On September 3rd, the UC Office of Research will open applications for its Fall 2025 internal funding programs. Many of these awards serve as seed funding, helping promising projects take shape, build critical data, and strengthen proposals
for external grants. Explore the highlights below, including award details, key deadlines, and stories from past recipients.
Armstrong Institute for Space, Technology, and Research (ASTRO) Armstrong Fellowship for Discovery
What it is: The Armstrong Fellowship for Discovery supports undergraduate students who show potential in advancing new ideas related to space discovery and exploration.
Who this is for: This fellowship program is for undergraduate students who have completed the first two years of their academic degree program. All majors are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Amount: Up to four $6,000 awards
Key Dates:
Award Project Period: Spring 2026 Semester
Application Deadline: October 1, 2025 by 5:00 PM ET
Learn about past awardees here!
Office of Research Michelman Green, Clean, and Sustainable Technology Research Innovation Program
What it is: The Michelman Green, Clean, and Sustainable Technology Research Innovation Program supports researchers focused on real-world solutions that enhance environmental quality, promote responsible resource management, and drive growth in high-value technology areas such as specialty chemicals, advanced materials, water or energy technologies, and resilient infrastructure. This year, the program has been re-designed to more closely support feasibility-stage work (TRL 2–5).
Two tracks are available:
- Track 1: focused on researchers seeking seed funding for early stage applied research with strong potential for commercialization, licensing, or startup formation (SBIR-like track)
- Track 2: focused on researchers working with an outside partner on solving a key business problem (Collaborative track)
Who this is for: This program is for any faculty who seek to commercialize new technology or collaborate on a problem of interest to their business partner.
Amount: Phase 1 awards will be up to $35,000, with eligibility for additional Phase 2 funding for grantees who make appropriate progress.
Key Dates:
Phase 1 Project Period: February 2026 – July 2026
Letter of Intent Deadline: October 14, 2025 by 5:00 PM ET
Learn about past awardees here!
University Research Council (URC) Faculty Scholars Research Awards
What it is: The URC Faculty Scholars Research Awards are meant to recognize promising early-career UC faculty who are proposing transformative ideas that will shape our future. This is not a grant for a specific project, but an award
for promising researchers.
Who this is for: This program is for individual early-career tenure-track faculty.
Amount: Up to eight $25,000 awards
Key Dates:
Letter of Intent Deadline: November 13, 2025 by 5:00 PM ET
Learn about past awardees here!
URC Graduate Student Stipend Program—Summer Semester
What it is: This URC program provides summer stipend support to outstanding graduate students working in collaboration with a UC faculty member.
Who this is for: Awards are available for UC graduate students; all areas of research and creative activity are eligible, including the Arts & Humanities, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences &
Engineering.
Amount: Up to twenty-five $8,500 awards: $7,500 fellowship (with fringe benefits) + $1,000 in research support
Key Dates:
Award Project Period: 2026 Summer Semester
Application Deadline: November 13, 2025 by 5:00 PM ET
Learn about past awardees here!
Office of Research Collaborative Research Projects: Pilots Grant Program
What it is: The Pilots 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. There are three tracks available: General, Space, and International.
Who this is for: 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.
Amount: Up to five $25,000 General grants, up to two $25,000 International grants, and up to two $25,000 Space grants.
Key Dates:
Award Project Period: May 2026 – May 2028
Letter of Intent Deadline: November 20, 2025 by 5:00 PM ET
Learn about past awardees here!