Below are several funding opportunities for research grants from the Philanthropy News Digest. All grant requests must be submitted through the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs. Please do not apply to these opportunities directly. Contact OSRP if you are interested in applying for any of these proposals.
AFAR Accepting Applications for Postdoctoral Aging Research
Deadline: Monday, January 22, 2018 (Letters of Inquiry)
The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is accepting Letters of Intent for its Irene Diamond Fund/AFAR Postdoctoral Transition Awards in Aging Program.
The program is focused on advancing translational aging research and, to that end, provides two-year fellowships of $120,000. Fellowship awards are meant to provide portable and flexible transitional funding for senior postdoctoral fellows as they develop and negotiate for junior faculty appointments and independent research programs. A supplemental award of up to $30,000 may be available if the candidate successfully transitions to an independent junior faculty position within two years of completing his/her Diamond/AFAR Fellowship.
To be eligible, applicants must be a postdoctoral fellow (M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree or equivalent) within three to six years of starting postdoctoral training at the start date of the award (Sunday, July 1, 2018.) Applicants who have received postdoctoral training beyond six years (before July 1, 2012) must provide a justification for the additional training period. In addition, the proposed research must be conducted at a qualified not-for-profit setting in the United States.
LOIs must be received no later than January 22, 2018. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by May 2018.
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the American Federation for Aging Research.
NFWF Issues RFP for Los Padres Wildfires Restoration Grant Program
Deadline: Thursday, January 25, 2018 (Pre-proposals)
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has issued an RFP for its Los Padres National Forest Wildfires Restoration Grant Program.
The Los Padres National Forest spans nearly two million acres in the Coast and Transverse ranges of central and southern California. Stretching across almost 220 miles north to south, the forest encompasses land from the Big Sur coast in Monterey County to the western edge of Los Angeles County. Among the most biologically diverse national forests in California, LPNF is uniquely situated within one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, contains a wide variety of distinctive habitats and ecosystems, is the stronghold of species like the California condor, and is one of the last refuges of the Southern California Coast Steelhead.
The Zaca Fire in 2007, the Piru Fire in 2003 and the Jesusita Fire in 2009 were noteworthy wildfire events affecting the Los Padres National Forest. Combined, these two fires burned over 280,000 acres of national forest lands and left a significant impact on the landscapes, watersheds, and ecosystems of the region. The Los Padres National Forest has partnered with NFWF to restore the watersheds and ecosystems affected by these three fires. Through this program, NFWF will invest approximately $3 million in projects that provide sustainable and lasting ecological benefits, promote ecological resilience to future wildfire events, address resource management issues stemming from these fires, and repair critical infrastructure such as trails, roads, and fuel breaks damaged by the fire, particularly where they have a discernible connection to the goals of ecological restoration.
Grant awards will range in size from $25,000 to $250,000 per project.
To be eligible for funding, projects must facilitate or inform the improvement, protection, or rehabilitation of ecosystems and watersheds within and/or adjacent to U.S. Forest Service-administered land impacted by the designated fire scars. Project descriptions must clearly describe the need for the proposed project as rendered necessary by the impacts of the fire(s) where activities are focused, and project outcomes and deliverables must provide a direct and practical contribution toward LPNF fire recovery program goals.
Pre-proposals must be received no later than January 25, 2018. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by Thursday, March 8, 2018.
See the NFWF website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.
Link to Complete RFP.
Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund Invites Applications for Cancer Research Fellowships
Deadline: Thursday, February 1, 2018
The Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research was established in 1937 for the purpose of supporting research into the causes and treatment of cancer. The fund has taken a broad approach to the study of cell growth and development, emphasizing the study of the basic biology and chemistry of the underlying processes, and increasingly has focused its resources on the funding of three-year postdoctoral fellowships, supporting fellows selected by its board of scientific advisers from among the best young scientists at what is often a critical stage in their careers. As a result, there have been more than sixteen hundred Jane Coffin Childs fellows doing basic cancer-related research in laboratories in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
To advance its mission, the JCC Fund is accepting applications for its fellowship program. The fund supports between twenty-five and thirty new three-year cancer research fellowships every year. The current fellowship stipend levels are $52,000 for year one; $52,500 for year two; and $53,000 for year three.
To be eligible, postdoctoral applicants should have no more than one year of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the application deadline. In addition, the doctoral degree must not have been conferred more than eighteen months prior to the deadline date, while the medical degree should not have been conferred more than three years before the deadline date. Doctoral candidates that do not have their degree at time of application deadline (February 1) are eligible to apply. If awarded, the applicant’s PhD degree must be conferred prior to the start of the fellowship.
See the JCC Fund website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.
Health Effects Institute Accepting Applications for Air Pollution Research
Deadline: Wednesday, February 7, 2018 (Pre-application)
The Health Effects Institute is a nonprofit corporation chartered in 1980 as an independent research organization to provide high-quality, impartial, and relevant science on the health effects of air pollution.
As part of its mission, HEI established the Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award to provide funding to outstanding investigators who are beginning independent research. By providing financial support for investigators at an early point in their careers, the institute hopes to encourage highly qualified individuals to undertake research on the health effects of air pollution.
Each award will grant up to $150,000 per year, with a maximum of $450,000 over three years in total costs in support of a research project. The funds can be used to provide salary support for the investigator and supporting junior personnel as well as operating costs, including supplies and equipment.
Scientists of any nationality holding a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or Dr.PH. degree or equivalent are eligible to apply. At the time of application, the candidate should have two to seven years of research experience after having obtained the highest degree in his/her field and must be in an assistant professor or equivalent position in an academic or research institution.
Preliminary applications must be received no later than February 7, 2018. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by Tuesday, May 15, 2018.
For complete program information, a list of previous award recipients, and application procedures, see the HEI website.
National Kidney Foundation Accepting Applications for Young Investigator Program
Deadline: Friday, February 9, 2018
The National Kidney Foundation recognizes that future improvements in the treatment and prevention of kidney disease will rest largely on the accomplishments of individuals now commencing their investigative work. To that end, the foundation has established a Young Investigator Grant Program to help support those investigators.
Through the program, NKF will award grants of up to $35,000 in support of research projects in the field of nephrology and related disciplines conducted by individuals who have completed fellowship training and who hold a junior faculty position at a university-affiliated medical center in the United States.
Projects must be patient-oriented. Elements of patient-oriented research activities may include but are not limited to development of new technologies, mechanisms of human disease, educational or therapeutic interventions, epidemiological studies, health policy studies, and clinical trials.
Individuals who have completed fellowship training in an ACGME-accredited training program and who hold junior faculty positions (instructor or assistant professor) at a university-affiliated medical center in the United States are eligible to apply.
For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the NKF website.
Gerber Foundation Seeks Proposals for Pediatric Research Projects
Deadline: Friday, June 1, 2018 (Concept Papers)
The Gerber Foundation works to enhance the quality of life for infants and young children. To that end, the foundation is accepting concept papers for health and/or nutrition-related research projects designed to have a significant impact on issues affecting infants and young children.
The foundation awards grants for research focused on issues faced by care providers that, when implemented, will improve health, nutrition, and/or developmental outcomes for infants and young children. Projects can address the etiologic mechanisms of disease; new, improved, or less invasive diagnostic procedures; the reduction or elimination of side effects; the alleviation of symptoms; new, improved, or less invasive therapies or treatments; dosage or dosing requirements or mechanisms for drugs, nutrient supplementation, or other therapeutic measures (under or overdosing); and preventative measures.
Priority will be given to projects offering a substantial promise of meaningful advances in prevention and treatment of pediatric diseases, as well as those with broad applicability to the general population on a regional or national level.
Organizations recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to apply. In addition, organizations must be determined not to be private foundations under Internal Revenue Code Section 509. (No grants will be awarded to individuals.) The total requested grant size should be no more than $350,000.
Concept papers must be received no later than June 1, 2018. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by Wednesday, August 15, 2018.
See the Gerber Foundation website for eligibility criteria and application instructions.
RRF Accepting Applications for Projects in Aging
Deadline: February 1, 2018
The Retirement Research Foundation is accepting proposals from nonprofit organizations for local and national projects designed to improve the quality of life for older Americans.
Grants will be awarded for projects that provide direct services, advocacy, education and training programs for professionals working with elders, as well as for research that investigates causes and solutions to significant problems of older adults.
Projects with a local focus will be considered from organizations based only in seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Florida. However, advocacy, training, and research projects of national relevance are considered from organizations located anywhere in the United States.
To be eligible, organizations must be considered tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
See the RFF website for eligibility and application guidelines, as well as examples of previously awarded grants and grant amounts.
American Psychological Foundation Accepting Applications to Kenneth B. and Mamie P. Clark Fund
Deadline: Friday, June 15, 2018
The American Psychological Foundation is accepting applications for its Kenneth B. and Mamie P. Clark Fund.
A single grant of $10,000 will be awarded to an early-career psychologist whose research and demonstration activities promote the understanding of the relationship between self-identity and academic achievement, with an emphasis on children in grades K-8.
Applicants must be an early-career psychologist (no more than ten years postdoctoral) and have received IRB approval before funding can be awarded if human participants are involved.
See the APF website for complete program guidelines, information about past recipients, and application instructions.
EREF Accepting Applications for Sustainable Solid Waste Management Research
Deadline: June 1, 2018 (Pre-proposals)
The Environmental Research and Education Foundation is accepting pre-proposals for its Research in Sustainable Solid Waste Management grants program.
The program supports research projects related to sustainable solid waste management practices, including waste minimization; recycling; waste conversion to energy, biofuels, chemicals, or other useful products; strategies to promote diversion to higher and better uses (e.g., organics diversion, market analysis, optimized material management, logistics, etc.); and landfilling.
Previously awarded grants have ranged from $15,000 to more than $500,000, with the average grant amount about $160,000.
Any U.S. or non-U.S. academic institution is eligible to apply.
Pre-proposals must be received no later than June 1, 2017. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.
See the EREF website for complete program guidelines, information about past grantees, and application procedures.