December 18, 2025
Happy holidays! We are pleased to acknowledge those who received awards in November 2025. So far in FY2026, WSU researchers under Academic Affairs have submitted external proposals in the amount of $30,087,861 and received $17,019,523 in external awards.
Congratulations to the WSU Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for its continued work on strengthening rural water and wastewater systems. The EFC at WSU is led by Tonya Bronleewe. Please join us in congratulating Tonya and the EFC team on this incredible achievement!
Reminder: Academic Affairs, the Office of Research, and Information Technology Services (ITS) are working together on two upcoming surveys to get your perspectives to help inform our path forward. The first is a survey focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) aimed at establishing an AI inventory – a reliable, campus-wide picture of current AI use and future needs. The second survey focuses on High-Performance Computing (HPC) which will be used to gather data to help to the shape campus HPC/secure compute, storage, support, and grant strategy. Keep an eye out in WSU Today and other communication platforms for upcoming notifications of the surveys.
WSU leadership continues to carefully monitor the impact of any executive orders on our research programs. If you receive any communication from a federal sponsor, please continue to forward that information to your respective office of research. And as always, if you have questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact us at research@wichita.edu.
Past and future editions of this newsletter may be found here:
https://www.wichita.edu/research/ResearchNewsletter/index.php.
LAST MONTH'S
AWARDS
UPWARD BOUND MATH SCIENCE CENTER
PI/Department: Lorene Berg, ED - Upward Bound Math & Science
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $384,775
TESTING AND PROMOTION PROCESS
PI/Department: Misty Bruckner, Office of Community Partnerships
Sponsor: City of Wichita
Amount: $40,000
2025 CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT & SUPPORT SERVICES - JUSTICE INVOLVED PROGRAMS SUMMIT
PI/Department: Misty Bruckner, Office of Community Partnerships
Sponsor: Kansas Department of Commerce
Amount: $7,810
ROUND 1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE CITY OF WICHITA 21ST STREET CORRIDOR PLAN
PI/Department: Misty Bruckner, Office of Community Partnerships
Sponsor: Professional Engineering Consultants
Amount: $30,000
2025 LATINO LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
PI/Department: Misty Bruckner, Office of Community Partnerships
Sponsor: State of Kansas
Amount: $785
TEACHING THE HISTORY OF TEXT TECHNOLOGIES IN A BOOK LAB
PI/Department: Francis Connor, English
Sponsor: State of Kansas - URCA
Amount: $4,228
SECURE AND RESILIENT UAV COMMUNICATIONS VIA DUAL-MODE FREE-SPACE OPTICS
PI/Department: Ali Eslami, Electrical & Computer Engr
Co-PI/Department: Davood Askari, Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor: State of Kansas - MURPA
Amount: $7,500
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS PROGRAM - YEAR 5
PI/Department: Travis Feeney, ED - Educational Opportunity Centers
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $283,661
DELOITTE SMART FACTORY BELIEVERS STEM TEACH PROGRAM AT WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY
PI/Department: Jennifer Friend, Applied Studies Dean's Office
Sponsor: Deloitte Consulting, LLP
Amount: $40,000
MIDWESTERN PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING CENTER
PI/Department: Suzanne Hawley, Public Health Sciences
Sponsor: University of Iowa / Health Resources & Services Admin
Amount: $112,320
UPWARD BOUND WICHITA PREP
PI/Department: Rhonda Hicks, ED - Upward Bound/Wichita Prep
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $503,538
GEAR UP AT HAYSVILLE
PI/Department: Jose Hinojosa, ED - GEAR-UP
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $720,000
A GENERALIZED F-MODELING-BASED EMPIRICAL BAYES METHOD FOR ESTIMATING PARAMETERS IN SCALE
PI/Department: Ye Il Kwon, Mathematics & Statistics
Sponsor: State of Kansas - URCA
Amount: $4,500
VETERAN STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AT WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY
PI/Department: Stacia Lyday, ED - Veterans Upward Bound Program
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $272,364
LEGAL RESEARCH - BPVSTA
PI/Department: Lisa Parcell, The Research Partnership
Sponsor: IMS Consulting and Expert Services
Amount: $11,000
SURVEY OF FREEMASON STRUCTURES IN THE EAST OF THE STATE OF KANSAS
PI/Department: Jay Price, History and Geography
Sponsor: Kansas Historical Society / Department of the Interior
Amount: $58,482
TRIO TALENT SEARCH
PI/Department: Larry Ramos, ED - Talent Search Program
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $672,135
TRIO TALENT SEARCH - SOUTH
PI/Department: Larry Ramos, ED - Talent Search Program
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $288,470
KANSAS ENGINEERING TRAINING GRANT (FY26)
PI/Department: Steven Skinner, Engineering Dean's Office
Sponsor: Kansas Department of Commerce
Amount: $3,500,000
TRIO SSS - STEM PROJECT
PI/Department: Vanessa Souriya-Mnirajd, ED - Student Support Services
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $272,364
PROFESSIONAL STAFF COACHING
PI/Department: Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships
Sponsor: Kansas WorkforceONE
Amount: $2,506
MONTHLY AWARDS FOR THE DIVISION OF INDUSTRY AND DEFENSE EQUAL $7,488,762, OF WHICH THE ENTIRE AMOUNT BELONGS TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AVIATION RESEARCH (NIAR).
FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES
Focused Funding Opportunities
Please reach out early and as soon as you have found a potential opportunity that you wish to apply for. Early notifications allow the Office of Research to minimize the risk of missing agency deadlines, to fix potential errors, to ensure compliance with WSU policies and procedures, and to ensure the best service from our office.
Pivot is the funding opportunity database WSU subscribes to; you must affiliate with Wichita State University to access the system. To request assistance with a customized search please contact funding@wichita.edu. If any of the following opportunities are of interest to you, please email proposals@wichita.edu as soon as possible so that a grant specialist may be assigned to assist. Visit Pre-Award Services to find out more about applying for external funding.
Funding Agency: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Application Deadlines: Letters of Intent due January 6, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due May 5, 2026
Purpose: “PCORI aims to fund studies that address high-priority methodological gaps in patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research.”
Amount: $750,000
LIMITED: Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Title: Grants for Arts Projects
Application Deadlines: Limited: Because WSU may only submit one application per calendar year, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by January 6, 2026 at 12pm (noon), in case an internal competition is needed. The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is January 22, 2026. If selected, Part 1 due February 12, 2026; Part 2 due February 25, 2026
Purpose: “Activities funded through Grants for Arts Projects 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. We also support arts and health programs, including creative arts therapies, that advance the well-being of people and communities.”
Amount: $10,000-$100,000; Note, cost share is required.
REMINDER: Funding Agency: Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)
Title: Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards
Application Deadline: January 7, 2026
Purpose: “Our commitment to enriching the research skills and professional growth of young faculty members at ORAU member institutions is embodied in the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards Program. These competitive research awards provide seed money for junior faculty members that often result in additional funding from other sources.”
Amount: $5,000; Note, Cost Share is Required
LIMITED: Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 25-514: NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Program (S-STEM)
Application Deadlines: Limited: Because WSU may only submit two applications, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by January 8, 2026 at 12pm (noon), in case an internal competition is needed. The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is January 22, 2026. If selected, Full Application will be due March 3, 2026.
Purpose: “Supports institutions of higher education to fund scholarships for academically talented low-income STEM majors and to study and implement a program of activities that support their recruitment, retention and graduation.”
Amount: $2,000,000-$5,000,000
LIMITED: Funding Agency: Engineering Information Foundation (EiF)
Title: Grants
Application Deadlines: Limited: Because WSU may only submit one application per grant cycle, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by January 9, 2026 at 12:00pm (noon). The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is January 23, 2026. Application to the funder (if selected) will be due by February 28, 2026.
Purpose: “EiF provides grants to qualified not-for-profit organizations to assist in improving communication skills of engineers by identifying successful approaches for including communication behavior into engineering curricula and EiF provides funding for programs that encourage middle school girls in engineering and programs designed to improve the retention rate of undergraduate women in engineering.”
Amount: $5,000-$25,000
Funding Agency: Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR)
Title: 2026 JAMS Foundation – ACR Initiative for Students and Youth
Application Deadlines: Initial Project Ideas due January 9, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due March 17, 2026
Purpose: “This JAMS Foundation-ACR Initiative seeks to provide financial support for conflict resolution education and training (CRE) for Pre-K through 12th grade students and youth. The populations to be served by the funding streams will be both (1) youth in Pre-K through 12th grade age range and (2) adults working with these youth populations in ways that directly transfer CRE skills for adults to the youth populations.”
Amount: $20,000
REMINDER: Funding Agency: Kansas Tourism
Title: Attraction Development Grants
Application Deadline: January 9, 2026
Purpose: “The Attraction Development Grant Program supports the creation of new or enhancing sustainable, market-driven travel experiences in Kansas. Its goal is to attract new visitors, influence travel decisions, and generate economic benefits through new jobs, capital investment, increased revenue, and higher visitation.”
Amount: Total funding available is $1,000,000, no minimum or maximum request, however, Cost Share is Required
REMINDER: Funding Agency: American Conference Academic Consortium
Title: Invitation to Apply for 2026-2027 Research Grants – email proposals@wichita.edu for a copy of the solicitation
Application Deadline: Sunday January 18, 2026 (Internal WSU due date will be 9am Tuesday, January 13, 2026)
Purpose: “The program's goals are: (1) to stimulate research on college athletics designed to promote student-athlete welfare; and (2) to assist the American’s member institutions and intercollegiate athletics programs in evidence-based practice for student-athletes.”
Amount: $15,000
Funding Agency: Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)
Title: Core Broad Agency Announcement FY27
Application Deadlines: Pre-Proposals due January 13, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due March 19, 2026
Purpose: Current Statements of Need include “Improved Understanding of the Fate and Transport of Compounds Released from Tire Wear Particles to the Aquatic Environment;” “Environmental Heterogeneity and Species Population Management under External Stressors” and “Impacts of Ecosystem Transformation on Testing and Training Lands.”
Amount: Multiple contract awards totaling approximately $10 million anticipated.
Funding Agency: Allen Family Philanthropies
Title: Request for Proposals (RFP): Accelerating Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) in the United States
Application Deadlines: Letters of Intent due January 15, 2026; If invited, Full Applications will be due March 10, 2026
Purpose: “Allen Family Philanthropies has issued a call to non-profit organizations across the U.S. that are working in the Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) space to break implementation barriers using science and technology. The foundation is particularly interested in U.S.-based projects consisting of diverse teams of scientists, practitioners, and key stakeholders (e.g., community members, landowners, state land managers, etc.) to co-develop, test, and deploy science and technology solutions addressing barriers to NCS implementation.”
Amount: A total of $10 million will be available to fund six to seven projects (each lasting up to three years in duration) via this RFP.
REMINDER: Funding Agency: John A. See Innovation Awards
Title: 2026 Awards
Application Deadline: January 16, 2026
Purpose: “Established by John A. See to support prototype development, which may include development of products in engineering and science, development of life-enhancing therapeutic products, creation of application of new knowledge and artistic ventures.”
Amount: $1,000-$20,000
Funding Agency: American Heart Association (AHA)
Application Deadlines: Letter of Intent due January 19, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due March 23, 2026
Purpose: “Research focused on evaluating the effects of GLP-1 and/or GIP agonists among individuals with cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic disease (CKM) and/or obesity. Applicants should have experience in causal inference methods, machine learning, and cardiovascular research. Collaborative proposals involving multidisciplinary teams are encouraged. Proposals are encouraged to leverage data sources including de-identified claims data, electronic health records and prospective cohort studies.”
Amount: $300,000
Funding Agency: American Heart Association (AHA)
Application Deadlines: Letter of Intent due January 19, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due March 23, 2026
Purpose: “The purpose of this Request for Proposal announcement is to fund research focused on the prevalence and treatment of cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic disease in cancer patients and survivors. For multidisciplinary research teams with expertise in two or more of these areas: Cardio-oncology; CKM Syndrome; health economics; epidemiology; biostatistics with experience in causal inference methods, machine learning, and CV research.”
Amount: $150,000
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 26-502: NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER)
Application Deadlines: Letters of Intent due January 20, 2026; Preliminary Proposals due March 10, 2026; and Full Applications due July 24, 2026
Purpose: “TRAILBLAZER program supports individual investigators who propose novel research projects with the potential to innovatively and creatively address new areas of fundamental or applied research, catalyze development of new industries or capabilities that increase the leadership position for the country, and/or make significant progress towards addressing a national need or grand challenge, particularly in current priority areas including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI), bioengineering, quantum engineering, robotics, and nuclear engineering.”
Amount: $3,000,000
Funding Agency: National League for Nursing (NLN)
Title: NLN Nursing Education Research Grants
Application Deadline: January 21, 2026
Purpose: “The NLN Research in Nursing Education Grants Program supports high-quality studies that contribute to the development of the science of nursing education. NLN-funded grants promote diversity of research topics and support investigators who demonstrate rigor and innovative approaches to advance the field of nursing education research.”
Amount: $30,000
Funding Agency: American Epilepsy Society (AES) and Epilepsy Wellness Advocates
Title: AES/Epilepsy Wellness Advocates Early Career Research Award
Application Deadline: January 22, 2026
Purpose: “to undertake a research project with a focus on integrative health and wellness approaches to manage epilepsy and improve patient quality of life. This research shall be non-invasive and non-pharmacological in nature (though alternative medicine is encouraged), may be preclinical or clinical, and can range from mechanistic to therapeutic studies.”
Amount: Up to $70,000
Funding Agency: American Heart Association (AHA)
Title: Rapid Impact Research Award
Application Deadline: January 22, 2026
Purpose: “For early- and mid-career investigators proposing innovative science studies aligned with sudden cardiac arrest/resuscitation science, Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome, or stroke and/or vascular dementias.”
Amount: $100,000
Funding Agency: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation
Title: Creating Opportunity and Independence
Application Deadlines: Letters of Intent due January 26, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due April 20, 2026
Purpose: “The Creating Opportunity & Independence portfolio supports nonprofit partners that provide programs and services to empower people with spinal cord injury to achieve active, independent, fulfilling lives.”
Amount: $25,000-$200,000
Funding Agency: NASA
Title: ROSES F.6 Science Activation Program
Application Deadlines: Notices of Intent due January 26, 2026; Full Proposals due March 31, 2026
Purpose: “Since its inception, the SciAct program has supported a collaborative, nationwide network of competitively selected project teams. The teams work together to connect people of all ages and backgrounds with NASA science experts, exciting NASA content, and authentic STEM experiences.”
Amount: A wide range of award sizes is expected, depending on whether projects are focused (one audience and/or one science discipline) or broad (multiple audiences and/or multiple science disciplines).
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 25-515: Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0)
Application Deadlines: January 26, 2026 or September 28, 2026
Purpose: “Supports interdisciplinary research and education to develop a secure, resilient and trustworthy global cyber ecosystem by addressing vulnerabilities, improving trust in cyber systems and cultivating a well-trained cybersecurity workforce.”
Amount: $300,000-$1,200,000 depending on category
Funding Agency: UL Research Institutes
Title: Discoveries in Safety Grants
Application Deadlines: Letters of Intent due January 27, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due April 24, 2026
Purpose: “Focus Areas are Improved respiratory protection options for first responders under toxic smoke conditions; Improved recycling technologies to recover critical minerals from energy storage devices; Characterization of chemical emissions and residual ash from wildland-urban interface fires; and Mineral fiber emission and transport characterization from wildland-urban interface fires.”
Amount: Up to $200,000 per year
Funding Agency: Flossie E. West Memorial Trust
Title: 2026 Request for Proposals for Basic Research Relating to the Study and Cure of Cancer
Application Deadline: January 28, 2026 at 5pm CST
Purpose: “The Flossie E. West Memorial Trust provides support for basic research relating to the study and cure of cancer.” Email proposals@wichita.edu to request a copy of the solicitation.
Amount: $36,220
Funding Agency: Wichita Rotary Charitable Foundation
Title: Large Grant Application Area of Focus Economic Development: Quality of Life and Place
Application Deadline: January 30, 2026
Purpose: “Large Grant Application will open January 5, 2026. The area of focus is economic development: quality of life and place. Initiatives, programs and projects that enhance Wichita’s overall well-being and liveability and may serve to retain young talent and attract tourists.”
Amount: $150,000
Funding Agency: HALO (Private Companies, Kimberly Clark, PepsiCo and More)
Title: Opportunities for Research and Development
Application Deadline: January 30, 2026
Purpose: HALO promotes opportunities for research and development presented by industry. Opportunities vary greatly. Recent requests from industry partners due January 30 include, for example, “Fresh breath innovation for oral health care products;” “Supportive ingredients for healthier weight management;” “Collection, sorting, and separation technologies for flexible packaging;” “Automated mechanism for continuous consumable dispensing,” and “Simulation and experimental evaluation of intermolecular interactions.”
Amount: Varies based on opportunity
Funding Agency: Dana Foundation
Title: Rolling Submission for Pilot Projects in Neuroscience and Society
Application Deadlines: Letters of Interest due January 30, 2026 or May 31, 2026
Purpose: “Neuroscience and society is the interdisciplinary study of how neuroscience informs and reflects society, and practical work to put these ideas into action. Neuroscience and society includes fields where neuroscience interfaces with the world, such as ethics, law, humanities, medicine, arts, social sciences, policy, education, journalism, and public engagement.”
Amount: Up to $150,000
Funding Agency: American Economic Association
Title: Summer Economics Fellows Program
Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
Purpose: “Fellowships are available to senior graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty members. During their residency, fellows participate as members of the research community while engaged in a research project of their own choosing. Fellows will be mentored by experienced economists both on scientific issues, and career issues such as negotiating publications, the job market, and advancement strategies.”
Amount: Compensation is set by each sponsoring institution, normally at a level commensurate with the institution’s usual practices for an economist of equivalent experience.
REMINDER: Funding Agency: K-INBRE
Title: K-INBRE Core Facility Support 2026
Application Deadline: February 2, 2026
Purpose: “The purpose of this award is to provide funds to institutional core facilities that support NIH-related biomedical research.”
Amount: $10,000 in direct costs
REMINDER: Funding Agency: K-INBRE
Title: Recruitment/Start-Up Package 2026
Application Deadline: February 2, 2026
Purpose: “Awards for new tenure track faculty are to be proposed by department/division chairs, deans or research administrators of PUIs. A preliminary proposal documenting the establishment of a search for a researcher in biomedical research may be submitted for consideration. Preference will be given to applicants with a recruit ready to sign.”
Amount: $40,000 in direct costs
Funding Agency: State of Kansas – WSU Faculty Support Committee
Title: Award for Research/Creative Projects in Summer (ARCS)
Application Deadline: February 2, 2026
Purpose: “The ARCS opportunity provides funding of up to $4,000 to enable faculty to pursue research or creative projects during the summer. Full time current tenured or tenure-track faculty members of WSU holding no more than a 10-month appointment (with no teaching or any other concurrent appointment or employment at WSU for 2 summer months) are eligible.”
Amount: $4,000
REMINDER: Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 25-543: Computer and Information Science and Engeering: Future Computing Research (Future CoRe)
Application Deadlines: February 5, 2026 and September 10, 2026
Purpose: “Supports foundational and interdisciplinary research across all aspects of computing, communication and information science and engineering to advance the future of technology, systems and human-centered innovation.”
Amount: Up to $1,000,000 over four years
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Application Deadlines: February 5, June 5 and October 5, 2026
Purpose: “NIMH seeks applications that will study methods to increase access to, and quality of, empirically-supported practices for youth mental health.”
Amount: Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
Funding Agency: Department of the Interior: National Park Service
Title: Public Programming and Educational Outreach: Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
Application Deadline: February 9, 2026
Purpose: “Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park seeks a program partner to assist the park in achieving its legislative purpose, i.e., "(1) to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations, the places that contributed materially to the landmark United States Supreme Court decision that brought an end to segregation in public education; and (2) to interpret the integral role of the Brown v. Board of Education case in the civil rights movement; and (3) to assist in the preservation, protection, and interpretation of related resources within Topeka, Kansas, Summerton, South Carolina, Farmville, Virginia, Wilmington, Claymont, and Hockessin, Delaware and the District of Columbia that further the understanding of the civil rights movement and the context of Brown v. Board of Education.”
Amount: $25,000-$250,000
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Application Deadline: February 16, 2026
Purpose: “…will support meritorious projects to provide needed scientific insight to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and/or care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias.”
Amount: Applications may request budgets of up to $100,000 in direct costs per year for up to two years.
Funding Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Application Deadlines: February 16, June 16 and October 16, 2026
Purpose: “…research projects that test promising digital healthcare interventions used at the point of care and aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services delivery.”
Amount: In the R21 phase, the combined budget for total costs (direct and indirect) for the two-year period may not exceed $280,000. In the R33 phase, the combined budget for total costs (direct and indirect) for the three-year period may not exceed $720,000.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Title: Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)
Application Deadlines: February 16, June 16 and October 16, 2026
Purpose: “…to facilitate the entry of investigators to the area of neuroimaging, including both newly independent investigators and established investigators seeking to adopt neuroimaging methodologies in their research programs, to enable the conduct of small ‘proof of concept’ studies.”
Amount: Applicants may request direct costs of up to $150,000 for a period of one year only.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Application Deadlines: February 16, June 16 and October 16, 2026
Purpose: “…to enhance mechanistic and epidemiologic investigations addressing the roles of co-infection and cancer to shed light on presently unestablished pathways in carcinogenesis that may inform prevention and treatment strategies for infection-related cancers.”
Amount: The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH): Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Title: NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Clinical Trial Required)
Application Deadlines: February 16, June 16 and October 16, 2026
Purpose: “The NICHD Small Research Grant Program (R03 Clinical Trial Required) supports clinical trials that fall within the NICHD mission. The R03 activity code supports small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources. The R03 program may be used for different types of projects including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology.”
Amount: $50,000 in direct costs per year
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Title: Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Application Deadlines: February 16, June 16 and October 16, 2026
Purpose: “…encourages grant applications from investigators interested in conducting basic research studies into the biological/genetic causes and mechanisms of cancer health disparities.”
Amount: The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000.
LIMITED: Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 24-528: EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Fellows (ERF)
Application Deadlines: Limited: Because WSU may only submit four applications and only for the NSF track, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by February 17, 2026 at 12pm (noon), in case an internal competition is needed. The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is March 3, 2026. If selected, Full Applications will be due April 14, 2026.
Purpose: “Supports early- and mid-career investigators in eligible jurisdictions to develop collaborations at the nation’s private, government or academic research institutions. Investigators may be affiliated with institutions of higher education or nonprofits.”
Amount: $300,000
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 22-165: NSF Dynamic Language Infrastructure – NEH Documenting Endangered Languages (DLI-DEL)
Application Deadlines: February 17, 2026 and September 15, 2026
Purpose: “Supports research and infrastructure that digitally records and documents languages — with an emphasis on endangered languages — through the preparation of lexicons, grammars, text samples and databases, advancing linguistic theory and the study of language.”
Amount: $450,000
Funding Agency: Spencer Foundation
Title: Research Grants on Education: Large
Application Deadlines: Pre-Proposals due February 24, 2026; If invited, Full Application due June 23, 2026; Note, this funder is now only accepting applications for this program once per year.
Purpose: “The Large Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived.”
Amount: $125,000-$500,000
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Application Deadlines: February 25, June 25 and October 25, 2026
Purpose: “…to support research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the NIH, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students, and enhancing the research environment at applicant institutions..”
Amount: Applicants may request up to $375,000 in direct costs.
Funding Agency: North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Title: Youth Educator Grant
Application Deadline: February 26, 2026
Purpose: “Youth Educator Grant projects provide opportunities for youth educators in the North Central Region to develop innovative new ways to engage youth in learning about sustainable agriculture and share what they learn with their fellow educators. Educators' approaches encourage young people to try sustainable practices and see sustainable agriculture as a viable career option.”
Amount: $6,000
Funding Agency: Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)
Title: Addressing Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction
Application Deadline: February 26, 2026
Purpose: “The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is issuing a call for research proposals from institutions and organizations across the globe to investigate the health outcomes of pet ownership and/or animal-assisted interventions (AAI), both for the people and the animals involved. Proposals should have a strong theoretical framework and focus on innovative approaches to studying the positive effects of companion animals on human health. This year, in addition to this Annual RFP, HABRI is issuing a special call for proposals seeking rigorously designed, impact-driven research focused on addressing the complex issue of pet-inclusive rental housing.”
Amount: While there is no budget cap, HABRI awards an average of 5-6 projects each year with project costs averaging approximately $50,000 per project and an average duration of about 20 months.
Funding Agency: Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF)
Title: Research Support Awards and Research Grants
Application Deadlines: February 28, 2026 for Research Support Awards and Letters of Intent for Research Grants
Purpose: “Massage Therapy Foundation research grants are awarded to individuals or teams conducting studies that promise to advance our understanding of specific therapeutic applications of massage, public perceptions of and attitudes toward massage therapy, and the role of massage therapy in health care delivery.”
Amount: $30,000 for Research Support Awards and up to $300,000 for Research Grants
Funding Agency: Office of Nuclear Energy
Title: Fiscal Year 2026 Distinguished Early Career Program
Application Deadline: March 3, 2026
Purpose: “The Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) mission is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet U.S. energy, environmental, and economic needs. NE has identified the following goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, and leverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation: Keep existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating; Deploy new nuclear reactors; Secure and sustain our nuclear fuel cycle; and Expand international nuclear energy cooperation.”
Amount: Up to $800,000
Funding Agency: Schmidt Sciences
Title: Humanities and Artificial Intelligence Virtual Institute (HAVI) Request for Proposals
Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
Purpose: “Schmidt Sciences is requesting proposals to the Humanities and AI Virtual Institute (HAVI), aimed at fostering research in the digital humanities with a particular focus on artificial intelligence. Ideal projects will have co-PIs with expertise from both the humanities and AI and will address research questions from both domains. This request is open to universities and non-profits globally.”
Amount: $100,000-299,999 for Level I; $300,000-$800,000 for Level 2
Funding Agency: Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Title: IDEA Programs (Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis) – NCHRP Program
Application Deadlines: March 15, 2026 or September 15, 2026 for National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
Purpose: “Foster innovative concepts for design, construction, safety, maintenance, operations, and management of highway systems.”
Amount: Up to $150,000 for Concept Exploration Projects; Up to $100,000 for Prototype Application Projects
Funding Agency: International Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Organization
Title: HFSP Research Grant – Program and Early Career
Application Deadlines: Mandatory Letter of Intent must be started by March 17, 2026 and submitted by March 26, 2026. If invited, Full Applications will be due mid-September 2026.
Purpose: “HFSP strives to strengthen open scientific inquiry by initiating international collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cutting-edge basic research in the life sciences.”
Amount: $300,000-$500,000 depending on number of team members
Funding Agency: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Title: Engagement Award Convening Support -- Spring 2026 Cycle
Application Deadlines: Letters of Intent due March 30, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due July 13, 2026
Purpose: “The Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program supports projects that encourage active, meaningful involvement of patients, families, caregivers and the broader healthcare community as integral members of the patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research enterprise.”
Amount: $125,000
Funding Agency: Department of Defense: Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
Title: NRL Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Basic and Applied Research
Application Deadline: March 31, 2026; allow one month for a response to white paper submissions.
Purpose: “NRL requests white papers for long-range Science and Technology (S&T) projects which may offer advancement and improvement potential for Navy and Marine Corps operations.” Current research descriptions and summary topics may be found in Amendment 4 to the BAA.
Amount: The funded amount and period of performance for any proposal selected for award may vary depending on the research area and the technical approach to be pursued by the offeror selected.
Funding Agency: Sigma Global Nursing Excellence
Title: Sigma/Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Research Grant
Application Deadline: April 1, 2026
Purpose: “The purpose of the Sigma/Midwest Nursing Research Society research grant is to encourage qualified nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research; proposals for pilot and/or developmental research may be submitted. All research topics and designs are eligible for support. Multidisciplinary, historical, and international research is encouraged.”
Amount: $3,500
Funding Agency: Americana Foundation
Title: Grants
Application Deadlines: Letters of Intent accepted anytime; If invited, Full Applications due April 9, August 6 or October 29, 2026
Purpose: “The Americana Foundation supports the sustainable development of agriculture and community food systems, the protection of natural resources, and the conservation of early American heritage. Over the years, the Americana Foundation has supported organizations and institutions that preserve, protect, and promote expressions of America’s heritage as a bridge to understanding place and identity and as a means of celebrating the craftsmanship and creativity of early American artisans.”
Amount: $10,000-$25,000
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Application Deadlines: April 14, 2026 for Planning Track 1; September 8, 2026 for Tracks 1, 2, 3, or 4
Purpose: “Supports fundamental changes to the training of undergraduate engineering students that equip them with the technical and professional skills needed to solve complex societal problems.”
Amount: $150,000 for Planning Track 1; $1,000,000-$2,500,000 for Tracks 2-4, depending on Track
Funding Agency: Office of Naval Research (ONR)
Title: FY25 ONR Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) Education and Workforce Program
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Purpose: “…for STEM education programs and activities, which is formal or informal education that is primarily focused on physical and natural sciences, technology, engineering, social sciences, and mathematics disciplines, topics, or issues (including environmental science education or stewardship). STEM education programs and activities that could be supported by this NOFO include one or more of the following as the primary objective: Develop learners’ knowledge, skill, or interest in STEM; Attract students to pursue certifications, licenses, or degrees (two-year degrees through postdoctoral degrees) or careers in STEM fields; Provide growth and research opportunities for post-secondary, college and graduate students in STEM fields, such as working with researchers or conducting research that is primarily intended to further education; Improve mentor/educator (K-12 pre-service or in-service, post-secondary, and informal) quality in STEM areas; and Improve or expand the capacity of institutions to promote or foster STEM fields.”
Amount: The funded amount and period of performance of each proposal selected for award may vary depending on the technology area and the technical approach to be pursued by the offeror selected.
Funding Agency: Department of Defense (DOD): Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)
Title: Research and Development (RAD) Directed Energy (RD) University Assistance Instruments
Application Deadline: Letters of Intent accepted until July 18, 2029
Purpose: “The Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate is the Department of the Air Force's Center of Expertise for directed energy and optical technologies. The Directorate develops and transitions technologies in four core technical competencies: Laser Systems, Directed Energy and Electro-Optics for Space Superiority, High Power Electromagnetics, and Weapons Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis. This five-year, open FOA is for soliciting research applications for Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in these Core Technical Competencies.”
Amount: Not applicable for Letters of Intent
Funding Agency: Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
Title: Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR)
Application Deadline: Ongoing; Open year-round
Purpose: “…deploys urgent funding to support research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems.”
Amount: Up to $250,000
REMINDER: Funding Agency: TechWerx / US. Department of Energy
Title: Varies: TechWerx/DOE Opportunities
Application Deadlines: Upcoming/TBD
Purpose: TechWerx is a hub focused on connecting the Department of Energy with collaborators to foster innovation. Upcoming funding opportunities currently listed include “Building Solar Understanding and Risk Education,” “Energy & Minerals Partnership for Academic-Industry Career Training,” “Building Access to Tribal Energy Resilience” and “Apprenticeship Utilization Technical Assistance Program.”
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF Individual and Small Team Proposals
Application Deadline: Varies by topic. Proposals are accepted anytime unless a due date is listed.
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Applied Mathematics – Nov 15, 2026
- Astronomy and Astrophysics – Nov 15, 2026
- Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (AGS-PRF)
- Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
- Biosensing
- Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs – Sep 30 or Oct 31, 2026 - based on discipline
- Cultural Anthropology Program Senior Research Awards (CA-SR) –Jan 15 & Aug 15 annually
- Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) Core Research (ECR: Core) – Oct 1, 2026
- Division of Materials Research: Topical Materials Research Programs (DMR-TMRP)
- Division of Materials Research: Condensed Matter and Materials Theory (CMMT)
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Core Programs (MCB)
- Energy, Power, Control, and Networks
- Environmental Biology
- Environmental Engineering
- Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research: Workshop Opportunities (EPS-WO)
- Foundational Research in Robotics (FFR)
- Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity)
- Linguistics –Jan 15 & Jul 15 annually
- Manufacturing Systems Integration
- Mathematical Biology – Oct 14, 2026
- Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics – Jan 29, 2026
- Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
-
Research Infrastructure in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (RISBS)
- Science of Learning & Augmented Intelligence – Feb 11, 2026
- Security, Privacy & Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) – Jan 26, 2026
- Security and Preparedness
- Social Psychology – Jan 15 & Jul 15 annually
- Sociology
- Statistics – Dec 1-15, 2026
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF Special Programs
Application Deadline: Varies by topic – click each topic to learn more about these special program opportunities. Proposals are accepted anytime unless a due date is listed.
- Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs – Varies by size of application (Small, Medium, Core)
- Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS) – Various funding mechanisms available
- Division of Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs (CHE-DRP) – Sep 30, 2026 for CAT, CSDM-B, and SYN; Oct 31, 2026 for CMI, ECS and MSN
- Division of Materials Research: Topical Materials Research Program
- Division of Physics: Investigator-Initiated Research Projects – Varies by topic
- Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program (HEGS) – Jan 16, 2026
- Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program – Feb 3, 2026
- National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program (NRT) –tbd
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) – Aug 19, 2026
- Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science – Oct 14, 2026
- Research in the Formation of Engineers (RFE)
EDUCATION &
TRAINING
WSU Office of Research Workshops
Topics include an Introduction to the WSU Office of Research with resources and contacts, WSU policies and procedures related to research, utilizing Pivot to find external funding, project budgeting and general grant-writing tips. Previously recorded workshops can also be found on the Office of Research website.
National Institutes of Health: Demystifying Medicine – Pandemics on the Horizon: Are We Ready for the Next Global Threat? Webinar: January 6, 2026
“The Demystifying Medicine Series, jointly sponsored by FAES and NIH, includes presentations on pathology, diagnosis, and therapy in the context of major disease problems and current research. Primarily directed toward PhD students, clinicians and program managers, this series is designed to help bridge the gap between advances in biology and their application to major human diseases.”
Kansas NSF EPSCoR Office Invites WSU Researchers to a Webinar on the NSF E-RISE Program on January 9, 2026 at 12pm (Noon)
Belinda Sturm, Director of the Kansas National Science Foundation EPSCoR Program, will provide a 60-minute webinar and lead a discussion with interested faculty on the NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence (E-RISE) solicitation. Applications to E-RISE are due in August, however this program involves a large research ecosystem with an interconnected network of institutions and stakeholders, so early collaboration and discussions are important. If you would like to receive a link to the webinar, please email funding@wichita.edu.
Read more about NSF E-RISE Program
CU-RMACC Webinars: Challenges of AI in Higher Education: January 15, 2026
“As AI tools rapidly evolve, colleges and universities are navigating new complexities in research, teaching & learning, and administrative practice. This webinar, presented by Conor Waladay, explores the emerging challenges that educators and staff face, from academic integrity and data privacy to shifting skill expectations, equity concerns, and the practical realities of AI adoption across campus.”
National Academies Webinar: Advancing Data Sharing to Strengthen One Health Effectiveness: Series Synthesis and Paths Forward: January 22, 2026
“In this culminating webinar of the Advancing Data Sharing to Strengthen One Health Effectiveness series, speakers will reflect on key insights, success stories, and case examples shared throughout the series. The session will explore how effective One Health data sharing can foster engagement, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and advance integrated health outcomes across human, animal, plants, and environmental domains.”
Register for National Academies Webinar
REMINDER: ORAU & NIST: Advanced Manufacturing Webinar Series: January 28, 2026
“ORAU and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have partnered to bring ORAU’s member universities a six-webinar series aimed at creating opportunities and partnerships between ORAU’s members and the 18 Manufacturing USA Institutes. These one-hour discussions will focus on priority initiatives and ways to get involved with each institute. Attendance is open to anyone at an ORAU Member University, though Research Directors, Research Faculty and Technology Transfer Offices are especially encouraged to attend!” The January 28, 2026 session is focused on Biomanufacturing.
Register for ORAU Advanced Manufacturing Webinar Series or Watch Previously Recorded Sessions Including Sessions on Materials, Robotics, Additive, Cyber, Electronics or Digital Manufacturing
INORMS and the REACH Network: AI in Research Assessment, A Global Symposium: February 11, 2026
“This event brings together leading voices in research policy and evaluation, to explore one of the most urgent questions facing the scholarly community: Can AI assess research? Artificial intelligence promises to reshape how research is evaluated. Emerging AI tools can generate detailed, human-like assessment - opening exciting opportunities to reduce administrative burden, support evaluation at scale, and uncover new insights. At the same time, these technologies raise concerns around accuracy, transparency, equity, and the protection of research integrity.”
AI in Research Assessment Symposium Website
Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education: Webinar: Built on Trust: Community Partnerships for Firearm Violence Prevention Research: February 26, 2026
“This webinar will offer practical guidance on addressing past research harms and building durable, trust-based partnerships with communities to support meaningful firearm violence prevention research.”
Register for Gun Violence Research Webinar
Data Privacy & Security Training, Questions or Reporting
If your research includes patient medical data and you need to take HIPAA / Sensitive Data Handling training, if you have a question about data privacy or security, or need to report a concern, please contact the WSU Privacy or Security Office.
Privacy: 316-978-4HIP (4447) or privacy@wichita.edu
Security: 316-978-4SEC (4732) or askinfosec@wichita.edu
REMINDER: Learn to Use BeoShock for your Advanced Research Computing Needs
Wichita State University continues to host Beoshock, a High-Performance Computing Cluster (HPC). This HPC is available and free to faculty members, researchers and students engaged in course work or research activities. BeoShock runs the CentOS Linux operating system and features approximately 720 processor cores, two high memory compute nodes with 1.5 terabytes of memory, and four graphics processing unit (GPU) accelerators. BeoShock also has a variety of software tools that may be helpful in your research endeavors, such as Matlab,Mathematica, R, Python and many more.
Learn more about BeoShock High-Performance Computing and access the BeoShock High Performance Computing User Guides.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Notice: NIH’s Implementation of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2026
“This Guide Notice provides details for the Common Forms, NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement, and instructions required for use for application due dates and Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) submissions on or after January 25, 2026.”
Continue reading NIH NOT-OD-26-018
ARPA-H Announces New Program to Make Life-Saving Cell and Gene Therapies Shelf-Stable
“What if our most advanced biological medicines were as easy to ship and store as aspirin? ARPA-H launched the BoSS, or BioStabilization Systems, program to make room temperature cell & gene therapies a reality, by pioneering new technologies to produce, store, and ship cells without any need for refrigeration.”
Read More about ARPA-H BoSS and Register for Proposers Day January 29, 2026
New Website for National Academies
“The landscape for science, engineering, and medicine is changing dramatically — and our website and email systems have evolved as well. The new website helps you discover and follow the work that matters to you. You will find updates on upcoming events, active projects and their progress, and the latest news from across the National Academies.”
Explore the National Academies Website
National Academies: Retraining Workers for the Age of AI
“As artificial intelligence is increasingly used across all sectors of the economy, a recent National Academies webinar explored how workers can learn new skills and adapt to how AI is changing the workplace.”
Read Summary and Watch Recording
NIHCM: Preterm Births and Infant Mortality Trends
“The preterm birth rate in the United States has remained at 10.4% for the third year in a row, with ongoing racial and ethnic disparities and many states seeing worsening rates.”
Continue reading NIHCM Preterm Births and Infant Mortality Rates
REMINDER: Research Security Training
Wichita State University has developed a new Research Security training in response to federal regulations; if you are required to take the training you will receive an email from a “do-not-reply” email address. More information about the training can be found in WSU Today, or you may email research@wichita.edu with questions.
REMINDER: VentureWell E-Team Program Now Open
“The E-Team Program, part of the VentureWell Accelerator, supports student ventures… Applications for the spring 2026 cohort of the E-Team Program are now open! Application deadline: January 27, 2026.” Information sessions are scheduled in December and January.
Continue reading about the E-Team Program
REMINDER: WSU Participating in NSF Emerge for Industry and Research Collaborations
“Halo is a platform where researchers can discover industry-sponsored funding opportunities, connect with corporate research and development teams, and showcase their work to potential partners.”
Read about NSF Emerge and Register for an Account on the HALO Platform
REMINDER - ORCID ID – Persistent Digital Identifiers for Researchers
ORCID is an international, interdisciplinary, open, non-proprietary, and not-for-profit organization created by the research community for the benefit of all stakeholders, providing a persistent digital identifier (an ORCID iD) that distinguishes researchers with record that supports automatic links among all professional activities. A researcher’s ORCID iD and connections are stored in the ORCID Registry, in an account owned and managed by individual researchers. The WSU Office of Research recommends that Researchers set up their ORCID if they have not already, as some federal funders may require the use of an ORCID as part of a researcher’s biographical sketch or CV.
View Training Videos about ORCID and setting up your ORCID ID
REMINDER - Wichita Public Schools (USD 259): Advance Notice Required for Letters of Support and/or Participation in Research
Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) requests a minimum of 30 business days to process letters of support or participation in research. It is WSU’s responsibility to have appropriate support from the school(s)/personnel that will be involved in the project prior to submitting a request. Letters of Support/Grant Proposals: WSU personnel who need a letter of support or USD259 participation on a grant proposal, should complete the External-Request for Grant Support form and are encouraged to reach out directly to Holly Wilson at hwilson@usd259.net early in the process for questions/clarification. Research Requests: WSU personnel who want to conduct research in USD 259 are encouraged to reach out directly to Katelyn Schoenhofer at kschoenhofer1@usd259.net early in the process for questions/clarifications.
As a reminder, all proposals submitted on behalf of WSU must be reviewed by the Office of Research prior to submission. This includes proposals where WSU is a direct recipient of funds and proposals where WSU is a proposed subawardee/subcontractor. Please contact the Office of Research at proposals@wichita.edu to get started.
FREE WSU Office of Research Services
Email funding@wichita.edu to:
- Set up a Pivot account and receive guidance on how to search the database to find funding opportunities;
- Subscribe to funding announcements and funding-related alerts; and
- Attend Research Workshops that will help you with finding funding, budgeting and writing effective proposals (and much more)!
Please let us know how we can help you.