As the fall semester begins, the Office of Research is announcing new internal funding programs to drive innovative faculty and student work. These opportunities align with Research2030 goals that are advancing UC as a leading R1 urban university in the nation. By investing in top talent, enhancing research infrastructure, and fostering excellence, we aim to transform society with impactful discoveries. Below are key details and dates for each funding opportunity. Together, we’re solving real-world problems and making research a cornerstone of UC’s mission. More information on each program, including the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), will be released via our Internal Funding Opportunities page on September 4th.
Armstrong Institute for Space Research and Technology (ASTRO) Armstrong Discovery Scholarship for Undergraduates
What it is:
A prime directive of the Armstrong Institute for Space Research and Technology (ASTRO) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) is to foster growth in career paths that are aligned with our regional and national interests to discover and explore our universe with an emphasis on space travel and habitation. The Institute has established an Undergraduate Scholarship program – the ASTRO Scholarship for Discovery – to support students who show potential in advancing new ideas related to space discovery and exploration.
The ASTRO Armstrong Discovery Scholarship is for undergraduates with 2-3 years remaining in their academic degree program. Undergraduates of all majors are eligible and encouraged to apply for this Scholarship.
Up to four $5,000 scholarships per academic semester
Award Project Period: Spring 2025 Semester
Application Deadline: October 1st by 5:00 PM EDT
University Research Council (URC) Faculty Scholars Program
Building upon the rich legacy of the University Research Council (URC), UC’s oldest and most prestigious internal funding program, the URC Faculty Scholars Research Awards are meant to recognize promising UC early career faculty who are proposing transformative ideas that will shape our future.
This program is for individual early career faculty and may be discipline-focused or interdisciplinary in nature. Faculty across all of UC, whose research, scholarship and creative activities fall within the areas of Arts & Humanities, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Physical Science & Engineering, and the Life Sciences are encouraged to apply.
Up to eight awards of $25,000 for a period of 24 months.
Award Period: May 2025 – April 2027
Letter of Intent due: November 4th by 5:00 PM EDT
Summer Semester University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend Program
The URC Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty-Student Collaboration advances high-potential research, scholarship, and creative work following the Teacher-Scholar model of graduate education while providing summer stipend support to outstanding graduate students, as well as funds to support related research costs. These awards are overseen by the University Research Council, the University of Cincinnati’s oldest and most prestigious internal funding mechanism.
Awards are available for graduate students at UC. All areas of research and creative activity are eligible: Arts & Humanities, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering.
Up to twenty-four awards: $6,750 fellowship + $1,000 in research support
Award Period: Summer 2025 Semester
Application Deadline: November 13th by 5:00 PM EST
Learn about past awardees here!
Office of Research Collaborative Research Projects: Pilots Grant Program
Consistent with Office of Research goals to spur interdisciplinary research and establish new partnerships within and beyond the institution, this program is designed to seed collaborative research endeavors to help develop research to the point where external funding can be obtained. The program aims to support interdisciplinary teams for achievement of greater success and prominence; advance high-potential, team research and creative activities in emergent areas; and increase teams’ competitiveness and capacity for major extramural awards and funding. This year there are three tracks available: (1) Regular; (2) International; and (3) Space-related.
UC faculty members, especially new and early-career applicants, are encouraged to apply. Teams that have faculty from more than two colleges will be more competitive than those with only two colleges represented.
Up to six $25,000 regular grants, up to three $25,000 international-specific grants, and up to two $25,000 space-specific grants.
Award Period: May 2025 – April 2027
Letter of Intent due: November 20th by 5:00 PM EST
Office of Research Michelman Green, Clean, and Sustainable Technology Research Innovation Program
Consistent with UC’s Research2030 strategic plan and the Next Lives Here strategic direction, the Michelman Green, Clean, and Sustainable Technology Research Innovation Program supports applied research & development (R&D) and use-inspired research with the potential to meaningfully contribute to improvements in environmental health, environmental stewardship, and sustainability by demonstrating new and marketable scientific and technical (S&T) innovations intended to address real-world problems in the Green-tech and Clean-tech fields. This program will also help to establish UC as a recognized leader in the development of applied technologies addressing sustainability through S&T fields.
Applicants can apply as either single investigators or multi-investigator teams. Grantees will be selected based on the quality, novelty, and creativity of their proposed applied research topic which demonstrated a clear potential to make tangible contributions that improve societal outcomes.
$35,000 for a Single PI and $80,000 for Multiple PI
Award Period: May 2025 – April 2027
Letter of Intent due: November 20th by 5:00 PM EST