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Sr. Vice President for Research & Economic Development
Proposal Services & Faculty Support
May Funding Focus Newsletter #1
| | 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.
Found a Limited Submission opportunity that interests you?
If so, please contact the PSFS office sooner than later so that an internal competition can be created for a timely, university-wide, fair and equitable selection process that allows for ample time for review, feedback and revisions.
| | Limited Submission Announcements | | |
NEA: Grants for Arts Projects
Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides funding for public engagement with the arts and arts education within the arts sector. Activities funded through Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) should enable Americans throughout the nation to experience the arts, foster and celebrate America’s artistic heritage and cultural legacy, and benefit from arts education at all stages of life. The program also supports arts and health programs, including creative arts therapies, that advance the well-being of people and communities. Applications for arts projects that focus on one or more agency funding priorities is strongly encouraged.
Arts projects in the following disciplines are supported: Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance, Design, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater, and Visual Arts.
**A 1:1 cost-share/match required. Sources may include both cash and in-kind.
Institutional Limit: One (1) Application
Internal Deadline: May 18, 2026
Funder Deadline: July 21, 2026, 11:59pm ET
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EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement: EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence (E-RISE)
The E-RISE program is designed to provide EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions with funding to support the ability to competitively engage in high quality research in a scientific field. It also incubates novel, leading-edge ideas that will lead to increased research capacity and competitiveness in the topical area and sustainable improvements in the jurisdiction's academic research infrastructure and human networks related to the chosen topical area. E-RISE aims to support EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions to:
1. Build a jurisdiction-wide network of teams of researchers and sectors that conduct and develop high-quality research in a defined STEM disciplinary area or topic of choice that is aligned with jurisdictional priority areas and EPSCoR's mission and goals.
2. Develop high quality hypothesis or problem-driven research projects, including projects that explore emerging or interdisciplinary research areas with high potential impact, and that will sustain project outcomes beyond the E-RISE funding.
3. Develop effective STEM education and workforce development opportunities within the research topic(s) that engage a breadth of audiences across the jurisdiction and establish meaningful partnerships at the individual and institutional levels both within the jurisdiction and beyond.
E-RISE projects are intended to result in sustainable infrastructure in a jurisdiction that positions research teams to be leaders in a STEM topical area at a national and/or international level.
Institutional Limit: One (1) Proposal
Internal Deadline: May 26, 2026, 4:45pm
Funder Deadline: August 11, 2026, 5:00pm CT
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Auburn University Rural Partnership Institute Collaborative Research Projects
The Auburn University Rural Partnership Institute (AURPI) is soliciting proposals from faculty who are collaborating with industry and/or community organizations to develop and implement solutions that enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability of Alabama’s poultry and forestry industries with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of rural Alabamians. This request for proposal is intended for faculty to collaborate with industry or community organizations in support of the goals of AURPI’s project.
Projects of Interest (but not limited to):
- Develop technology solutions and market intelligence that will help producers and processors of poultry and forest products improve their competitiveness and sustainability.
- Promote technologies that will advance the poultry and forest products industries.
- Predict and protect against cyber-physical vulnerabilities in poultry and forest products sectors
- Find opportunities to better manage water and wastewater; better manage and upcycle the waste streams emanating from poultry and forest product processing facilities for beneficial use.
- Other topics of investigation into challenges facing rural Alabama, including exploratory social and health science research.
Note that current PI/co-PI on AURPI internal funding program will not be considered for this funding opportunity.
Proposals Due: June 15, 2026, 4:45pm
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American Educational Research Association: Research Grants
The aim of the program is to advance fundamental knowledge of relevance to STEM education policy, foster significant science using education data, and build research capacity in education and learning. The program supports highly competitive studies using rigorous quantitative methods to examine large-scale, education-related data.
The Grants Program is open to field-initiated research and welcomes proposals that:
- Support fundamental research using extant data and quantitative methods on STEM learning and learning environments;
- Cultivate rigorous scientific research using big data and data linkages, with an emphasis on large administrative federal datasets, state longitudinal data systems (SLDS), and local record systems;
- Promote the use and study of machine learning and artificial intelligence in STEM research; or
- Undertake replication research of major findings or major studies using large-scale, federally supported or enhanced data.
Proposals Due: May 20, 2026, 11:59pm PT
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DOE ARPA-E: Inspiring Generations of New Innovators to Impact Technologies in Energy (IGNIITE)
The IGNIITE 2026 program is designed to support a new cohort of early-career innovators to develop the most disruptive and unconventional ideas into transformative new technologies across the full spectrum of energy applications. This announcement is purposefully broad in technical scope, but eligibility is limited to early-career researchers. Submissions to this solicitation must propose transformational R&D that has the potential for high impact. If successful, a project could create a new class or new trajectory for an energy technology.
Concept Papers Due: May 29, 2026, 9:30am ET
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Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award
The Innovation Award is specifically designed to provide funding to extraordinary early career researchers who have an innovative new idea but lack sufficient preliminary data to obtain traditional funding in the cancer field. It is not designed to fund incremental advances. The research supported by the award must be novel, exceptionally creative and, if successful, have the strong potential for high impact.
Applications Due: July 1, 2026, 4:00pm ET
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National Fish & Wildlife Foundation: Southeast Aquatics
The NFWF seeks proposals to conserve aquatic habitat in the southeastern United States. Funds from this program will support projects that improve water quality, water quantity, and instream and riparian conditions. In select geographies, funding is also available to support aquatic connectivity, species recovery, monitoring, and planning. Funding is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, Altria, and Southern Company.
**Projects should have a minimum of 1:1 non-federal match funding. Non-federal match may come in the form of cash or in-kind services.
Applications Due: July 1, 2026, 11:59pm ET
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CCTS Clinical & Translational Science Research Program
The CCTS Partner Network is accepting proposals for high-impact projects that tackle barriers in clinical and translational science. This funding opportunity supports innovative, generalizable solutions—like improving integration of diagnostics, tools, and interventions into real-world practice.
Barriers addressed include:
- Integrating innovations into clinical workflows
- Overcoming patient mistrust and distrust
- Adapting electronic health records (EHRs) for new tools
- Enabling decentralized trial enrollment
- Expanding access to remote monitoring and self-testing kits
- Improving communication of diagnostic results (e.g., genetic testing)
Investigators may request up to $200,000/year for two years.
Pre-applications Due: August 3, 2026
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Conflict of Interest Disclosures - Don't Wait!
Effective May 1, 2026, Conflicts of Interests disclosures are checked as part of the new proposal process, but don't wait until the seven-day OSP review window to report known or potential COIs.
Contact the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance as soon as possible to vet COIs and initiate a Conflict Management Plan. Without advanced notice, there is no guarantee the COI Management Plan can be in place within the new seven-day review window - and that could lead to non-submittal.
Need More Information? Reach out to the Research Integrity Office and click Here for comprehensive information on Policy, Management Plans, Checklists, FAQS and more!
Required Training Reminder:
Remember all project personnel - regardless of funding source or role on the project - are required to have the following up-to-date training modules:
- CITI AU Basic RCR Training for ALL Faculty, Staff, Postdocs, and Students
- CITI Research Security (Combined) courses.
Personnel should use their official (no aliases) Auburn email address to ensure courses are accurately tracked.
Instructions for accessing CITI accounts are available Here.
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CCTS TIERS:
New Format for NIH Data Management Plans: Here’s What You Need To Know
Friday, May 8, 2026
12:00noon - 1:00pm CT
via ZOOM
Tune in to learn how to stay ahead of upcoming NIH changes with this session on the new Data Management and Sharing Plan format required for applications submitted on or after May 25.
Register Here.
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NSF America's Seed Fund SBIR.STTR Webinar:
Dynamic Discussion: Awardee Lessons from the Translation Journey
May 11, 2026
1:00pm CT via Zoom
The conversation will explore how to
• Turn early-stage ideas into game-changing technologies
• Navigate the pathway from prototype to deployment
• Measure what matters: outcomes and real impact
Register Here.
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MCDC Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Preparedness Consortium Webinar:
Intellectual Property for Biotech Innovators
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
12:00noon - 1:00pm CT
This session covers the fundamentals of intellectual property (IP) and patent protection for biotech innovations.
Register Here.
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Hanover Research Webinars
Building Grantseeking Capacity & Culture
Thursday, May 28, 2026
11:00am CT
Organizations striving to grow their funding portfolios inevitably face critical questions about how to strategically build the infrastructure required to seek, manage, and sustain grant funding over time. This webinar will explore comprehensive best practices and key considerations for developing this capacity—whether you are in the early stages of establishing a grants function or looking for proven strategies to strengthen and expand your existing efforts.
Register Here.
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Hanover Research Queue Proposal Review Availability
Slots available July 3 - July 20 and after September 11
Auburn University has partnered with Hanover Research for a number of grant development solutions including Pre-proposal Support; Proposal Development; and Capacity Building. Hanover's full-service grant development solutions are available to set goals, build strategies to achieve key grant-seeking objectives, and develop grant proposals that are well-planned, researched, and written.
For information regarding Hanover’s core capabilities and project timelines, click here. If you are interested in a slot in the queue, please e-mail Tony Ventimiglia.
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Hanover GLC Modules for NIH, NSF-CAREER & Grant Development
The Hanover Research Grants Learning Center (GLC) on-demand grant development training portal offers faculty enrollees the unique opportunity to receive targeted training through self-paced, interactive modules with step-by-step guidance and templates for prospective applicants to develop compelling proposals. In addition to NIH and NSF-CAREER modules, AU faculty now have access to a variety of new modules on grant seeking, development and revisions.
Auburn faculty interested in signing up for this training should contact Christine Cline for registration information.
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Free CITI Training Modules
Auburn subscribes to several training modules via the CITI Program website that may be of interest to researchers and research administrators. Each module is self-paced and can be finished in one or multiple sessions. Click on the link above to read descriptions.
- Essentials of Grant Proposal Development
- Essentials of Research Administration
| | 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. | |
Proposal Services & Faculty Support
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