September 30, 2026
We are pleased to acknowledge those who received awards in August 2026. So far in FY2027, WSU researchers under Academic Affairs submitted external proposals in the amount of $18,926,284 and received $6,388,447 in external awards.
In August, the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) released the updated Kansas Science + Technology Plan. All WSU researchers are encouraged to review the plan, as it provides important guidance for aligning research activities with statewide priorities. This is especially relevant for research faculty and staff preparing proposals for EPSCoR and EPSCoR-like programs funded by agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, and Energy; NASA; the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through its IDeA program; and the National Science Foundation (NSF). KBOR frequently provides matching funds for EPSCoR submissions, and clear alignment with the Kansas S+T Plan is typically required. We extend our appreciation to the many WSU contributors who provided timely and thoughtful input into this updated statewide research strategy. You can find the updated plan here: Kansas_Science__Technology_Plan_2026.pdf.
WSU leadership continues to monitor federal actions and sponsor guidance that may affect our research programs. If you receive any communication from a federal sponsor that could impact your project or funding, please forward it to your respective Office of Research.
Past and future editions of this newsletter may be found here:
https://www.wichita.edu/research/ResearchNewsletter/index.php.
Appreciate your commitment to excellence in research and innovation.
Pierre Harter, Associate VP Research and Industry Engagement
LAST MONTH'S
AWARDS
PROTOTYPING AND DEMONSTRATION OF AN ULTRA-SENSITIVE NOVEL MICRO-RESONATOR FOR X-BAND EPR SPECTROSCOPY OF DILUTED AND VOLUME-LIMITED SAMPLES
PI/Department: Kapildeb Ambal, Physics
Sponsor: Natl Institutes of Health
Amount: $534,074
RII TRACK-1: ADAPTIVE AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURES DRIVEN BY SOCIAL EQUITY (ARISE)
PI/Department: Visvakumar Aravinthan, Electrical & Computer Engr
Co-PI/Department: Hongsheng He, School of Computing | Xiaoheng Wang, HWS of Urban & Public Affairs
Sponsor: Univ of Kansas Ctr - Research, Inc. / Natl Science Foundation
Amount: $252,346
RII TRACK-1: ADAPTIVE AND RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURES DRIVEN BY SOCIAL EQUITY (ARISE)
PI/Department: Visvakumar Aravinthan, Electrical & Computer Engr
Co-PI/Department: Arun Kaarthick Manoharan, Electrical & Computer Engr
Sponsor: Univ of Kansas Ctr - Research, Inc. / Natl Science Foundation
Amount: $22,492
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS TO INCREASE RURAL SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES (SPIRSS) (YEAR 5)
PI/Department: Angela Beeler, Couns,Ed Ldrshp,Educ & Sch Psy
Co-PI/Department: Margarita Nuhfer, Couns,Ed Ldrshp,Educ & Sch Psy | Heidi Stinchcomb, School of Teaching & Learning
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $503,827
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY, 9/11 DAY OF SERVICE
PI/Department: Loren Belew, Student Involvement
Sponsor: 911 Day / Corp for National & Community Srv
Amount: $4,999
2026 ASK EVERY STUDENT
PI/Department: Loren Belew, Student Involvement
Sponsor: NEO Philanthropy
Amount: $2,872
2026 ASK EVERY STUDENT - AMD 1
PI/Department: Loren Belew, Student Involvement
Sponsor: NEO Philanthropy
Amount: $959
BUILDING CAPACITY TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN EPA REGION 7 THROUGH MULTI-ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER AT WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY
PI/Department: Tonya Bronleewe, HWS of Urban & Public Affairs
Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency
Amount: $112,000
RESIDENT SURVEY
PI/Department: Misty Bruckner, Public Policy & Management Center
Sponsor: City of Park City
Amount: $12,434
FROM EDUCATION TO A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY: MOTIVATIONAL MECHANISMS IN CLASSROOM MYSTERY REWARDS AND COMMERCIAL BLIND BOXES
PI/Department: Rui Dai, Teacher Apprentice, Pathways, Liter
Sponsor: State of Kansas - URCA
Amount: $4,500
THE KANSAS PRECISION AGING PROJECT: ADVANCED BAYESIAN MODELING FOR ADRD AND STROKE RECOVERY
PI/Department: Mai Dao, Mathematics & Statistics
Sponsor: Regional Institute on Aging
Amount: $20,000
ENGINEERING WORKFORCE EXPANSION IN THE STATE OF KANSAS
PI/Department: Ali Gordon, Engineering Dean's Office
Sponsor: Kansas Department of Commerce
Amount: $123,077
SENSING HYDROGEN LOSSES AT 1 PPB-LEVEL FOR HYDROGEN-BLENDING NATURAL GAS PIPELINES
PI/Department: Shuang Gu, Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor: Iowa State University / Department of Energy
Amount: $126,576
FLORIDA MUNICIPAL REVENUE IMPACTS OF STATE REVENUE CAP PROPOSALS
PI/Department: Hai (David) Guo, HWS of Urban & Public Affairs
Sponsor: Florida League Cities
Amount: $80,000
KANSAS NATIONAL SPACE GRANT COLLEGE AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM - OPPORTUNITIES IN NASA STEM FY 2025-2028
PI/Department: Pierre Harter, Aerospace Engineering
Sponsor: Natl Aeronautics & Space Admn
Amount: $870,000
UPWARD BOUND WICHITA PREP
PI/Department: Rhonda Hicks, ED - Upward Bound/Wichita Prep
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $503,538
THE EXPEDITION TO ADHERENCE
PI/Department: Bryan Lehecka, Physical Therapy
Sponsor: Regional Institute on Aging
Amount: $24,175
KEEPING ICT-SAFE (SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION FOCUSING ON EMPOWERMENT)
PI/Department: Rhonda Lewis, Psychology
Sponsor: Substance Abuse-Mntl Health Srv Adm
Amount: $374,953
VETERANS UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM
PI/Department: Stacia Lyday, ED - Veterans Upward Bound Program
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $309,505
DRONE BUILDING
PI/Department: Sergio Salinas Monroy, School of Computing
Sponsor: Deltawerx, Inc.
Amount: $9,000
ERI: CONTROLLED FAST-CHARGING DYNAMICS IN LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES VIA GRID-STRUCTURED ANODES
PI/Department: Davi Marcelo Soares, Electrical & Computer Engr
Sponsor: Natl Science Foundation
Amount: $198,190
AI U TRAINING
PI/Department: Brandy Willett, Wichita Small Bus. Development Ctr
Sponsor: Fort Hays State University / Small Business Administration
Amount: $12,000
KANSAS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS FY2027 - KDOC
PI/Department: Brandy Willett, Wichita Small Bus. Development Ctr
Sponsor: Fort Hays State University / Kansas Department of Commerce
Amount: $70,000
KANSAS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS CY2026 - SBA
PI/Department: Brandy Willett, Wichita Small Bus. Development Ctr
Sponsor: Fort Hays State University / Small Business Administration
Amount: $140,000
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY UPWARD BOUND REGULAR PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION
PI/Department: Carla Williams, ED - Upward Bound Communication
Sponsor: Department of Education - US
Amount: $278,305
STAFF TRAINING
PI/Department: Scott Wituk, Community Engagement Institute
Sponsor: Finney County
Amount: $1,600
PROBLEM GAMBLING GRANT AGREEMENT
PI/Department: Scott Wituk, Community Engagement Institute
Sponsor: Kansas Department for Aging & Disability Services
Amount: $60,000
FACILITATION SERVICES FOR KANSAS FOSTER ADVISORY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD MEETINGS
PI/Department: Scott Wituk, Community Engagement Institute
Sponsor: Kansas Department for Children & Families
Amount: $38,308
GOOD FOOD CITIES INITIATIVE
PI/Department: Scott Wituk, Community Engagement Institute
Sponsor: Partnership for a Healthier America, Inc.
Amount: $30,000
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
PI/Department: Scott Wituk, Community Engagement Institute
Sponsor: Sedgwick County
Amount: $557
MONTHLY AWARDS FOR THE DIVISION OF INDUSTRY AND DEFENSE EQUAL $75,165,715 OF WHICH $75,149,965 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: Pershing Square Philanthropies
Title: 2027 Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize
Application Deadline(s): Letter of Intent due October 26, 2026
Purpose: "The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize provides early-career scientists the freedom to take risks and pursue their boldest research at a stage when traditional funding is lacking. While the Prize initially focused on the greater New York City area, as of 2026, applicants and winners will now represent institutions from across the United States."
Amount: $750,000
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Application Deadline(s): October 27, 2026
Purpose: "The purpose of this HEAL Initiative program is to: (1) support basic and mechanistic pain research from R15-eligible undergraduate-focused serving institutions, health professional schools or graduate schools; (2) promote integrated, interdisciplinary research partnerships between Principal Investigators (PIs) from R15-eligible institutions and investigators from U.S. domestic institutions; and (3) enhance the pain research environment at the R15-eligible institution for health professional students, undergraduate and/or graduate students through active engagement in pain research."
Amount: $375,000 in direct costs
Funding Agency: School for Advanced Research
Title: Resident Scholars
Application Deadline(s): November 2, 2026
Purpose: "Resident Scholars approach research from the perspective of archaeology, anthropology or from related fields such as history or sociology."
Amount: Fellowship stipends for $70,000 (senior scholars) or $50,000 (junior scholars)
REMINDER: Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 26-512 Unlocking Dataset Value for AI-Enabled Scientific Discovery (AI Datasets)
Application Deadline(s): November 4, 2026
Purpose: "The program seeks to 1) apply AI-based capabilities to feature extraction and metadata generation, and the integration of multiple datasets. 2) Develop robust data pipelines necessary for automated analysis of existing datasets and similar use-cases by AI tools and systems. 3) Augment and/or harmonize existing datasets to better enable use by AI data pipelines and automated analysis."
Amount: $2,000,000
Funding Agency: VIA Art Fund
Title: Artistic Production Grant: Spring 2027 Award Cycle
Application Deadline(s): Letter of Intent due November 5, 2026
Purpose: "VIA’s Artistic Production Grants fund the production of newly commissioned works of visual art exhibited beyond museum walls, in the public realm, or in non-traditional exhibition environments. These grants are awarded to projects that best exemplify VIA’s three core values of Artistic Production, Thought Leadership, and Public Engagement. "
Amount: $25,000 - $100,000
Funding Agency: Sarcoma Research Foundation
Title: 2026 Research Grant Letter of Intent
Application Deadline(s): Letters of Intent due November 6, 2026. If invited, full applications due March 5, 2027
Purpose: "The Sarcoma Foundation of America Research Grants support investigators conducting pre-clinical, translational, and clinical research on the etiology, molecular biology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of human sarcomas. This program supports our mission to fund research and increase awareness and advocacy for sarcoma patients and their families. The goal of the SFA grant program is to support research that results in improved therapeutic options for sarcoma patients. The SFA encourages applications from ALL areas of sarcoma research."
Amount: $75,000
REMINDER: Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 20-558: PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF)
Application Deadline(s): November 10, 2026
Purpose: "The Professional Formation of Engineers: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program enables engineering faculty who are renowned for teaching, mentoring, or leading educational reform efforts on their campus to develop expertise in conducting engineering education research."
Amount: $200,000
Funding Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Title: Museums for America Program
Application Deadline(s): November 13, 2026
Purpose: "The Museums for America (MFA) program invests in museums of all sizes - from small to large - and disciplines in project-based efforts to serve the public through educational programs and exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities."
Amount: $5,000 – $350,000
Funding Agency: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Title: Next Gen Pregnancy Initiative
Application Deadline(s): November 17, 2026
Purpose: "The Next Generation Pregnancy Initiative supports research in the following priority areas: Biological mechanisms of healthy pregnancy, including the normal physiology and biological underpinnings of health pregnancy; Preterm birth; Pregnancy loss after 12 weeks of gestation, including recurrent pregnancy loss; Preeclampsia."
Amount: $700,000
Funding Agency: Pathways for Health Research Collective
Title: More than Medicine
Application Deadline(s): Pre-proposals due November 18, 2026
Purpose: "As part of its “More than Medicine” campaign to demonstrate that health solutions science is rigorous and essential to realize improved health outcomes in the United States, the Pathways for Health Research Collective is bringing together funders to join in this one-time funding opportunity to demonstrate the real-world impact of health solutions science and strengthen a national case for a sustainable enterprise."
Amount: Not specified
Funding Agency: Klingenstein Philanthropies
Title: Transformation of Mental Health Care Program
Application Deadline(s): November 20, 2026
Purpose: "We are soliciting applications for academic investigators conducting research to demonstrate the benefits of novel ways to access or deliver mental health care or prevention approaches that can be implemented at scale."
Amount: $200,000
Funding Agency: American Cancer Society
Title: Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG)
Application Deadline(s): December 1, 2026
Purpose: "The Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG) supports full-time faculty members in becoming independent investigators as clinician scientists. This grant is designed for people trained primarily as clinicians who want to maintain clinical practice and conduct cancer research."
Amount: $135,000/year in direct costs
Funding Agency: American Cancer Society (ACS)
Title: Research Scholar Grant (RSG)
Application Deadline(s): December 1, 2026
Purpose: "Grant proposals are investigator-initiated and may pursue questions across the cancer research continuum, as long as they fit within an American Cancer Society (ACS) priority research area."
Amount: $215,000 per year in direct costs
Funding Agency: American Heart Association (AHA)
Title: 2027 Career Development Award
Application Deadline(s): December 1, 2026
Purpose: "This grant supports highly promising healthcare and academic professionals, in the early years of one’s first professional appointment, to explore innovative questions or pilot studies that will provide preliminary data and training necessary to assure the applicant’s future success as a research scientist."
Amount: $231,000
Funding Agency: Elsa U. Pardee Foundation
Title: Grants for Innovative Cancer Research
Application Deadline(s): December 1, 2026
Purpose: "The Elsa U. Pardee Foundation funds research to investigators in United States non-profit institutions proposing research directed toward identifying new treatments or cures for cancer. The Foundation funds projects for a one-year period which will allow the establishment of capabilities of new cancer researchers or new cancer approaches by established cancer researchers."
Amount: By design, there are no limits set on the grant amount that can be requested.
Funding Agency: Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF)
Title: Research Grants
Application Deadline(s): Pre-Proposals due December 1, 2026
Purpose: "Our grants program has provided millions of dollars in funding to cutting edge research institutions to help address the many challenges that exist."
Amount: $15,000-$500,000 (with most awards averaging $160,000 for two years)
Funding Agency: Teagle Foundation, The
Title: Cornerstone: Learning for Living
Application Deadline(s): Concept papers due December 1, 2026
Purpose: "The Cornerstone: Learning for Living initiative aims to reinvigorate the role of the humanities in general education, and in doing so, expose a broad array of students to the power of the humanities; help students of all backgrounds build a sense of belonging and community; strengthen the coherence and cohesiveness of general education; and increase teaching opportunities for humanities faculty."
Amount: Planning grants up to $25,000; Implementation grants up to $300,000
Funding Agency: Wenner-Gren Foundation
Title: Conference and Workshop Grant
Application Deadline(s): December 1, 2026
Purpose: "This grant program supports meetings and events that promote the development of inclusive communities of anthropologists and advance significant and innovative research."
Amount: $20,000
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 26-525: Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions)
Application Deadline(s): LOI due December 2, 2026, Full proposal due July 27, 2027
Purpose: "Investigators are strongly encouraged to come together within or across departments or institutions to identify compelling, transformative research agendas that look ahead by at least a decade and promise disruptive innovations in computer and information science and engineering for the years ahead. Expeditions may advance a range of areas including, but not limited to, fundamentally new architectures for intelligence and the hardware and compute substrates that make them possible; rigorous physical and mathematical theories of how systems learn, generalize, and can be interpreted; neuroscience-inspired approaches to learning, memory, reasoning, and behavioral steering; intelligence embodied in the physical world through general physical intelligence, advanced robotics hardware, and novel architectures and learning paradigms for embodied systems; transformative approaches to next generation communication and networking; and high-risk, high-reward areas that no single discipline could pursue alone."
Amount: $15,000,000
Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Title: Public Humanities Projects
Application Deadline(s): December 9, 2026
Purpose: "The Public Humanities Projects program supports projects that bring the ideas of the humanities to life for general audiences through public programming. Projects must engage humanities scholarship to analyze significant themes in disciplines such as history, literature, ethics, and art history. Awards support projects that are intended to reach broad and diverse public audiences in non-classroom settings in the United States. Projects should engage with ideas that are accessible to the general public and employ appealing interpretive formats."
Amount: Planning: $75,000, Implementation: $750,000
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Application Deadline(s): December 12, 2026
Purpose: "The purpose of the NIH Research Conference Grant (R13) is to support high quality scientific conferences that are relevant to the NIH's mission and to the public health. A conference is defined as a symposium, seminar, workshop, or any other organized and formal meeting, whether conducted face-to-face or via the internet, where individuals assemble (or meet virtually) for the primary purpose to exchange technical information and views or explore or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of knowledge, whether or not a published report results from such meeting."
Amount: Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
REMINDER: Funding Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Title: Collections Stewardship
Application Deadline(s): December 15, 2026
Purpose: "The Collections Stewardship program funds projects to preserve and make available physical and digital collections important for research, teaching, and public engagement in the humanities. Awards support the work of libraries, archives, and museums; colleges and universities working on collections access; and organizations that provide preservation services or educate and train students and professionals in collections stewardship."
Amount: $350,000
REMINDER: LIMITED: Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Application Deadline(s): Limited: Because WSU may only submit one letter of intent as lead institution, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by October 27, 2026 at 12:00 noon, in case an internal competition is needed. The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is November 3, 2026. Letters of Intent due December 15, 2026.
Purpose: "Supports interjurisdictional teams of EPSCoR investigators to perform research in topics that align with NSF priorities, with the goals of driving discovery and building sustainable STEM capacity."
Amount: The maximum FEC award amount is based on the number of eligible jurisdictions participating in the project. See solicitation for details.
Funding Agency: Temper of the Times Foundation
Title: Advertising for the Environment
Application Deadline(s): December 15, 2026
Purpose: "Grants...are awarded for projects that will lead to measurable outcomes for wildland ecosystem conservation and restoration in the United States. Grants may be used to fund the production of print, radio, or television ads, to pay for advertising space or airtime, or to produce or distribute pamphlets, books, videos, or press packets."
Amount: $5,000 - $15,000
LIMITED: Funding Agency: Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)
Title: Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards
Application Deadline(s): Limited: Because WSU may only submit two proposals, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by November 3, 2026 at 12:00 noon, in case an internal competition is needed. The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is November 10, 2026. Proposals due January 6, 2027.
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
Funding Agency: Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF)
Title: Research Grants
Application Deadline(s): January 8, 2027
Purpose: "These grants provide vital support to early-career researchers and postdoctoral fellows eager to make a difference in arthritis and related autoimmune research. Our offerings include the Arthritis and Related Autoimmune Disease Research Grant, Psoriatic Arthritis/Ankylosing Spondylitis Research Grant, Rheum for Kids: Pediatric Skin and Joint Grant in collaboration with PeDRA, and Postdoctoral Physician Scientist Fellowship."
Amount: $50,000 - $250,000
Funding Agency: Open Research Community Accelerator (ORCA) and partners
Title: Modernizing Academic Appointment and Advancement Challenge
Application Deadline(s): January 8, 2027
Purpose: "The Modernizing Academic Appointment and Advancement (MA3) Challenge invites proposals from U.S.-based accredited, tax-exempt colleges and universities to reimagine their academic hiring, review, promotion, and tenure (RPT) processes. This initiative seeks bold, creative strategies to develop academic reward systems that foster a collaborative, responsive, and transparent research environment."
Amount: $250,000
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Application Deadline(s): January 15, 2027
Purpose: "This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) aims to encourage research grant applications for initial translational efforts that will enable a drug discovery program for novel, non-opioid, and non-addictive treatments for pain. The program provides funding to develop and validate assays to support a distinct testing funnel and conduct screening efforts to identify and characterize potential therapeutic agents including small molecules, biologics, and natural products. Preliminary in vivo pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and efficacy studies may also be supported. The goal of this NOFO is to advance projects to the point where they meet the entry criteria for the Pain Therapeutics Development Program or other later-stage translational programs."
Amount: Application budgets are limited to direct costs of $350,000 per year and need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Application Deadline(s): January 26, 2027
Purpose: "The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. Applications submitted to this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) must not include preliminary data. Applications must include a separate attachment describing the change in research direction. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions."
Amount: Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
Funding Agency: Kansas Arts Commission
Title: 2026-2027 Kansas Touring Roster Visiting Artists
Application Deadline(s): 60 days prior to proposed activity
Purpose: "The Kansas Touring Roster Visiting Artists grant program provides funding of up to $10,000 for eligible organizations to engage and deepen the impact of arts programming on local and underserved audiences through exposure to and interaction with professional visiting arts."
Amount: $10,000
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF 26-522 MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro)
Application Deadline(s): Full proposals accepted anytime
Purpose: "NSF MPS funds foundational astronomical sciences research and instrumentation focused on exploring space and advancing fundamental understanding of the universe."
Amount: Unspecified
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Title: NSF Individual and Small Team Proposals
Application Deadline: Varies by topic; proposals are accepted anytime unless a specific due date is listed.
Applied Mathematics – Nov 16, 2026
Astronomy and Astrophysics – Nov 16, 2026
Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (AGS-PRF)
Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs – Sep 30 or Nov 2, 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
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 – tbd
Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
Research Infrastructure in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (RISBS)
Science of Learning & Augmented Intelligence – tbd
Security, Privacy & Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) – Jan 25, 2027
Social Psychology – Jan 15 & Jul 15 annually
Statistics – Dec 1 - 15, 2026
STEM K-12
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; Nov 2, 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) – tbd
Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program
National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program (NRT) – tbd
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) – Aug 18, 2027
Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science – Oct 14, 2026
Research in the Formation of Engineers (RFE) – proposals accepted anytime
EDUCATION &
TRAINING
Nonprofit Learning Lab Webinar: Before You Adopt AI: Five Questions Every Nonprofit Should Answer First: October 5, 2026
“Nonprofits are being encouraged to adopt AI, but readiness is about more than choosing tools. Before implementation, organizations need to consider leadership, capacity, governance, and organizational priorities. This session explores a practical approach to thinking about AI readiness and offers a roadmap for beginning mission-aligned conversations that support responsible adoption.”
Register for Nonprofit Learning Lab Webinar
REMINDER: NIH Webinar: Extramural Loan Repayment Programs (LRP) Technical Assistance Webinar: October 6, 2026
“The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers. This session will provide applicants with an in-depth look at the application process and more.”
REMINDER: Materials Research Society Webinar: Crash Course on Aerogels and Related Nanoporous Materials: October 6, 2026
“Whether you're new to the field or looking to deepen your expertise, this webinar offers a concise, expert-led introduction to aerogel synthesis, characterization, and modeling. Registrants will also receive access to the full recording of the original tutorial session from the 2025 MRS Fall Meeting, featuring the complete lineup of instructors and topics for those who want to explore the subject in even greater depth.”
CharityHowTo Webinar: So You Want to Write a Grant?: October 15, 2026
“Participating in “So You Want to Write a Grant?” will help you understand how to get started with the grant writing process as well as where and how AI can help you be as efficient and as effective as possible.”
Register for CharityHowTo Webinar
NSF Webinar: NSF BIO Virtual Office Hour Webinar: Updates from the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences: October 15, 2026
“Monthly virtual office webinars will focus on updates from the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences that may be of interest to the biological sciences research community.”
REMINDER: Hanover Research Webinar: Collaborating with Community Partners in Grant Seeking: October 29, 2026
“Community partnerships can strengthen proposals, expand resources, and make your work more compelling to funders. Building these relationships requires trust, shared goals, and clear communication...”
Register for Hanover Research Webinar
Candid Learning Webinar: Introduction to Proposal Writing: November 10, 2026
“Are you new to proposal writing or want a quick refresher? If so, you don't want to miss one of our most popular classes! This indispensable class will give you a step-by-step guide to creating a grant proposal to a foundation...”
Register for Candid Learning Webinar
Candid Learning Webinar: Navigating Federal Funding Cuts - A Peer Learning Exchange about Collaborations: November 18, 2026
“Working together can help organizations leverage complementary strengths, share resources, expand reach, and pursue funding opportunities that may be difficult to secure alone. Yet successful collaboration is rarely as simple as bringing organizations together. Effective partnerships require trust, alignment around shared goals, clear communication, and a commitment to navigating challenges collectively.”
Hanover Research Webinar: Assessing Alignment & Competitiveness in Grant Prospecting: November 19, 2026
“While many grant seekers have access to a wealth of information about funding opportunities, finding the right fit can still be a challenge...”
Register for Hanover Research Webinar
Department of Education: Grants Training and Management Resources, Online Grants Training Courses
“This 60 [minute] course prepares you to write competitive applications for the U.S. Department of Education by providing an overview of the Federal grants process.”
Access Online Grants Training Courses
REMINDER: Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Online Radiation Safety & Health Physics Training Courses
“Whether you are just starting your career in the health physics field or are a seasoned professional who needs a refresher or way to develop new radiation safety skills, [Professional Training Programs offer] a variety of radiation safety and health physics courses for any experience level.”
Register for ORAU Online Training Courses
REMINDER: US Department of Justice (DOJ) Weekly Training Webinars: Various
“…As a supplement to the self-guided training materials, the JustGrants team offers additional opportunities through Weekly Training Webinars for award recipients to receive real-time technical assistance and support on JustGrants system functionality.”
Register for a DOJ Training 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
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Important Announcements – September 2026
REMINDER: Responsibility Matrix for Sponsored Research and Other Creative Activity: Roles and Responsibilities Clarified
Successful research administration depends on a strong partnership between Principal Investigators, departments, and the central research office. To help clarify these roles, we have developed a Responsibility Matrix that identifies key responsibilities across the sponsored project lifecycle for projects supported by the Academic Affairs Office of Research. This matrix is intended to promote transparency, consistency, and effective stewardship of sponsored projects. We encourage all Principal Investigators to familiarize themselves with this resource.
Visit the Office of Research webpage for more information.
REMINDER: NIH: Request for Information: Proposed Changes to Reporting Outcomes from NIH Peer Review
“NIH is specifically requesting public comment on the proposed changes to reporting of peer review outcomes… Comments must be received by October 13, 2026.”
Continue Reading about NIH’s Proposal
REMINDER: NIH: Request for Comment: Draft NIH Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards
“NIH seeks public input on its Draft NIH Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards, which, when finalized, will supersede the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules. Respondents are free to address any or all of the topics listed or any other relevant topics for NIH to consider. Respondents should not feel compelled to address all items. NIH will consider all comments received. Comments are welcome on all aspects of the draft policy, including the scope, risk assessment, categories of oversight based on risk, roles and responsibilities, IBC functions, and procedures…Responses will be accepted through October 19, 2026.”
Read More about NIH’s Request for Information
NIH NEWS: New NIH Authorities to Strengthen Accountability in Hostile Work Environment Investigations
“The revised policy strengthens institutional responsibility and makes clear that the NIH award-transfer mechanism cannot be used by an investigator to evade being held accountable for conduct that undermines safe and respectful research environments. These changes ensure appropriate institutional review, regardless of the employment status of the individual. We invite the research community to join us on October 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET to learn more about how NIH may use these new authorities as part of our continued efforts to ensure safe and respectful workplaces at organizations receiving NIH support…”
NIH: Highlighted Topic: Adherence and behavior maintenance for improved health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment outcomes
“This topic encourages research that addresses adherence to prevention and treatment recommendations and maintenance of behaviors to improve long-term health outcomes…”
NIH: Highlighted Topic: Research on Chatbots and their Usage
“This topic encourages multidisciplinary research that identifies, measures, and explains the benefits and harms associated with chatbot use (both chatbot-based interventions or treatments as well as routine chatbot use) across a variety of populations, use cases, and settings…”
Continue Reading NIH Highlighted Topic of Interest: Research on Chatbots and their Usage
NIH News: Continuation of Modifications to Peer Review Practices
“To address the large volume of peer review meetings that were missed during the lapse in appropriations, modifications were made to peer review practices for applications submitted for the January, May, and October 2026 Advisory Councils…”
NSF News: NSF launches the Open Knowledge Network, a national open-data platform connecting more than 40 knowledge graphs to power the new wave of AI-enabled discovery
“NSF OKN provides a structured, persistent, verifiable knowledge layer to complement contemporary artificial intelligence models, providing grounding of facts, attribution, and knowledge governance essential to critical AI applications in a number of fields…”
NSF News: NSF invests in translating low-dimensional semiconductor technologies to establish U.S. leadership in microelectronics
“The NSF Ecosystem for Low-dimensional Electronics: Growth, Assembly, Nanoelectronics, and Translation (NSF ELEGANT) program will position the U.S. for success in translating advanced microelectronics technologies into next-generation capabilities for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, advanced communications, and other key technology areas critical to national security and economic competitiveness…”
REMINDER: DMP Tool Now Available for WSU Researchers
Dr. Jung Mee Park, Data Librarian, Ablah Libraries, has created a libguide for WSU researchers who are interested in using the free DMPTool to create data management plans that are compliant with sponsor requirements. The libguide may be found here: https://libraries.wichita.edu/dmptool. Researchers interested in using the DMPTool do not need to wait to have a formal proposal to start using the tool. Ablah Librarians are also available to assist with creating data management plans within the DMP Tool system. Remember, the WSU Office of Research should be notified in advance of any planned submissions for external sponsored funding: proposals@wichita.edu, so that our office may assist with meeting sponsor requirements.
REMINDER: NIH: Helpful Reminders to Ensure Integrity of NIH-Supported Research When Using Artificial Intelligence
“Today, we are sharing some helpful reminders on the appropriate use of AI tools when applying, managing awards, and conducting the research process itself…”
Continue Reading NIH Reminders about Use of AI
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; and
- Subscribe to funding announcements and funding-related alerts
Please let us know how we can help you.