Select Funding Opportunities and Announcements – January 5, 2022

Jan 5, 2022 | Awards & Funding, Research

To: All Divisional Faculty and Researchers
From: Research Development
Subject: Select Funding Opportunities

Research Development is a unit within the Office of Research. Research Development Specialists collaborate with researchers and assist with developing concepts, building strategies and teams, finding relevant funding opportunities, and preparing competitive proposals.

Hardeep Obhi, PhD; hkobhi@ucsc.edu

NSF Dark Dimensions of the RNA Regulome (D2R2) – Prelim proposals (req) due January 31, 2022

Funding for Ideas Lab whose focus will be the exploration of novel approaches to elucidate the evolutionary and functional significance of RNA transcripts that do not encode proteins as well as the technological innovations that may arise from the ability to harness the power of non-coding RNA to solve pressing societal problems.

American Cancer Society Research Professor Grants – LOI due February 1, 2022

Funding for investigators who have had the rank of full professor for 15 years or less and made seminal contributions that have changed the direction of basic cancer research. $80K/yr for up to 5 years.

Modulating Microbiome Function to Enhance Immune Responses Against Cancer – R01 due Feb 5 | R21 due Feb 16

Support basic research that elucidates mechanisms by which the human microbiome inhibits or enhances anti-tumor immune responses, and to identify potential novel molecular targets for cancer prevention strategies.

NOSI: Molecular and Genetic Characterization of Inborn Errors of Immunity– First available due date is February 5, 2022

Funding for the experimental validation and functional characterization of genetic variants in coding or non-coding genomic regions that result in inborn errors of immunity/primary immunodeficiency diseases and to elucidate the molecular, cellular, and immunological mechanisms of these disorders.

NOSI: Methods Development for Genomic Studies – First available due date is February 5, 2022

Funding to develop novel computational or experimental approaches for genomic studies of how genetic variants relate to genomic function, phenotype, and disease.

NHLBI Outstanding Investigator Award (OIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) – February 15, 2022

For experienced PIs currently PD/PIs on two or more NHLBI R01-equivalent awards.

NOSI: RNA Modifications in Cancer Biology – First available due date is February 16, 2022

Funding to stimulate research on the role of RNA modifications in cancer biology.

Heather Bell, PhD; hmbell@ucsc.edu

EPA Research to Reduce Consumer Food Waste in the United States – February 9, 2022

As part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, the EPA seeks applications proposing research to develop, apply, and test innovative and creative community-engaged approaches to reduce household food waste in the United States. Proposals should address at least one of the following research areas: 1) Changing the U.S. food environment to discourage waste by consumers; 2) Strengthening consumers’ motivation, opportunity, and ability to reduce food waste; and 3) Leveraging and applying research findings and technology to support consumers in food waste reduction. Up to $750K over 3 years. Webinar January 6.

2022 Diversity in Tech Symposium: Advancing Climate Resilience – March 10-11, 2022

Featured panel on Ocean Innovation: Tech interventions for the health of our global waters will be hosted by UC Santa Cruz.

NASA ROSES A.49 Earth Science Applications: Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) – March 18, 2022

NASA seeks to advance EEJ through the integration of Earth science information, expand the community of practice who use Earth science to address environmental justice issues, and inform strategic engagement and activities in the future. The solicitation includes three elements: 1) Landscape analyses (up to $100 over 6-9 months; 2) Community-based feasibility projects (up to $150K over 12-18 months); and 3) Data integration projects that combine Earth science information and socioeconomic datasets (up to $250K over 12-24 months). Pre-proposal teleconferences are planned for January 7, 2022 and February 17, 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Program Solicitation NSF 22-508, Biodiversity on a Changing Planet (due March 25, 2022)

Elif Demir-Hilton, PhD; edemirhi@ucsc.edu

DCL: Mathematical and Scientific Foundations of Deep Learning and Related Areas (MoDL+) NSF 22-023

For interdisciplinary teams comprised of computer scientists, electrical engineers, mathematicians and statisticians, and social, behavioral, and economic scientists to address the most challenging theoretical and foundational questions in machine learning. 

Applications for Moore Experimental Physics Investigators – Pre-proposals due January 14, 2022 (guide)

Moore Experimental Physics Investigators (EPI). The initiative supports mid-career individuals and their research teams to advance our understanding of physical phenomena and promote equity and inclusion in experimental physics communities. Specifically includes: atomic/molecular/optical physics, biophysics, chemical physics, condensed matter, fluid dynamics, geophysics, laser physics, materials, polymer physics, plasma physics, precision measurements, quantum information, soft matter physics, as well as detector and novel experimental design work in astrophysics/astronomy, exotic matter searches, fusion, gravitational physics, and nuclear physics.

NSF – Partnerships in Astronomy & Astrophysics Research and Education (PAARE) – February 7, 2022

Only MSIs are eligible. Up to 5 years, budgets and duration dependent on size, scope, and duration of the partnership. Focus is to improve the quality and environment of astronomy and astrophysics research and education by stimulating the development of formal, long-term partnerships that provide authentic pathways into the research enterprise and broaden the participation of individuals from groups underrepresented in astronomy. Mentoring, cohort building, and professional development must be integral aspects of the programs.

DOE-Earth System Model Development and Analysis – March 07, 2022

Solicits research applications for Earth System Model Development (ESMD) to advance the development of the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) by enhancing its capability and accuracy toward an integrated earth system model including all earth system components and their interaction with human component and Regional and Global Model Analysis (RGMA) to enhance understanding of predictability of the Earth system by simulating, evaluating, and analyzing modes of climate variability, water cycle, and extreme events. $600K-$900K over three years.

DCL: Opportunities for Research and Education in the Critical-Zone (ORE-CZ) – NSF 22-025,  April 30, 2022

Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) together with the Division of Human Resources Development (HRD) aim to expand the breadth of researchers investigating the dynamics and processes within Earth’s Critical Zone (CZ), the region that ranges from the weathered bedrock beneath the soil profile up to the top of the vegetation canopy. $200K.

NEW NSF MPS Brochure – Divisions of Astronomical Sciences, Chemistry, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities.


Other Opportunities and Announcements

NSF STEM Education Postdoctoral Research Fellowships: Institutional Cohort – Campus deadline January 14, 2022; Sponsor deadline March 1

The Institutional Cohort Postdoctoral Fellowships (Track II) provide an opportunity for institutions to design a postdoctoral training and mentorship program and host a cohort of recent doctoral graduates in STEM, STEM Education, Education, and related disciplines. Up to $1,250,000 to single institutions or up to $2,500,000 to collaborating institutions over up to three years. See solicitation for information on Track I Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships.


Submitting a proposal intake form will help streamline the proposal process. This initiates a proposal in Cayuse, notifies OSP, and enables Research Development Specialists to connect with you. For best support, contact us early and ensure you meet institutional deadlines.  

Feel free to reach out to us with questions; we look forward to working with you!

Hardeep, Heather, and Elif

If you have any questions or comments, please contact hkobhi@ucsc.edu, hmbell@ucsc.edu, or edemirhi@ucsc.edu.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact see individual links above