Office of Naval Research (ONR) Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs): ONR is constantly looking for innovative scientific and technological solutions to address current and future Navy and Marine Corps requirements. We want to do business with educational institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations with ground-breaking ideas, pioneering scientific research and novel technology developments. 

2025 Young Investigator Program (YIP): to identify and support academic scientists and engineers who are in their first or second full-time tenure-track or tenure-track-equivalent academic appointment, who have received their PhD or equivalent degree on or after 01 January 2017, and who show exceptional promise for doing creative research. The objectives of this program are to attract outstanding faculty members of U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (hereafter also called "universities") to the Department of the Navy's Science and Technology (S&T) research program, to support their research, and to encourage their teaching and research careers. Individuals who are holding U.S. non-profit equivalent positions are also encouraged to apply.

Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) BAAs: AFOSR accomplishes its mission by investing in basic research efforts for the Air Force in relevant scientific areas. Central to AFOSR's strategy is the transfer of the fruits of basic research to industry, the supplier of Air Force acquisitions; to the academic community which can lead the way to still more accomplishment; and to the other directorates of AFRL that carry the responsibility for applied and development research leading to acquisition. 

Air Force Areas of Interest

How Academics Can Work with AFOSR

Defense Associated Graduate Research Awards (DAGSI): supports science and engineering graduate students and faculty who conduct research in areas targeted by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. A two-person team composed of a graduate student and a faculty member submits a proposal in one of the target research topic areas. 

Visiting Scientist Program: The Visiting Scientist Program (VSP) provides opportunities for outstanding Air Force scientists and engineers (AF S&Es) to conduct full-time research at a non-government laboratory located within the USA. The duration of a VSP visit can be up to 179 days. The visits can be shorter, and can consist of non-contiguous durations as appropriate. AFOSR pays all TDY costs, while the AF S&E’s home organization continues to pay all other costs. Upon completion of the TDY the AF S&E returns to her/his home organization.

Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE): The ASSURE program aims to provide valuable research opportunities for undergraduates, either through ongoing research programs or through projects specially designed for this purpose. Research projects should allow high quality interaction of students with faculty and/or other research mentors and access to appropriate facilities and professional development opportunities. Active research experience is considered one of the most effective ways to attract and retain talented undergraduates in science and engineering.

Young Investigator Research Program (YIP): The Air Force YIP supports scientists and engineers who have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees within the last seven years and show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. The objectives of this program are: 1. to foster creative basic research in science and engineering; 2. enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators; 3. and increase opportunities for the young investigator to recognize the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering.

Centers of Excellence Program: AFRL/AFOSR Center of Excellence (CoE) is a joint effort among AFOSR, another Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Technology Directorate (TD), and an outstanding university or team of universities to perform high priority collaborative research. A CoE should extend the research capabilities of AFRL and provide opportunities for a new generation of US scientists and engineers to address Air Force research needs.

Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP): This program is administered through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Army Research Office, and the Office of Naval Research. The DURIP program is for the acquisition of major equipment by U.S institutions of higher education to augment current or develop new research capabilities to support research in technical areas of interest to the DoD. DURIP is open only to U.S. institutions of higher education, with degree granting programs in science, math, and/or engineering. Proposing institutions should be seeking to purchase instrumentation in support of research areas of interest to the DoD, including areas of research supported by the administering agencies. Proposals to purchase instrumentation may request $50,000 to $1,500,000. Awards are typically one year in length.

Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative: MURI supports basic research in the science and engineering areas intersecting more than one traditional discipline. The program is focused on multidisciplinary team efforts to address issues of critical concern to the DoD and the AF. The goal of this program is to advance defense research, accelerate technology transition, and educate scientists and engineers in the interdisciplinary areas important to national defense. MURI is a DoD-wide program which complements other DoD programs that support university research through the single-investigator awards. The awards are typically for a period of three years with two additional years as options. New awards can be funded up to $1.5M per year, with the actual amount contingent upon the availability of funds, the specific topic, and the scope of the proposed work. All the award selections result from a merit-based competition of the proposals. Proposal submission is a two-stage process including white papers and full proposals.

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Program: The NDSEG Fellowship Program is a Department of Defense (DoD) fellowship program sponsored by Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Army Research Office (ARO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP). The DoD is committed to increasing the number and quality of our Nation's scientists and engineers. The actual number of awards varies from year to year, depending upon the available funding. The NDSEG Fellows do not incur any military or other service obligations. NDSEG Fellowships are highly competitive and will be awarded for fulltime study and research. An awardee must be enrolled in a graduate program; the graduate program must lead towards a Ph.D. Preference will be given to applicants in one, or closely related to one, of the following specialties: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Biosciences; Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Cognitive, Neural and Behavioral Sciences; Computer and Computational Sciences; Electrical Engineering; Geosciences; Materials Science and Engineering; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering; Oceanography; and Physics

Opportunities for Collaboration: DEVCOM ARL leverages unique skillsets and resources across academia, industry, and other government organizations both nationally and internationally to collaboratively address Army challenges and opportunities.

Opportunities for Funded Research: Various funding opportunities for cutting-edge innovative research that could enable new and improved Army operational capabilities and related technologies.

Broad Agency Announcements: The Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is a competitive solicitation procedure used to obtain proposals for basic and applied research and the part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement.

Broad Agency Announcements

University Guide to Working with DARPA

Minerva Research Initiative: supports social science research aimed at improving our basic understanding of security, broadly defined. All supported projects are university-based and unclassified, with the intention that all work be shared widely to support thriving stable and safe communities. The goal is to improve DoD’s basic understanding of the social, cultural, behavioral, and political forces that shape regions of the world of strategic importance to the U.S.

Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative: MURI supports basic research in the science and engineering areas intersecting more than one traditional discipline. The program is focused on multidisciplinary team efforts to address issues of critical concern to the DoD and the AF. The goal of this program is to advance defense research, accelerate technology transition, and educate scientists and engineers in the interdisciplinary areas important to national defense. MURI is a DoD-wide program which complements other DoD programs that support university research through the single-investigator awards. The awards are typically for a period of three years with two additional years as options. New awards can be funded up to $1.5M per year, with the actual amount contingent upon the availability of funds, the specific topic, and the scope of the proposed work. All the award selections result from a merit-based competition of the proposals. Proposal submission is a two-stage process including white papers and full proposals.

Basic Research Office (BRO): BRO sets scientific priorities aimed toward ensuring DoD is a leader in scientific discovery and identifying new paths for investigation. The office is responsible for setting Department policy for grants, and manages programs including: the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, the Minerva Research Initiative, Historically Black Colleges & Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program, as well as a number of pilot programs meant to rethink the Department’s approach to managing and maturing basic research investments.

CCTS routinely offers workshops and seminars on how to apply to different award mechanisms. Check their calendar for information on their upcoming offerings on topics such as How to Write a Successful R01/R03/R21. 

The IPR Grant Writing Workshop is a structured process of peer engagement and review. The workshop meets every other week during the summer, starting in late May and extending through August or into September, depending on the needs of the participants. The workshop runs on a facilitated peer-review model: participants circulate and provide feedback on drafts, led by an experienced mentor. Participants should have a clear plan and a specific timeline for submission in order to benefit most from the workshop. 

Department of Defense basic research director shares insights with faculty

Positioning for success

In alignment with the university’s goal to double sponsored research within this decade, the Strategic Research Travel Program provides up to 50% of total costs not to exceed $1,500 per person for Ohio State faculty and principal investigators to travel to meet with one or more external research sponsors to conduct the following positioning activities:

• Discuss an identified large-scale, multidisciplinary, and/or significantly strategic funding opportunity to understand the sponsor’s priorities and ensure the best chance of success;
• Explore potential funding opportunities for future collaboration surrounding an identified research topical area for which Ohio State possesses significant strength, and/or;
• Provide input to sponsors to help drive the development of innovative programs and/or influence the sponsors’ future strategic plans.

Effective positioning is an important component of strategic research development. This kind of activity occurs well before a sponsor releases a solicitation. Further, these efforts are usually part of a longer-term business development plan for pursuing larger, multidisciplinary funding opportunities.

Who is eligible? 

Individual PIs or multiple investigators on a team (up to three, if justified) may request support. Support will only be considered for applicants who have:

• Identified a large, multidisciplinary, and/or strategically significant funding opportunity to target and/or a research area in which Ohio State has significant strength to potentially influence the sponsors’ future funding opportunities and focus area(s);
• Engaged with a specific external funding sponsor(s) about the identified opportunity and/or research topical area, and;
• Secured interest from the external funding sponsor to meet in person to discuss the opportunity or research topical area.

What expenses are covered?

Reimbursable travel costs include airfare, per diem hotel and food expenses, and ground transportation.  All university travel must adhere to the university’s travel policy.

Examples of activities NOT supported through this program include:

• Travel to general conferences/meetings at which sponsors may be present
• Travel to meet with sponsors where a targeted funding opportunity or research topical area of national significance has not been identified as this program is not intended to support general networking with sponsors
• Travel to conduct preliminary research in preparation for future research proposal submission

How do I apply? 

Successful applicants will be able to make a case for how their proposed travel will contribute to Ohio State’s desire to pursue strategic funding opportunities with priority given to those that address emergent and convergent research of societal significance aligned with national priorities. Applicants may be asked to provide additional information during the review process. In addition, those selected to receive support may be asked to meet with a member of the Research Development Office or an experienced Ohio State research prior to travel to increase the chances that the visit will be successful. All recipients must a brief report summarizing the results of the trip prior to fund transfer.

Applications are reviewed monthly, with those received by the 25^th reviewed and applicants notified of the outcome by the end of that month. Applicants are encouraged to submit requests well in advance or be prepared to explain the extenuating circumstances prompting a request for travel less than 30 days following the end of the prior review period.

All awards are contingent upon the availability of funds. For more information, please contact Laurie Neer.

Information

Why collaborate with industry?

Industry spends millions of dollars in research expenditures each year at Ohio State and industry investments in university collaborations continue to climb.  Industry funded projects provide diversification of faculty funding portfolios and additional value through exposure to market-facing challenges, student experiential learning, and the opportunity to see research results be commercially deployed.

Beyond funding, industry sponsored research provides additional value to our researchers in the form of exposure to real world problems and increased market knowledge, student experiential learning, and the opportunity to see research results be commercially deployed. 

We are here to help you capture this value.  

• Support for industry engagement and research collaborations
  Elizabeth Drotleff
  Director, ASC’s Office of Industry Partnerships and Research Collaborations
  drotleff.4@osu.edu
   
• Support for non-research industry engagement and connecting to companies
  Cheryl Yeack
  Director, ASC’s Office of Industry Partnerships and Research Collaborations
  yeack.1@osu.edu

Office of Foundation Relations assists faculty and staff identify potential private foundation funders. You can schedule a consultation with them to discuss your funding search. You can schedule a consultation with them to discuss your research and funding needs.