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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 ERI at eri-pre@iastate.edu 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.

 

 

Dear Colleague Letter Empowering and Educating Children to Thrive in a Digital Era

NSF

Solicitation: 26-017

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/dcl-empowering-educating-children-thrive-digital-era

Dear Colleague:

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) encourages proposal submissions that empower children to learn, grow, and thrive through the safe and innovative use of advanced technology. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is interested in proposals that investigate and advance evidence-based strategies, technologies and approaches, including artificial intelligence (Al) and other emerging technologies, to strengthen children’s safety and privacy online, create and expand educational opportunities for children, support and promote their well-being in the digital age, and strengthen the capacity of educators, parents, caregivers and community stakeholders to protect children from online dangers. NSF is also interested in the design of advanced learning environments that help children learn, grow, and thrive in the future across formal and informal educational settings.

The Design and Analysis of Integrated Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems for Unmanned Air Vehicles

Naval Postgraduate School

Solicitation: 62.10.03.B4011

https://ra.nas.edu/RAPLab10/Opportunity/opportunity.aspx?LabCode=62&ROPCD=621003&RONum=B4011

Posted Date: March 27, 2025

Due Date: Open

We are investigating new ways of solving the multi-rate, asynchronous filtering problems in a frequency-like framework that is compatible with that used for control systems design and with the types of sensor specifications that are usually available from the manufacturers. Furthermore, we are interested in developing new algorithms that lift the usual assumption on the separation of the time scales associated with unmanned air vehicle sensor processing (navigation), vehicle dynamics (control), and kinematics (guidance).

Rapid Response Munitions Testing and Engineering Services Follow-On

DoD

Solicitation: N0017426R1010

https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ca80ec645a4a49fcb07aead199ffe961/view

Posted Date: March 3, 2026

Due Date: June 6, 2026

NSWC IHD and other Navy and DoD requiring activities require engineering services and rapid response testing support for a variety of programs, which protect and support the warfighter. The engineering services and rapid response testing support are a major requirement of the life-cycle process. Much of the testing support will require specialized test facilities with the capability to handle live ordnance and fixturing, which is able to accommodate extreme size and weights, or underwater. This support shall include engineering services and infrastructure for characterizing, testing, and documenting the performance of weapons, ammunition, munitions, and energetic systems, components and related systems.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK)

DOE

Solicitation: DE-FOA-0003580

https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#FoaIdde62ae78-ed5c-476c-bd42-d126d61175b9

Concept paper Due Date: April 2, 2026

Full application Due Date: May 20, 2026

SPARK is an opportunity to meet load demand growth and resource adequacy, and to address critical national, interregional, and regional needs. The Office of Electricity (OE) achieves these goals by stimulating investment in power system infrastructure and building partnerships between states, local governments, tribes, and power system operators to enhance reliability and affordability of the electric grid.

Projects submitted under this NOFO must demonstrate measurable improvements in electric grid capacity and system value (usefulness), combining physical capacity gains, which include solutions such as reconductoring or other infrastructure upgrades with operational efficiency and/or flexibility from other Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs). Applications must show how these complementary technologies expand transfer capability, strengthen reliability and resource adequacy, and reduce consumer cost impact while utilizing existing rights of way. DOE will prioritize projects that can be implemented quickly to deliver durable physical upgrades and dynamic operational gains that together increase the value, performance, security, resilience, affordability, and reliability of the nation’s electric grid.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Section 40207 Battery Materials Processing & Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Programs

DOE

Solicitation: DE-FOA-0003585

https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#FoaIdde62ae78-ed5c-476c-bd42-d126d61175b9

Due date for Letter of Intent: March 27, 2026

Full proposal due date: April 24, 2026

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Manufacturing Deployment Office (MDO), part of the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) is issuing a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the development of demonstration and commercial facilities to increase the domestic supply of critical minerals and materials for advanced batteries: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Section 40207 Battery Materials Processing & Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Programs.

The activities to be funded under this NOFO are funded through IIJA sections 40207 (b) & (c) and support the broader government-wide approach to expanding and securing America’s energy infrastructure, including by building critical domestic manufacturing and strengthening material supply chains. Batteries are critical for many energy sectors, such as grid resilience, data centers, transportation, drones, and other defense applications. Critical minerals and materials (CMMs) needed for the battery sector include lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, fluorspar, copper, and aluminum. For many of these CMMs, the U.S. is reliant on foreign sources.

This program will:

  • Enhance national security by reducing the reliance of the United States on foreign competitors for critical materials and technologies;
  • Expand the capabilities of the United States in advanced battery component manufacturing;
  • Ensure that the United States has a viable battery materials processing, manufacturing, and recycling industry with sufficient capacity to supply the North American battery supply chain;
  • Deploy innovative processing efficiency, manufacturing, and recycling technologies that can increase U.S. competitiveness and economic viability; and
  • Ensure investments in and provide high-quality jobs that support America’s competitive advantage.

 

Advanced barrier systems for paper packaging

Halo

https://www.halo.science/request_for_solutions/high-barrier-paper-packaging

Posted Date: March 09, 2026

Proposal Due Date: May 01, 2026

We’re proactively developing a next-generation packaging platform that keeps materials in circulation—designed for strong recyclability in paper streams and credible compostability pathways where appropriate. This direction also aligns with evolving policy and infrastructure: frameworks such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and California Senate Bill 54 (SB54) are accelerating expectations for packaging that is demonstrably recyclable or compostable, increasing market pressure on formats that fall short.

We are seeking coating materials, barrier systems, fiber treatments, or process technologies that enable high-barrier paper-based packaging with strong functional performance and compatibility with high-speed Horizontal Form-Fill-Seal (HFFS) flow-wrap and Stand-up-Pouch (SUP) equipment. The ultimate goal is reliable forming, sealing, and cutting performance at commercial speeds (~100 ppm), along with structural integrity through processing and distribution.

CONSORTIUM FOR NUCLEAR FORENSICS

NNSA

Solicitation: DE-FOA-0003567

https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/4d6a2cbd-bce7-4cd3-93c6-83f5a0f04357

Posted Date: March 04, 2026

Proposal Due Date: June 10, 2026 by 11:59 pm ET

Direct-fund basic research at universities that complement applied research in nuclear forensics at the DOE National Laboratories to include foundational disciplines of radiochemistry; geochemistry; shock physics; nuclear physics, science and engineering; radiation detector science; nuclear material science engineering; nuclear chemical engineering; modeling, simulation and optimization methods for nuclear applications; and seismology and infrasound methods supporting yield determination. A secondary benefit to this research is the development of a diverse and highly talented cadre of technical professionals, including scientists, engineers, technicians, and operational personnel, who will become the next generation of technical leaders in nuclear missions, such as nuclear forensics, nonproliferation, incident response, intelligence, and energy. These professionals are expected to primarily benefit the DOE National Laboratories as future research staff but will also benefit academia, private industry, and U.S. government agencies, including Energy, State, Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and the Intelligence Community.

 

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Applications in Power Electronics and Power Devices

DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory

Solicitation: ARL-C-SEDD-300057

https://zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/ARL-C-SEDD-300057

Posted Date: March 7, 2025

Due Date: Open

 

The CCDC. Army Research Laboratory is seeking a qualified researcher to perform work in the areas of machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), power electronics and power semiconductor devices. Qualified candidates must have recently obtained a
bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering and must currently be enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. Degree in Engineering. The selected applicant will perform research in power semiconductor module-level AI/ML implementation on
embedded systems. These systems will utilize new and existing sensor devices and techniques to allow the module to autonomously alter its trade space parameters.

Responsibilities of the selected applicant include:
* Perform an extensive literature review of existing AI/ML algorithms
* Design and build power semiconductor module prototypes with embedded computational power to execute AI/ML algorithms
* Implement AI/ML algorithms in the embedded system
* Setup a suitable testbed to analyze, test, identify and validate the benefits of the AI/ML implementation
* Write reports and make presentations to document the outcomes of the research

Natural Language Processing on Army Operational Data

DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory

Solicitation: ARL-R-ARD-400022-F1

https://zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/ARL-R-ARD-400022-F1

Posted Date: March 7, 2025

Due Date: Open

The Army Research Laboratory Research Associateship Program (ARL-RAP) is designed to significantly increase the involvement of creative and highly trained scientists and engineers from academia and industry in scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Army. Scientists and Engineers at the CCDC Army Research Laboratory (ARL) help shape and execute the Army’s program for meeting the challenge of developing technologies that will support Army forces in meeting future operational needs by pursuing scientific research and technological developments in diverse fields such as: applied mathematics, atmospheric characterization, simulation and human modeling, digital/optical signal processing, nanotechnology, material science and technology, multifunctional technology, combustion processes, propulsion and flight physics, communication and networking, and computational and information sciences.

Resilient Materials, Devices, and Sensors

DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory

Solicitation: ARL-R-SEDD-300090-ES

https://zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/ARL-R-SEDD-300090-ES

Posted Date: March 7, 2025

Due Date: Open

This opportunity is available at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory located at Adelphi, MD.  The Energy Sciences Division (ES) is seeking candidates with a strong interest in future energy technologies who has recently studied or is currently studying in engineering or science. Energy demand is expected to increase across the board and we are working on technologies to harvest local power, condition it efficiently, and store it quickly and for long times. These multi-disciplinary problems require materials, electronics, 3D printing, and design expertise.

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