Our editorial team is keeping abreast of the current status of federally funded opportunities. Such opportunities advertised here, to our knowledge at time of publication, are active. However, please continue to check solicitation websites for updates to U.S. Government opportunities of interest.

What is a Limited Submission?...

A limited submission solicitation places a cap on the number of proposals Auburn may submit to a sponsor. Auburn coordinates limited submissions with notifications via this newsletter and competitions created in the Auburn University Competition Space (InfoReady). To apply to any limited submission posted in this newsletter, click on the link within the announcement. Please refer to the Limited Submission Procedures page for a general list of requirements.

Limited Submission Announcements

NSF: National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NQNI)

The NSF National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NQNI) program will establish the next generation of research infrastructure providing open access to tools, instrumentation, and expertise for both quantum information science and engineering (QISE) and nanotechnology. The NQNI program will support open-access user facilities called NQNI Sites. NQNI Sites will be distributed across the U.S. to create a shared national resource for the research and business communities. Each Site will serve regional communities, with a focus on community members that lack access to advanced micro- and nano-fabrication and characterization equipment, training, and expertise.The Sites should aim to provide access to users from local and regional institutions, industry, and government who are not themselves formally part of the NQNI Site ("external users").

NQNI awards will primarily support personnel to run activities to recruit and train new external users to access tools and expertise at Sites. Sites should prioritize hands-on experiences for external users. Additionally, education, training, workforce development, and outreach efforts are expected. Funds may be used for activities related to the creation of educational materials, student researchers, postdoc training exchanges, and such.

Proposals should advance one or more of the following measures of success:

• Publications from research
• Data sets established or expanded
• New technologies or techniques established
• Undergraduate and graduate students trained in a specific critical area
• Research facility usage

Institutional Limit: One (1) LOI

Internal Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026, 4:45pm

Funder Deadline: March 16, 2026, 5:00pm CT

DOE: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs)

The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces a re-competition of the 

Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) program and encourages both new and renewal applications. Applications from multi-disciplinary teams will be required to propose discovery science and use-inspired basic research that address scientific challenges in one or more of the topic areas listed below. The focus of the EFRC program is on fundamental scientific research, therefore applications to this NOFO must not propose applied research and technology development activities. 

BES is soliciting applications in two general categories: BES Report Topics and Special

Topics. Applications may respond to topics in both categories.

In the BES Reports Topics, applicants must address priority research directions (PRD) and opportunities (PRO) identified in one or more of the following reports (see full description for PRO/PRD restrictions):

• Foundational Science to Accelerate Nuclear Energy Innovation
• Controlling Subsurface Fractures and Fluid Flow: A Basic Research Agenda
• Basic Research Needs for Next Generation Electrical Energy Storage
• Basic Research Needs for Transformative Manufacturing
• Basic Research Needs for Microelectronics
• BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Quantum Computing in Chemical and Materials Sciences
• BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Basic Research for Next-Generation Quantum Systems

In the Special Topics, applicants must address one or more of the following topics (see full description for details):

• Controlling Quantum Phenomena to Enable Unconventional Computing Paradigms
• Development and Workflow Integration of AI/ML Models for Materials and Chemistry Discovery Science
• Emergent Phenomena of Complex Chemical Systems
• Fundamental Science for Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM)

**Please Note that Application Requirements for this competition differ from Standard Limited Submission Requirements.

Institutional Limit: Three (3) Pre-Applications

Internal Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026, 4:45pm

Funder Deadline: April 1, 2026, 11:59pm ET

Open to faculty, staff, post-docs and students, this AI@AU/Team Science Series Showcase and Workshop features current applications and investigations of AI in AU research.
 

• Increase your awareness of how AU researchers are applying and investigating AI
• Explore connection opportunities 
• Garner resources and information
• Engage in timely discussions among participants

Posters Sessions

Digital Slide Presentations 

Lightning Talks

Round-table Group Discussions 

Keynote Speaker

Introducing Aubria: Our AI-generated Keynote Speaker

**Faculty and students who submitted an abstract and plan to attend should also

register here**

The federal funding landscape is changing daily, necessitating extra due diligence on the part of funding seekers. When perusing a solicitation, 1) make sure you are viewing the latest version, 2) read all notes in the headers and margins, and 3) follow provided links to ensure a solicitation is still active and accepting applications.