Announcements
- ORSP wishes a warm welcome to Brandon Williams, the new Research Integrity Compliance Officer in ORI. Brandon will be administering ORI’s Institutional Biosafety Committee, Research Conflict of Interest, and Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research programs. We look forward to working with you, Brandon!
- ORI has launched a new webpage to help you navigate the laws and restrictions surrounding drones in research. Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
- Organizational realignment within each of the NSF Directorates are in full swing. Sign up for email notifications from the Directorate that best aligns with your research area by visiting its webpage: BIO, CISE, EDU, ENG, GEO, MPS, SBE, and TIP.
- NSF has released a draft of its FY2026-2030 Strategic Plan for public comment. Researchers may submit an individual response through this online form by January 27.
- The UTC Journey Health Foundation Research Center (JHFRC) will host a virtual information session on its grant competition, REACH Fund, on January 28 at 2pm. Click here to join.
- Join DARPA at 11am on January 29 for a virtual Ask-Me-Anything with program directors. Learn more and register here to attend.
- Effective February 1, researchers must use the Export Control Module in DASH Research to submit requests for visitors engaged in research and H-1B Visas (I-129 Part 6). The requests are required for both sponsored and non-sponsored research. Requests for international travel have been required in DASH Research since November 1, 2025. Visit ORI’s webpage for more details and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Internal Grant Competitions
| Program | Deadline | Limitations or Special Considerations |
| Journey Health Foundation Research Center REACH Fund | March 30, 2026 | PIs are limited to full-time UTC faculty or staff. An individual is limited to 1 proposal as lead PI. Contact [email protected] with questions. Click here to join a virtual info session on January 28 at 2pm. |
| FY26 Open Publishing Support Fund | Rolling through 6/30/26 | Lead authors/applicants are limited to 1 award per fiscal year. |
External Funding Opportunities
ORSP has standardized the process for proposal notification, development, and submission. Click here to learn more and view required internal deadlines.
Looking for research development assistance? Learn more about ORSP’s Research Development services and request support here.
| Sponsor/Program | Deadline | Limitations or Special Considerations |
| Alliance of Women Philanthropists Giving Circle Grants | February 20, 2026 | Any full-time faculty or staff may serve as PI. Deadline for proposal documents to be submitted to ORSP for review and Cayuse entry. Contact [email protected] if you are interested in applying. |
| USDA NIFA Education and Workforce Development | March 19, 2026 | Deadline for most programs; see NOFO for details. Cost share may be required depending on project scope. |
| NASA ROSES Collaborative Opportunities for Mentorship, Partnership and Academic Success in Science | March 20, 2026 | UTC is an eligible applicant. See solicitation for Co-I requirements. |
| NASA ROSES Foundational Artificial Intelligence for the Moon and Mars | April 28, 2026 | This is an application for individuals to join a NASA-led team (i.e., no Co-Is allowed), but the proposal must still adhere to ORSP’s standard pre-award processes. |
| NIH Resource-Related Research Projects for Development of Models and Related Materials for Studying Human Health and Diseases | May 27, 2026 | Proposed projects must align with 2 or more Institutes or Centers. Additional deadline September 28, 2026. |
| ARPA-E Spurring Projects to Advance Energy Research and Knowledge Swiftly (SPARKS) | No deadline | The first step is a concept paper, which may be submitted at any time. |
| NSF Designer Cells | No deadline | Proposals accepted anytime. No participation limits. |
Sponsored Projects Policy Spotlight: Non-Discrimination in Sponsored Projects
All UTC sponsored projects are subject to State laws prohibiting discrimination in the recruitment, selection, and participation of individuals for employment (including students) or as program participants. It is the PI’s responsibility to ensure all grant proposals and sponsored project activities adhere to the following laws:
- Dismantling DEI Departments Act (Public Chapter 458): This law states that public institutions of higher education “shall not use a discriminatory preference in an effort to increase diversity, equity or inclusion or establish or maintain an office, division or department for such purposes.”
- Dismantle DEI in Employment Act (Public Chapter 494): This law states public institutions of higher education “shall not base an employment decision on any metric that considers an applicant’s or employee’s race, ethnicity, sex, age or any other similar demographic characteristic, rather than on individual merit, qualifications, veteran status or lawful eligibility criteria.”
- Discrimination in Admissions or Financial Aid (Public Chapter 245): This law prohibits higher education institutions from considering an applicant’s race, color, ethnicity or national origin in determining whether the applicant qualifies for admission to the institution, or for scholarships or financial aid offered at the institution. It also prohibits an institution from excluding a person from participating in, denying a person the benefits of, or subjecting a person to discrimination at the institution based on the person’s race, color, ethnicity or national origin.
- Discrimination and Antisemitism at Educational Institutions (Public Chapter 293): This law prohibits antisemitic harassment and discrimination in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, requires all university employees to report complaints of antisemitic harassment or discrimination to the campus Title VI coordinator, and imposes other requirements relating to antisemitism, which are incorporated in UT System policy GE0005.
For additional guidance on unlawful discrimination, see this memo issued by the US Attorney General.
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