE

Proposal Due Date: July 03, 2025 by 3 pm ET

The Defense Community Infrastructure Program is a competitive grant program designed to address deficiencies in community infrastructure that can support a military installation’s readiness and lethality by investing in relationships and collaborations between local installations and states, communities, and non-profit owners of critical infrastructure assets essential for the delivery of critical Defense missions. This program benefits and supports the readiness and lethality of our military installations as well as our service members and their families and the defense communities in which they live and work.

Assessment of SensingAutonomy Sensor Exploitation Technologies (ASSET)

AFRL

Solicitation: FA2377-25-R-B010

https://sam.gov/opp/a41b9da430cf487d9b7432193d993c68/view

Posted Date: May 22, 2025

Proposal Due Date: July 03, 2025 by 5:00 pm ET

ASSET is being solicited as a 1-STEP CALL FOR PROPOSALS under the Autonomous Decisions, Algorithms, and Modeling (ADAM) Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA) (FA2377-25-S-1207).

The objective of the Assessment of Sensing-Autonomy Sensor Exploitation Technologies (ASSET) is to provide the DAF with comprehensive tools to model, analyze, assess, and predict mission-level effects based on sensor performance obtained empirically or through modeling, simulation, and analysis across multiple domains to include air, ground, space, and cyber. The purpose is to generate knowledge and understanding of multi-domain sensing autonomy mission sets that fuse information from any source, reason closed loop over the environment, and enable improved, timely, and executable battlespace decisions for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Strike, and Electronic Warfare (EW).

Autonomous Decisions, Algorithms and Modeling (ADAM)

AFRL

Solicitation: FA2377-25-S-1207

https://sam.gov/opp/826532a830974581ad9a3229f5a237d3/view

Posted Date: May 21, 2025

Proposal Due Date: Apr 14, 2030 12:00 am ET

Solicitations issued under this MAA will seek approaches covering one or more of the following Technical Areas. Efforts awarded under these Technical Areas may consist of concept development, analysis, basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, advanced component development and prototyping, experimentation and/or transition activities that will enable future efforts.

Technical Area 1: Multi-Domain Sense Making

Technical Area 2: Sensing Autonomy

Technical Area 3: Sensing and Effects Analysis

Technical Area 4: Multi-Sensing Knowledge

Technical Area 5: Sensing Management

 

NRC Research Associateship Programs

National Academies

https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/rap/nrc-research-associateship-programs

Posted Date: May 20, 2025

Proposal offer timeline: June 1, 2025 thru August 1, 2025

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Fellowships Office has conducted the NRC Research Associateship Programs in cooperation with sponsoring federal laboratories and other research organizations since 1954. NRC Research Associateships are awarded to exceptionally talented postdoctoral and senior scientists and engineers through a rigorous selection process. These selected individuals are granted tenure as guest researchers at participating laboratories, highlighting their outstanding contributions and potential in their respective fields.

The NRC Research Associateship Programs aim to:

  • Offer uniquely promising postdoctoral and senior scientists/engineers the chance to pursue self-directed research that aligns with the goals of the sponsoring laboratories.
  • Enhance the comprehensive research efforts of these laboratories.
  • Provide recent doctoral graduates with a platform to conduct focused research in collaboration with select members of the permanent professional laboratory staff.
  • Foster the professional growth of Associates by providing opportunities to gain skills, experience, and connections through collaboration with leading scientists, enhancing their future career prospects in academia, industry, or government research roles.

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