Resources re: federal agencies and other topics common to grant seeking
If you have difficulty accessing these resources or you don't find what you need,
please contact lynnette.hentges@unh.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Key Resources for Faculty and Postdoctoral Research Associates
Department of Defense (DOD) - Specific Requirements & Advice >>>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Basic Research at the DoD
2022 National Defense Strategy
2023 National Defense Science & Technology Strategy (Released 5/9/2023)
DoD Critical Technology Areas -- Seed Areas of Emerging Opportunity
FY25 DoD S&T Budget Priorities
Long-term Funding Opportunities
DARPA
Biological Technologies Open until 9/30/2026
Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide BAA Open until 6/2/2026
Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-wide BAA Open until 11/30/2026
Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Office-wide BAA Open until 3/2/2026
Tactical Technology Office (TTO) Office-wide BAA Open until 12/22/2026
Air Force
Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Open until superseded
Army
DEVCOM ARL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Open until 11/20/2027
Navy
FY25 LONG RANGE BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) FOR NAVY AND MARINE CORPS SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY Open until 9/30/2025
Tools for Creating Summaries to Share with Program Officers
Basic Research: DOD Pasteur's Quandrant
Research Menu (Use for White Paper/contact with Program Manager)
Applied Research: DARPA Heilmeier Catechism
Quad Chart (Use for White Paper/contact with Program Manager)
DoD White Paper template (Use to follow-up after initial contact)
Targeted Funding Opportunities
Air Force Young Investigator Program (AFOSR YIP) -- FY26
> YIP NOFO (Forecast): NOFOAFRLAFOSR20250006 [6.18.25]
White paper (required) due Jul 25, 2025
Proposal due Sep 19, 2025
> AFOSR Research Interests: FA955025S0001 [5.29.25]
> Overview & Hints for Success - FY2025 Air Force YIP [3.14.24]
> YIP FOA: FAQs [5.9.24]
Army Early Career Research Program (ECR)
> Broad Agency Announcement for Foundational Research W911NF-23-S-000 --- See pages 8-9
> More information about the Army Research Lab and the ECR
DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) -- 2026
> Full solicitation, required attachment templates & application package
∗ Amendment 1 issued 10/9/2025 to correct discrepancy in US-Person option NTE amount
∗ Amendment 2 issued 11/12/2025 to add info about awardee surveys and DARPA Connect resources
∗ Amendment 3 issued 12/8/2025 to change eligibility requirements: Citizens of China, Cuba, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea are not eligible to propose
∗ Amendment 4 issued 12/15/2025 to further modify eligibility requirements:
“Proposed Senior or Key Personnel who are citizens of China, Cuba, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea are not eligible to propose unless one of the following conditions is met:
o Individual is a dual citizen of the U.S. and one of the countries above.
o Individual is a U.S. Permanent Resident/Green Card holder.
o Individual is in the application process to become a U.S. Permanent Resident/Green Card holder.
∗ Amendment 5 issued 12/31/2025 to provide eligibility clarifications (Overview Information, Section IV):
o The DARPA/DoD funding limits and tenure requirements apply only to the PI (not Senior Personnel and team members).
o Previous YFA awardees may serve as Senior Personnel.
o Provide definitions for Key Personnel, Senior Personnel, and team member (Section IV)
Proposal due Jan 20, 2026
> FY26 Topic Areas
> Additional information about the YFA program, including FAQs and previous awards
> More information about DARPA
> Heilmeier Catechism
Join DARPAConnect to leverage on-demand learning and networking resources including
> Fueling Innovation: Applying for the DARPA Young Faculty Award
> Tips for DARPA Proposal Success
Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) -- FY26
> Resources
♦ Overview & Hints for Success
♦ UNH DURIP Interest Form
♦ FY26 DURIP NOFOs
♦ 2022 National Defense Strategy
♦ 2023 National Defense Science & Technology Strategy
♦ DURIP Awards, FY11 - Present
Department of Defense (DOD) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) -- FY26
> Overview with FY26 topics and links to NOFOs
DEPSCoR Research Collaborations -- FY24
> Overview with links to NOFO and Connect and Collaborate portal
> Webinar slides and Q&A
Navy Young Investigator Program (ONR YIP) -- FY26
> YIP NOFO: N0001425SF004
Proposal due Aug 1, 2025
> Overview, including previous awards
Department of Energy (DOE) - Specific Requirements & Advice >>>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Programs & Funding Priorities
DOE Research Programs
https://science.osti.gov/Programs
Genesis Mission
A National Mission to Accelerate Science Through Artificial Intelligence
https://genesis.energy.gov/
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
https://science.osti.gov/bes/epscor
Funding Opportunities
Early Career Research Program
https://science.osti.gov/early-career
(Includes abstracts of awards from previous years)
FY26 Notice of Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0003602) & FAQs
FY 2026 CONTINUATION OF SOLICITATION FOR THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Announcement Number: DE-FOA-0003600
Post Date: September 30, 2025
Modification posted December 15, 2025
Close Date: September 30, 2026
A Pre-Application is optional/encouraged.
A Pre-Application may be required for consideration by certain review panels.
NASA has released Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES)-2025
This notice provides important information about which programs will be accepting applications, deadlines, changes to policies, and how to find the information and support needed to apply.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Does SMD have any rules about the use of LLMs like ChatGPT?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In accordance with Grant Information Circular 26‑02, Research Security Training Requirements, all covered individuals named on NASA grant and cooperative agreement proposals will be required to attest that they have completed research security training prior to proposal submission beginning August 5, 2026. This attestation will be made by signing a certification included in the NASA biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support forms.
NASA’s Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support forms, as well as the associated Pre-award and Post-Award Disclosure Requirements table, can be found below. NASA’s disclosure requirements can be found in the GCAM, and FAQs related to the disclosure forms that address topics such as formatting and the use of SciENcv can be found here.
- Biosketch Form
- Current and Pending Support (CPS) Form
- NASA Pre-Award and Post-Award Disclosure Requirements
- How to Sign a Biosketch or CPS Form
- Disclosure Form Training Video
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Additional resources:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Specific Requirements & Advice >>>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Specific Requirements & Advice >>>
(Check often for changes in policies and processes)
Updated Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities Following the October 1, 2025 - Lapse in Appropriations (NOT-OD-26-012; 11/24/2025)
Continuation of Modifications to Peer Review Practices NOT-OD-26-069
Modifications will remain in place for the October 2026 Advisory Council
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Updated Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan NOT-OD-26-046
- NIH is revising DMS Plan elements and requiring the use of the corresponding revised format page to aid compliance monitoring
- Updated DMS Plan Format page will be made available upon receipt of OMB clearance – see Draft at Data Management and Sharing Plan Format Page
- Effective for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25,2026
- Implementing this updated format page as a pilot and will evaluate the need for additional updates over the next year
**Use of AI in Application Preparation and Review is not allowed**
Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications NOT-OD-25-132
NIH will not consider applications that are either substantially developed by AI, or contain sections substantially developed by AI, to be original ideas of applicants.
- If the detection of AI is identified post award, NIH may refer the matter to the Office of Research Integrity to determine whether there is research misconduct while simultaneously taking enforcement actions including but not limited to disallowing costs, withholding future awards, wholly or in part suspending the grant, and possible termination.
- NIH will only accept six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications from an individual Principal Investigator/Program Director or Multiple Principal Investigator for all council rounds in a calendar year.
This policy applies to all activity codes except T activity codes and R13 Conference Grant Applications. Based on recent data, this limit will affect a relatively small number of Principal Investigators while enabling the NIH to maintain consistently high-quality grant application review and appropriately steward taxpayer dollars.
- NIH issued a notice prohibiting the use of generative AI technologies in the peer review process. This includes using large language models, natural language processors, and other AI technologies for developing peer review critiques for contracts and grant applications.
- Reviewers will be required to sign and submit an agreement certifying that they understand and will abide by these requirements.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Funding Opportunities
Search Tips for NIH Opportunities
Highlighted Topics
Each topic represents a selected research priority area within one or more NIH Institutes, Centers, or Offices (ICOs) that may or may not have dedicated funding.
So, I’m Interested in a Highlighted Topic…What Do I Do Now?
Subscribe to receive notices of new topics
How to Find Your "Fit" at NIH
Comparison of Selected NIH Research Funding Mechanisms
Identifying the NIH Component Relevant to Your Research Project
Application Components
Overview
Components of an NIH Research Project Application
NIH Research Application Attachments Checklist
Formatting for NIH Attachments
Specific Aims
Specific Aims Page rubric
Biosketch
SciENcv is the only option for preparing the NIH biosketch and Current & Pending (Other) Support documents for applications on or after January 25, 2026.
NOTE: Strict implementation of the new format has been delayed, but the new forms should still be used. NOT-OD-26-033
> Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support
> Biographical Sketch Common Form
> NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement
NIH Biosketch Requirements plus Tips & Hints 1.25.2026+
NIH Biosketch Common Form Guidelines (with info re: linking to ORCID)
Other Components
Hints for Developing NIH "Other" Components
UNH Hints and Text for NIH Facilities and Other Resources Section
(Updated UNH resources, student data, and Carnegie classification -- 11/5/2025)
Data Management and Sharing Plan
Updated Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan (NOT-OD-26-046)
Effective for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026, applicants and recipients are required to utilize a new, simpler format (see link below).
This Guide Notice also updates DMS Plan elements to clarify common areas of confusion in the research community while streamlining and simplifying DMS Plans.
NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy
Data Management and Sharing Plan Format Page (current and new versions)
UNH Library Data Management Toolkit: Data Management Plans
Cover Letter
When to Include in Application
UNH Template
Other Info
MyBibliography
Overview
Sign-in Page
Guide
Working with NIH
NIH Contacts and Roles
Whom to Talk to During the NIH Application Process
Application Review
For applications submitted before 1/25/2025
NIH Review Criteria vs. Applicable Application Section
NIH Application Scoring System
For applications submitted on or after 1/25/2025:
Simplified Review Framework for Research Project Grants (RPGs)
Overview
Webinar, 4/16/2024
National Science Foundation (NSF) - Specific Requirements & Advice >>>
*****************************************************************************************
PAPPG NSF-24-1 plus Supplement 1 & Supplement 2 is the current guidance for proposal submission
Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP)
Proposals must now include a DMSP created using the tool implemented on Research.gov
NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders
- Updates on NSF priorities
- Information for panelists and reviewers
- Information for proposers
- Information for NSF awardees
- Submit your questions
- Frequently asked questions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Use of generative artificial intelligence technology in the NSF merit review process -- review and proposal preparation
****************************************************************************************************
Proposal Components
NSF Proposal Components - Tips & Hints -- NSF PAPPG 24-1
Effective for proposals submitted or due on or after May 20, 2024
NSF Collaboration Letter - UNH Template
NSF Abstracts and Titles Policy
Safe and Inclusive Working Environments for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research
NSF Safe and Inclusive Work Environment Plan Resources
SciENcv
SciENcv Overview (flyer)
Login
Guide
• NSF Biographical Sketch
• NSF Current & Pending (Other) Support
NSF Webinar and SciENcv Demo
Using SciENcv Frequently Asked Questions (NSF)
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Specific Requirements & Advice >>>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
USDA Research and Development Priorities, 2026
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE: This timetable may be changed due to the government shutdown. Watch for updates.
NIFA announced that 9 programs will be transitioning new Funding Opportunity Announcements to the eRA grants management system in Fiscal Year 2026:
• Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI)
• Equipment Grants Program (EGP)
• Farm Business and Benchmarking Program (FBMB)
• Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program (FASLP)
• Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative (OREI)
• Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Program (REEA-NFF)
• Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA)
• Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (SLSNCGP)
Other programs will follow as the Grants Modernization Initiative continues.
Proposers will need to have an eRA Commons profile that links to their current institution. See the GMI page for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proposal Components
Proposal Components Checklist w/formatting and file naming info
UNH Hints for Preparing the Facilities & Other Resources and Equipment Sections of USDA Proposals
USDA-NIFA-AFRI Project Narrative Outline
» Conflict of Interest
Common Forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support documents.
> Free-form versions of these documents will not be accepted.
attachments with the application.
Other Info
USDA-NIFA-AFRI Letter of Intent Outline
FY 2026 USDA-NIFA-AFRI Foundational and Applied Science (FAS)
Program Overview as of 11/14/2025 (extended deadlines for most priority areas)
NOFO: FY26-AFRI-FAS-RFA-MOD1
Optimizing Your Project's Chances for Funding by the USDA 2.24.23
US Department of Education (US ED) - Specific Requirements & Advice >>>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Common Instructions and Information for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs
August 29, 2025
Misc. Federal Agencies - Specific Requirements & Advice >>>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click on the link above for sponsor' information for:
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- U.S. Agency for International Development (US AID)
- U.S. Dept. Health and Human Services (DHHS)
- U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ)
Resources from UNH Research Strategy and Development
Worksheet: Thinking About Your Broader Impacts Plan
Also, explore our webpage: Developing Broader Impacts and Outreach Activities
Other Resources
ARIS - BI Review Document for NSF Proposals
Kurt - Worksheet: Community Engagement Planning
NABI – Where Do You Want to Make a Difference?
NSF – Perspectives on Broader Impacts (FY 2015)
NSF – Transforming the World Through Science (FY 2017)
NSF – Transforming the World Through Science, 2nd ed. (FY 2018)
COMMON FUNDING SCENARIOS for Early Career Researchers and Scholars
Key Resources for Faculty and Postdoctoral Research Associates
Funding Opportunities Specifically for UNH Early Career Investigators and Scholars
Topic | Federal | Foundations |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities and the Arts | ||
| National Institutes of Health | *** | |
| Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) | ||
| Social Sciences, Behavioral Sciences, and Economics (SBE) |
Other Info
Funding Scenarios and Search Strategies for Early Career Researchers and Scholars 11/7/2024
Ways to Search for Funding Opportunities - Graduate Students – strategies and resources for searching for funding opportunities especially for graduate students
Federal Sponsors and Other Search Resources for Graduate Students – links to federal agency programs and other lists of funding opportunities for graduate students
How to Fund It, Find It, & Get It: Strategies and Tools for Finding Funding for Graduate Students - slides from a presentation that discusses funding scenarios, search strategies, and other hints
Steps to a Well-Written (Funded) Proposal - slides from a presentation that discusses elements to address when crafting a grant proposal
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Infographic Brochure
The NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $37,000 and a cost of education allowance of $16,000 to the institution.
Students apply as seniors or at the beginning of their graduate program. Deadline is in October each year.
UNH hosts a half-term course every fall to help applicants prepare their GRFP proposals: Details
Digital Humanities Resources for UNH Scholars
Grants for Publication and Subvention
Misc. Federal Agencies- Specific Requirements & Advice - includes NEA and NEH
Tech as Art: Supporting Artists Who Use Technology as a Creative Medium
National Endowment for the Arts
Funding Opportunities and Related Resources
International Research & Scholarship
Fulbright Programs
U.S. Scholar Program
- Focus on Fulbright - Program Overview 2026
- How to Read a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award Listing
- Fulbright Scholar Application Process & Hints
- Fulbright Review Criteria and Common Mistakes
- IRS Info for Fulbright Recipients
- Fulbright Alumni Engagement Flyer
- UNH Fulbright U.S Scholars, 1981 - present
Fulbright Specialist Program
Slides and related resources for RLCD programs and presentations can be found in Workshop Resources
This monthly newsletter provides advice on how to compete successfully for research and education funding from federal agencies and from foundations. It also includes news items related to grant seeking and grants policy and planning.
Since much of the advice is timeless, monthly issues dating from July 15, 2012 to June 15, 2024 are available in here.
