Funding Resources

Funding Opportunities of interest to KAS Members

Graduate student funding opportunities may also be listed in our Science Job Postings

Grants.gov - Find research funding opportunities from all federal agencies

EPSCoR  & IDeA (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) assists federal agencies “to strengthen research and education in science and engineering throughout the United States and to avoid undue concentration of such research and education.” Kentucky is one of the states targeted for federal research funding through EPSCoR & IDeA. Find out more at individual agencies' websites:
NASA KY EPSCoR   National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Check their website for open funding opportunities
NSF KY EPSCoR National Science Foundation
DOE KY EPSCoR Department of Energy
NIH KY IDeA National Institutes of Health's Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program
    Letter of Intent deadline Nov. 15 2021 for new Investigator Development Awards (IDeA)
    KY INBRE Faculty Recruitment (Start-Up) Awards are accepted year-round
    KY INBRE Post-Doctoral Fellow Awards are accepted year-round
   
KAS research grants   are due November 15 each year

SUCCESS program for the Geosciences and Water Engineering Appalchian students pursuing masters and doctorate degrees in geoscience and water engineering. The program provides financial support to assist students with funding their college experience. The program provides technical support by teaching undergraduate students and graduate students state-of-the-art skills using high resolution sensors for investigating water processes.  Applications due January 15, 2023 for Summer 2023.

KYNETIC Product Development Grant Due Feb. 14, 2022 Preapplication form

American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers various grants and fellowships up to $30,000, due in November and December

The Kentucky Society for Natural History provides funds for students engaged in natural history and biodiversity research in Kentucky. Click here for application guidelines. Review of applications and awarding of funds will move quickly in the immediate weeks following the submission deadline.
 
The Eastern Kentucky University Division of Natural Areas provides funds for students to support their scholarly activities (research, all forms of art, and other non-research projects) involving EKU's Natural Areas. Questions? contact Dr. Stephen Richter, Associate Director, EKU Natural Areas
The Student-Grant-in-Aid Program (graduate and undergraduate students from any institution) provides funding for proposed/ongoing work.
 The Division's Paul John Kalisz Conservation Award (EKU undergraduates only) is intended to recognize undergraduate students from any major whose scholarly projects focus on conservation of forest ecosystems, amphibians, reptiles, or carnivores. In addition to research, all forms of art and other non-research projects with a focus on conservation, wildlife, or preservation of natural resources are eligible. This award of $500 is to recognize outstanding creative work that has been completed or that is being proposed. Although the award can be used to fund your effort, it is intended as an award outright. A Student-Grant-in-Aid Program proposal requesting funding for the project (up to an additional $500) can be submitted simultaneously.
 Although the application deadline for both is April 15, there’s a possibility to make awards on a rolling basis, if needed

Kentucky Native Plant Society offers student research grants, community scientists plant inventory grants, and our native plant restoration grants.   The applications are due March 15th.  Details here 

HENAAC Scholarship program: The goal of the Program is to increase the persistence to graduation among underrepresented and underserved STEM college students. The financial support of the HENAAC Scholars Programs helps these students focus on their coursework so they can graduate on time, enter a STEM profession, continue to serve as a role model for future generations, and secure the country's place as the finest technological leader in the world.

National Geographic Society offers various grants for research and/or science journalism

KY Ornithological Society
Offers research grants and grants in several other categories

Union of Concerned Scientists
Science for Public Good Fund is for science advocates. Science Network members can apply to the Fund for financial support of up to $1000, to be used for advocacy actions or related events to promote the role of science in public policy, with an emphasis on understanding and addressing local impacts.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet offers scholarship opportunities to students who are interested in pursuing Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering Technology, or Construction Management. Applications for the upcoming 2023-2024 year are due February 1, 2023.  Students chosen for the Civil Engineering or Construction Management program can receive up to $59,200* (before taxes) and those chosen for Civil Engineering Technology can receive up to $12,000* (before taxes).  KYTC also provides summer employment & full-time employment after graduation.  (*depending on the # of years in school). Students must attend UK, UL, or WKU for Civil Engineering  /  NKU, EKU, WKU, Morehead State, & Murray State for Construction Management / BCTC or BSCTC for Civil Engineering Technology.  Contact: Marianne Sullivan, 502-782-4970 Marianne.sullivan@ky.gov
Details and application

Louisville Sustainability Council Microgrants
Details

KY Multiscale Seed Program
To expand and accelerate discovery in the areas of micro/nanotechnology, MEMS, and advanced manufacturing, KY Multiscale has established the KY Multiscale Seed Program. This program allows first-time users from the academic and industrial scientific communities limited free access to the UofL KY Multiscale core facilities to aid in their research, obtain preliminary data, conduct proof of concept studies, or for educational purposes.

Travel funds up to $2000 may be requested  by undergraduate and graduate students interested in the chemical sciences and are from groups traditionally underrepresented in the Chemical Sciences (Black, Latinx, and Indigenous). Call for applications opens in May.
 
Faculty Research Travel Funding
Up to $1,700 for research development at NASA Centers.  NASA KY EPSCoR has released an updated call for research travel applications to support faculty visits to NASA Centers in order to pursue collaborations, present research, and explore the potential for new research opportunities with NASA researchers.

Applications will be accepted from faculty at any Kentucky higher education institution. US citizenship is not required, however, NASA facilities may have regulations regarding visitation by foreign nationals. Meetings at NASA facilities are preferred, but meetings arranged between Kentucky faculty and NASA researchers at academic or technical conferences will also be considered.  Please see RFP-23-001 at the NASA-KY website for full details.