April 28, 2026

We are pleased to acknowledge those who received awards in March 2026.  So far in FY2026, WSU researchers under Academic Affairs have submitted external proposals in the amount of $57,649,305 and received $30,012,389 in external awards.

This month, we are pleased to highlight a major leap forward in Wichita State’s research computing capabilities as we near completion of a substantial upgrade to our High Performance Computing (HPC) system (aka BeoShock HPC). This investment dramatically expands the power and flexibility available to our research community, positioning WSU to support larger, more complex, and more data intensive projects across every discipline.

We would like to recognize and thank the cross-functional team that enabled this, who were recently presented a Rick’s Reward by President Muma for their efforts.  Thank you to Anita Barrett, Donny Davis, Dr. Terrance Figy, Taylor Moore, Jason Holmes, Keith Neufeld, Chris Carney, Woocheol Lee, David Snook, Ryan Doll, Jose Vargas, Jennifer Duong and Jacob Partridge, as well as Nick Eggleston and Nathan Wells from KSU, for your hard work and diligence!

With this upgrade, our GPU and CPU resources have grown approximately 10X!  These enhancements represent a transformative jump in computational capacity, enabling faster processing, more efficient workflows, and the ability to run significantly larger simulations and analyses. We are excited to see how this strengthened infrastructure accelerates discovery and advances the innovative research happening across campus.  For more information on the HPC upgrades and capabilities, see the Annoucement section below.

WSU leadership continues to carefully monitor the impact of any executive orders on our research programs.  If you receive any communication from a federal sponsor, please continue to forward that information to your respective office of research.  And as always, if you have questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact us at research@wichita.edu. 

Past and future editions of this newsletter may be found here:
https://www.wichita.edu/research/ResearchNewsletter/index.php.

PI/Department:  Brian Amos, Political Science

Sponsor:  State of Kansas - ARCS

Amount:  $3,623

PI/Department:  Visvakumar Aravinthan, Electrical & Computer Engr

Co-PI/Department: Arun Kaarthick Manoharan, Electrical & Computer Engr

Sponsor:  Sunflower Electric Power Corporation

Amount:  $100,000

PI/Department:  Visvakumar Aravinthan, Electrical & Computer Engr

Co-PI/Department: Davi Marcelo Soares, Electrical & Computer Engr

Sponsor:  Univ of Kansas Ctr - Research, Inc. / Natl Science Foundation

Amount:  $67,475

PI/Department:  Teresa Bennett, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Office of Naval Research

Amount:  $29,534

PI/Department:  Tonya Bronleewe, HWS of Urban & Public Affairs

Sponsor:  University of New Mexico / Environmental Protection Agency

Amount:  $250,000

PI/Department:  Misty Bruckner, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Information Network of Kansas

Amount:  $23,250

PI/Department:  Misty Bruckner, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Mid-America All Indian Center, Inc.

Amount:  $8,325

PI/Department:  Misty Bruckner, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Sedgwick County

Amount:  $49,950

PI/Department:  Misty Bruckner, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  WSU Foundation

Amount:  $28,820

PI/Department:  Mai Dao, Mathematics & Statistics

Sponsor:  State of Kansas - ARCS

Amount:  $3,623

PI/Department:  Megan Hillman-Hammer, School of Performing Arts

Sponsor:  State of Kansas - ARCS

Amount:  $4,000

PI/Department:  Shruti Kshirsagar, School of Computing

Sponsor:  Flossie E West Memorial Trust

Amount:  $36,220

PI/Department:  Shruti Kshirsagar, School of Computing

Sponsor:  Univ of Kansas Ctr - Research, Inc. / Natl Science Foundation

Amount:  $61,875

PI/Department:  Lisa Parcell, The Research Partnership

Sponsor:  CMA Strategies

Amount:  $2,380

PI/Department:  Lisa Parcell, The Research Partnership

Sponsor:  IMS Consulting and Expert Services

Amount:  $2,500

PI/Department:  Lisa Parcell, The Research Partnership

Sponsor:  Trial Partners, LLC

Amount:  $3,500

PI/Department:  Lisa Parcell, The Research Partnership

Sponsor:  VELA Education Fund

Amount:  $2,700

PI/Department:  Lisa Parcell, The Research Partnership

Sponsor:  Wichita Airport Authority

Amount:  $3,300

PI/Department:  Jonathon Paton, KMUW

Sponsor:  Junior League of Wichita, Inc. 

Amount:  $1,250

PI/Department:  Rachel Showstack, Modern & Classical Lang & Lit

Sponsor:  State of Kansas - ARCS

Amount:  $3,623

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Butler County

Amount:  $2,300

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Center of Daring

Amount:  $2,800

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Dept of Health & Environment - Kansas / Dept of Health and Human Services

Amount:  $39,980

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Dept of Health & Environment - Kansas / Centers for Disease Control

Amount:  $78,917

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Dept of Health & Environment - Kansas / Dept of Health and Human Services

Amount:  $6,466

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Dept of Health & Environment - Kansas

Amount:  $75,987

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Early Education Center, Inc.

Amount:  $8,093

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Ellis County

Amount:  $5,013

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Friends of Kiowa District Hospital and Manor Foundation, Inc.

Amount:  $13,366

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  IMPACT Ulysses, Inc.

Amount:  $11,000

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Iowa State University

Amount:  $3,400

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Johnson County

Amount:  $1,250

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Kansas Department for Aging & Disability Services

Amount:  $333,963

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Kansas Department for Aging & Disability Services / Dept of Health and Human Services

Amount:  $82,991

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Oral Health Kansas, Inc.

Amount:  $5,709

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Partnership for a Healthier America, Inc.

Amount:  $30,000

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Salina-Saline County Health Dept

Amount:  $1,142

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Social Innovation Laboratory / Dept of Health and Human Services

Amount:  $8,075

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  Texas Association of County and City Health Officials

Amount:  $2,000

PI/Department:  Scott Wituk, Office of Community Partnerships

Sponsor:  The Food Trust 

Amount:  $22,500

PI/Department:  Mehmet Yildirim, Industrial & Manufacturing Eng

Co-PI/Department: Deepak Gupta, Engineering Technology

Sponsor:  Oklahoma State University / Department of Energy

Amount:  $87,500

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Please reach out early and as soon as you have found a potential opportunity that you wish to apply for.  Early notifications allow the Office of Research to minimize the risk of missing agency deadlines, to fix potential errors, to ensure compliance with WSU policies and procedures, and to ensure the best service from our office. 

Pivot is the funding opportunity database WSU subscribes to; you must affiliate with Wichita State University to access the system.  To request assistance with a customized search please contact funding@wichita.edu.   If any of the following opportunities are of interest to you, please email proposals@wichita.edu as soon as possible so that a grant specialist may be assigned to assist. Visit Pre-Award Services to find out more about applying for external funding. 

Title: Call for Pilot Project Applications

Application Deadline: May 4, 2026

Purpose: “Applications must describe a pilot research project that fits well with the scientific theme of Chemical Biology of Infectious Disease and incorporates substantial use of one or more associated core labs at KU.” Email proposals@wichita.edu for a copy of the solicitation.

Amount: Three pilot projects at up to $70,000 in annual total direct costs starting July 1, 2026; Projects must make significant use of at least one Core Lab. Prospective applicants are highly encouraged to consult with the appropriate Core Lab Director(s) before applying.

Title: Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP)

Application Deadlines: Solution Summary due May 6, 2026; If invited, Full Proposals will be due June 22, 2026

Purpose: “STOMP seeks proposals in two main technical areas: microplastics measurements and understanding of biological mechanisms. STOMP anticipates issuing a solicitation for a third technical area, microplastics removal, after the conclusion of the first 24-month phase of the program.”

Amount: ARPA-H will evaluate the reasonableness and value of the proposed cost in the context of the work to be accomplished, rather than against a predetermined budget amount or range.

Title: Spring 2026

Application Deadline: May 6, 2026

Purpose: Topics listed include ”AI for Information Security,” “Agentic AI,” “Amazon Security” and “Robotics.”

Amount: $50,000-$100,000 depending on topic

Title: NSF 26-508: TechAccess: AI-Ready America

Application Deadlines: Limited: Because WSU may only submit one application, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by May 12, 2026 at 12noon, in case an internal competition is needed.  The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is June 2, 2026.  Letter of Intent due June 16, 2026 with Full Applications due July 16, 2026.

Purpose: “TechAccess: AI-Ready America is a national-scale initiative to accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness and adoption across the U.S. by strengthening coordination, leveraging partnerships and resources, filling gaps, and scaling what works — so local and state priorities can lead in shaping an AI-driven economy that benefits all Americans.”

Amount: $3,000,000

Title: Scholars Program

Application Deadlines: Limited: Because WSU may only submit one application per college, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by May 12, 2026 at 12noon, in case an internal competition is needed.  The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is May 26, 2026.  Full Applications due June 30, 2026.

Purpose: “The William T. Grant Scholars Program supports career development for promising early-career researchers. The program funds five-year research and mentoring plans that significantly expand researchers’ expertise in new disciplines, methods, and content areas.”

Amount: $425,000

Title: Grants for Arts Projects

Application Deadlines: Limited: Because WSU may only submit one application Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by May 14, 2026 at 12noon, in case an internal competition is needed.  The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is May 28, 2026.  Full Applications due July 9, 2026.

Purpose: “The NEA is committed to supporting excellent arts projects for the benefit of all Americans. Activities funded through Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) enable Americans throughout the nation to experience the arts, foster and celebrate America’s artistic heritage and cultural legacy, and benefit from arts education at all stages of life.”

Amount: $10,000-$100,000 depending on project type; Note, Cost Share is required.

Title: Research Grants

Application Deadline: May 20, 2026

Purpose: “The AERA Grants Program provides Research Grants to faculty at institutions of higher education, postdoctoral researchers, and other doctoral level scholars. The aim of the program is to advance fundamental knowledge of relevance to STEM education policy, foster significant science using education data, and build research capacity in education and learning. The program supports highly competitive studies using rigorous quantitative methods to examine large-scale, education-related data.”

Amount: $25,000-$35,000

Title: Request for Proposals: Illuminating Climate Solutions

Application Deadline: May 25, 2026

Purpose: “Stories, and the people who tell them, matter more than ever. At a time when we’re flooded by noise and competing causes, authentic storytelling is critical to being able to cut through the clutter and evoke emotion in a way that causes people to respond and to act. National Geographic and The Climate Pledge seek to turn the power of storytelling toward illuminating climate resilience and solutions around the world.”

Amount: $20,000-$100,000

Title: NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Summer Research Education Program (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Application Deadline: May 27, 2026

Purpose: “This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites R25 applications to support the development and implementation of summer research education programs for high school students, undergraduates, or science teachers. It is essential to expand and broaden the skilled Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) research workforce and provide exposure to AD/ADRD research to individuals early in their careers. The proposed research education programs will support intensive summer research experiences in the AD/ADRD field with the goal of exposing participants to AD/ADRD research and encouraging further study or participation in biomedical and behavioral research.”

Amount: Direct costs up to $200,000 per year may be requested.

Title: Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development

Application Deadline: May 28, 2026

Purpose: “The NIST NICE program is seeking applications from eligible applicants for activities to establish community-based partnerships to develop cybersecurity career pathways that address local workforce needs. Effective multistakeholder workforce partnerships will organize multiple employers with skill shortages in specific occupations to focus on developing the skilled workforce to meet industry needs within the local or regional economy.”

Amount: Up to $200,000 per award; Note, Cost Share is required.

Title: Opportunities for Research and Development

Application Deadline: May 29, 2026

Purpose: HALO promotes opportunities for research and development presented by industry.  Opportunities vary greatly.  Recent requests from industry partners due May 29 include, for example, “Novel fixative technologies for superior denture hold and user experience;” “Oral microbiome modulation for improved gum health” and “In-line detection of foreign bodies in industrial processing.”

Amount: Varies based on opportunity

Title: Request for Proposals: Illuminating the Mekong River Basin

Application Deadline: May 31, 2026

Purpose: “This Request for Proposals invites a community of storytellers to illuminate the complex network of interconnected issues rooted in the Mekong River Basin*. Our goal is to support creative projects across all mediums that elevate Ancestral Knowledge and cutting-edge science into our collective awareness.”

Amount: $20,000

Title: Request for Proposals: Common Waters: Strengthening Community-Based Coastal and Riverine Stewardship

Application Deadline: May 31, 2026

Purpose: “Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic share a commitment to advancing conservation, research, and exploration, and inspiring people to learn about, care for, and protect our world. In support of this commitment, the mission of the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund is to support projects to understand and protect our world’s oceans, restore critical marine and coastal habitats, and foster environmental stewardship in the regions visited by the fleet, and beyond. The Fund supports inspirational, passionate project leaders who are committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world.  National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions are in search of innovative projects that strengthen community-based stewardship and conservation of coastal and riverine ecosystems.”

Amount: $20,000 for Level I; $75,000 for Level II

Title: Education Process

Application Deadline: If invited, Letter of Intent due no later than June 1, 2026

Purpose: “All Points North Foundation provides grants for U.S.-based projects and initiatives that support our priorities: improving public middle school education and teacher training, and implementing effective solar programs and/or projects.”

Amount: Grants Range between $60,000 and $100,000

Title: 2026 Call for Letters of Inquiry: Exemplary Pathways to STEM Graduate Education

Application Deadline: Letter of Inquiry due June 1, 2026

Purpose: “The Higher Education Program at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is seeking to invest in new and established partnerships between STEM undergraduate and graduate programs nationwide that seek to identify and remove longstanding, systemic barriers to STEM master’s and doctoral degrees with attention to programs that serve undergraduate students enrolled in nonprofit public and private four-year broad access institutions, two-year colleges, or baccalaureate and special focus institutions with strong access missions. We are especially interested in undergraduate partner institutions whose enrollment consists of at least 40% Pell Grant recipients.”

Amount: $75,000 for Planning Grants; $250,000 for Seed Grants; $500,000 for Implementation Grants

Title: Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (S-I-R) Program

Application Deadline: June 1, 2026

Purpose: “The S-I-R Program is a unique Fulbright Scholar Program initiative that is driven by U.S. institutions of higher education curriculum and teaching needs. Through the S-I-R Program, institutions host a scholar from outside of the United States for a semester or full academic year to teach courses, assist in curriculum development, guest lecture, develop study abroad/exchange partnerships and engage with the campus and the local community. S-I-Rs work across departments and curricula in a variety of ways to widely enhance or expand an existing international program, develop new world area studies programs, add an international dimension to existing coursework or provide an opportunity for American students to learn about a particular world region or country.”

Amount: Fulbright grant benefits are provided directly to the individual Scholar.

Title: Preclinical Proof of Concept Studies for Rare Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Application Deadline: June 2, 2026

Purpose: “…provides funding to conduct efficacy studies in an established rare disease preclinical model to demonstrate that a proposed therapeutic agent warrants further development. In addition to preclinical efficacy, accompanying pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies would be supported. Therapeutic agents include small molecules, biologics or biotechnology-derived products.”

Amount: $275,000 in direct costs

Title: Delta Qual 2.0

Application Deadline: June 2, 2026

Purpose: “The project call, Delta Qual 2.0​, addresses key additive manufacturing (AM) qualification challenges across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) by streamlining testing requirements, strengthening machine installation standards, and increasing flexibility for processing parameters. These advancements support the Department of War’s (DoW) objectives to deploy reliable, cost-effective, and scalable advanced manufacturing solutions for national security.”

Amount: $900,000-$2,000,000; Note, Cost Share is required.

Title: Encouraging Citizen Involvement

Application Deadlines: Letters of Intent due June 4, 2026; If invited, Full Proposal due July 16, 2026

Purpose: “The Herb Block Foundation seeks to help ensure a responsible, responsive democratic government through citizen involvement. Proposals may focus on citizen education and greater voter participation in the electoral process. All projects must be nonpartisan and may not involve lobbying for specific legislation or candidates. In addition to providing grants in this area, The Herb Block Foundation has initiated an annual public policy lecture program featuring prominent speakers on issues of national importance.”

Amount: $5,000-$25,000

Title: Investigator-Initiated Policy Research Grants

Application Deadlines: Letters of Inquiry due June 8, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due August 2026

Purpose: “NIHCM Foundation supports innovative, solutions-oriented, investigator-initiated policy research that builds the evidence base and has the potential to inform strategies that improve the affordability, accessibility, and quality of health care in the U.S.” 

Amount: $50,000

Title: Pilot Grant Program Spring 2026

Application Deadline: June 8, 2026

Purpose: “The Center funds pilot projects (up to $30,000 per project) intended to promote innovative outreach and research efforts to prevent agricultural injury and illness. The pilot program supports both community-based organizations and academic researchers, especially new investigators and trainees. Projects must target agricultural injury and illness prevention to help improve safety and health among agricultural communities in our Midwest region. Proposals addressing mental health, chemical safety, equipment/tool safety, and prevention of slips, trips, and falls are especially encouraged in the 2026-27 application cycle. However, any topic of relevance to the GPCAH mission and/or NIOSH priority goals for the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing industry sector is welcome.” 

Amount: $30,000

Title: Division 1 Society for General Psychology and Interdisciplinary Inquiry Mary Whiton Calkins Grant

Application Deadline: June 12, 2026

Purpose: “The Society for General Psychology and Interdisciplinary Inquiry Mary Whiton Calkins grant encourages research that fits into the broad category of general psychology with a particular interest in research that combines multiple subfields within the discipline or addresses overarching themes. The strongest proposals will align with one or more of Division 1’s (Society for General Psychology and Interdisciplinary Inquiry) goals and will support faculty members who seek to promote coherence among psychology’s subfields.” 

Amount: $3,500

Title: Curriculum Development: Western Civilization

Application Deadline: June 25, 2026

Purpose: “Curriculum Development: Western Civilization grants strengthen the teaching and study of the humanities at institutions of higher education by developing or enhancing programs, resources, or courses that explore, interpret, and preserve the diversity of human cultures, ideas, and practices, past and present.” 

Amount: Up to $750,000

Title: Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Application Deadlines: June 25 and October 25, 2026

Purpose: “…to support research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the NIH, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students and enhancing the research environment at applicant institutions.” 

Amount: Applicants may request up to $375,000 in direct costs.

Title: Research Grants and Fellowships

Application Deadline: July 1, 2026

Purpose: “From transplanting cells and regenerating damaged nerve fibers to designing adaptive canoe seats, the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation supports innovative research and fellowships that improve the lives of those with spinal cord injury and disease.” 

Amount: Up to $200,000

Title: Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award

Application Deadline: July 1, 2026

Purpose: “The Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award is designed to provide support for the next generation of exceptionally creative thinkers with “high-risk/high-reward” ideas that have the potential to significantly impact our understanding of and/or approaches to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of cancer.” 

Amount: $200,000 per year for Stage 1 Awards

Title: Marian R. Stuart Grant

Application Deadline: July 10, 2026

Purpose: “The Marian R. Stuart Grant will further the research, practice, or education of an early career psychologist on the connection between mental and physical health, particularly for work that contributes to public health.” 

Amount: $20,000

Title: Grants

Application Deadlines: Limited: Because WSU may only submit one application per grant cycle, Notices of Intent to apply must be sent to proposals@wichita.edu by July 13, 2026 at 12:00pm (noon).  The goal date for informing you if you have been chosen to proceed is July 27, 2026.  Application to the funder (if selected) will be due by August 31, 2026.

Purpose: “EiF provides grants to qualified not-for-profit organizations to assist in improving communication skills of engineers by identifying successful approaches for including communication behavior into engineering curricula and EiF provides funding for programs that encourage middle school girls in engineering and programs designed to improve the retention rate of undergraduate women in engineering.”

Amount: $5,000-$25,000

Title: NSF 23-510: Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education (IUSE: EDU)

Application Deadline: July 15, 2026

Purpose: “Supports projects to improve STEM teaching and learning for undergraduate students, including studying what works and for whom and how to transform institutions to adopt successful practices in STEM education.”

Amount: Varies depending on track and level

Title: NSF 22-586: Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

Application Deadline: July 22, 2026

Purpose: “Supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.” Note eligibility criteria including, but not limited to, holding a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF, being untenured and at least 50% in a tenure track position, etc. Faculty requesting assistance with proposal writing can reach out to the FARE office: FARE@wichita.edu.

Amount: $400,000-$500,000 depending on discipline

Title: Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence

Application Deadline: Letters of Inquiry due no later than July 29, 2026

Purpose: “This program supports research on strategies focused on improving the use, usefulness, and impact of evidence in ways that benefit young people ages 5-25 in the United States.”

Amount: $100,000-$1,000,000 for Major Research Grants; $25,000-$50,000 for Officers’ Research Grants

Title: Knowledge for Freedom Request for Proposals

Application Deadline: Concept Papers due August 1, 2026 or December 1, 2026

Purpose: “Knowledge for Freedom programs invite underserved high school students to study humanity’s deepest questions about leading lives of purpose and civic responsibility.”

Amount: $10,000-$25,000 for Planning Grants; $100,000-$300,000 for Other Grants

Title: PD 20-1260 Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program

Application Deadlines: August 4, 2026 or February 2, 2027

Purpose: “Supports research that strengthens research infrastructure across the mathematical sciences community; training projects that complement the Division of Mathematical Sciences' Workforce Program; and conference and travel requests.”

Amount: Standard NSF Grant

Title: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Application Deadlines: August 19, 2026

Purpose: “Supports intensive research by undergraduate students in any NSF-funded area of research. REU Sites engage a cohort of students in research projects related to a theme. REU Supplements engage students in research related to a new or ongoing NSF research award.”

Amount: $100,000-$155,000 per year

Title: Open Competition: Implementation of Findings from PCORI’s Research Investments PCORI Funding Announcement: Cycle 3 2026

Application Deadlines: Letter of Intent due September 8, 2026; If invited, Full Applications due January 12, 2027

Purpose: PCORI is “seeking to fund implementation projects that promote the uptake of peer-reviewed findings from specific PCORI-funded patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research in the context of the body of related evidence. This PCORI Funding Announcement is an open competition opportunity for principal investigators to propose implementation projects that move evidence toward practical use in improving health care and health outcomes.”

Amount: Up to $1.8 Million in direct costs

Title: Institutional Challenge Grant

Application Deadline: September 9, 2026

Purpose: “The grant requires that research institutions shift their policies and practices to value collaborative research. Institutions will also need to build the capacity of researchers to produce relevant work and the capacity of agency and nonprofit partners to use research.”

Amount: $650,000

Title: FAA Aviation Research Grants Program

Application Deadline: Ongoing through September 7, 2027

Purpose: “The FAA Aviation Research Grants Program encourages and supports innovative, advanced research of potential benefit to the long-term growth of civil aviation and commercial space transportation. he following list illustrates topics of interest to those who may consider applying for a grant under this funding opportunity: 1) Capacity and Air Traffic Control Technology; 2) Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance; 3) Aviation Weather; 4) Airports; 5) Aircraft Safety Technology; 6) Human Factors and Aviation Medicine; 7) Systems Science/Operations Research.”

Amount: It is anticipated that approximately $6,000,000 will be available in each Fiscal Year for new, and continuing grant awards, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The amount, duration, and size of awards will depend on the number of applications selected for award, and the actual amount of funds available in each Fiscal Year.

Title: Grants Supporting Student Success and Higher Education

Application Deadline: November 1, 2026

Purpose: “…to promote greater confidence in the value of higher education and advance knowledge. Grants available in the topics of Graduate Research, Professional Development, and Promoting Financial Literacy,”

Amount: $1,500

Title: Research and Development Directed Energy University Assistance Agreements

Application Deadline: Letters of Intent accepted ongoing through July 18, 2029 or when funding ceiling is met

Purpose: “The Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate is the Department of the Air Force's Center of Expertise for directed energy and optical technologies. The Directorate develops and transitions technologies in four core technical competencies: Laser Systems, Directed Energy and Electro-Optics for Space Superiority, High Power Electromagnetics, and Weapons Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis.” 

Amount: Total funding ceiling is $49,000,000

Title: Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS)

Application Deadline: Ongoing; LOI Submissions accepted on rolling basis

Purpose: “The program is intended to support high-risk theoretical mathematics, physics and computer science projects of exceptional promise and scientific importance on a case-by-case basis.”

Amount: There is no recommended or assumed funding level for this program.

Title: Grants

Application Deadline: Ongoing

Purpose: “We’re funding research that can transform the way pharmacists, healthcare providers, and healthcare payers communicate with each other.”

Amount: Up to $150,000

Title: Varies: TechWerx/DOE Opportunities

Application Deadlines: Upcoming/TBD

Purpose: TechWerx is a hub focused on connecting the Department of Energy with collaborators to foster innovation.  Upcoming funding opportunities currently listed include “Building Access to Tribal Energy Resilience,” “Apprenticeship Utilization Technical Assistance Program,” and “Partnerships for Academic-Industry Career Training (PACT) Initiative.”

Title: NSF Individual and Small Team Proposals

Application Deadline: Varies by topic.  Proposals are accepted anytime unless a due date is listed.

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Applied Mathematics – Nov 16, 2026
• Astronomy and Astrophysics – Nov 16, 2026
• Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (AGS-PRF)
• Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
• Biosensing
• Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs – Sep 30 or Nov 2, 2026 - based on discipline
• Cultural Anthropology Program Senior Research Awards (CA-SR) –Jan 15 & Aug 15 annually
• Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) Core Research (ECR: Core) – Oct 1, 2026
• Division of Materials Research: Topical Materials Research Programs (DMR-TMRP)
• Division of Materials Research: Condensed Matter and Materials Theory (CMMT)
• Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Core Programs (MCB)
• Energy, Power, Control, and Networks
• Environmental Biology
• Environmental Engineering
• Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research: Workshop Opportunities (EPS-WO)
• Foundational Research in Robotics (FFR)
• Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity)
• Linguistics –Jan 15 & Jul 15 annually
• Manufacturing Systems Integration
• Mathematical Biology – Oct 14, 2026
• Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics – Aug 27, 2026
• Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

• Research Infrastructure in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (RISBS)

• Science of Learning & Augmented Intelligence – Aug 5, 2026
• Security, Privacy & Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) – Sep 28, 2026
• Security and Preparedness 
• Social Psychology – Jan 15 & Jul 15 annually
• Sociology
• Statistics – Dec 1-15, 2026
• STEM K-12

Title: NSF Special Programs

Application Deadline: Varies by topic – click each topic to learn more about these special program opportunities. Proposals are accepted anytime unless a due date is listed.

• Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs – Varies by size of application (Small, Medium, Core)
• Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS) – Various funding mechanisms available
• Division of Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs (CHE-DRP) – Sep 30, 2026, for CAT, CSDM-B, and SYN; Nov 2, 2026, for CMI, ECS and MSN
• Division of Materials Research: Topical Materials Research Program
• Division of Physics: Investigator-Initiated Research Projects – Varies by topic
• Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences Program (HEGS) – Aug 7, 2026
• Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program – Aug 4, 2026
• National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program (NRT) –TBD
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) – Aug 19, 2026
• Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science – Oct 14, 2026
• Research in the Formation of Engineers (RFE) - proposals accepted anytime

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Topics include an Introduction to the WSU Office of Research with resources and contacts, WSU policies and procedures related to research, utilizing Pivot to find external funding, project budgeting and general grant-writing tips.  Previously recorded workshops can also be found on the Office of Research website.

Office of Research Workshops

“This webinar highlights and differentiates the range of funding opportunities from multiple U.S. National Science Foundation directorates that will help foster stronger research security-related practices throughout the community. It is appropriate for those involved in research security policy, implementation, administration and research itself.”

Register for NSF Research Security Proposals Webinar

“Please join us to learn from experts who share how they work with community partners to develop research questions that matter — questions that are meaningful to communities, fill critical gaps, and can realistically be answered with available resources.”

Register for Gun Violence Research Webinar

“The workshop will provide opportunities for training and capacity building, as well as share best practices for using AI to drive government efficiency, modernize the federal workforce, and address challenges facing the federal statistical system in serving the country’s data needs.”

Register for National Academies AI Day for Federal Statistics Webinar

“In this webinar, we explore pathways for grant seekers aiming to extend their research discoveries from academic settings into real-world applications.”

Register for Hanover Research Webinar

“The Institutional Challenge Grant supports university-based research institutes, schools, and centers in building sustained research-practice partnerships with public agencies or nonprofit organizations in order to reduce inequality in youth outcomes.  The grant requires that research institutions shift their policies and practices to value collaborative research. Institutions will also need to build the capacity of researchers to produce relevant work and the capacity of agency and nonprofit partners to use research. To learn more about applying, please join us for an informational webinar on May 6, hosted by Senior Program Officer Jenny Irons and President Adam Gamoran. We will discuss the background and goals of the program, as well as provide an overview of eligibility details, required materials, and review criteria.”

Register for William T. Grant Foundation Webinar

“Don’t miss your chance to hear directly from Jason Kessler, Program Executive, for the NASA SBIR/STTR Programs.”

Register for bbc NASA SBIR/STTR Webinar

“Don’t miss your chance to hear directly from Jennifer Thabet, Program Director, Small Business Programs Office (SBPO) at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).”

Register for bbc DARPA SBIR/STTR Webinar

“The second of three webinars held in advance of a National Summit on Reenvisioning the Future of STEM Research at Emerging Research Institutions will discuss some of the current approaches ERIs take to developing partnerships, engagements, and their STEM research infrastructure.”

Register for ERI STEM Research Webinar

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly crucial to an ever-broadening array of disciplines and applications. To address this need, the University of Oklahoma is creating a pipeline of AI consultants, both professional and student, to boost AI expertise and to enable access to AI resources for researchers who might otherwise not utilize AI. An initial cohort of over ninety research teams from nine Oklahoma institutions will be recipients of project consulting, including from three PhD-granting universities and four masters-granting universities. The outcomes of the project will ultimately support thousands of researchers nationwide -- undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, staff, and faculty -- who need this capability.”

Zoom link for Campus Champions Call May 19, 2026 2pm

“Don’t miss your chance to hear directly from National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Program Director and Policy Liaison, Ben Schrag.”

Register for bbc NSF SBIR/STTR Webinar

“This webinar will focus on how data science (DS), computational thinking (CT) and artificial intelligence (AI) topics can be integrated into the current existing teaching practices in K-12 mathematics classrooms. In this talk, he will share examples of teaching approaches and professional learning in Japan.”

Register for DS, CT and AI Webinar

“The third annual State of the Science address will explore the status of the U.S. research enterprise, global science leadership, and economic competitiveness.  The address, to be delivered by National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt, will be followed by a panel including Microsoft Chief Scientific Officer Eric Horvitz and other leaders in science and research, technology and innovation, policymaking, government, industry, and philanthropy.”

Register for State of Science Address

“Don’t miss your chance to hear directly from Dr. Stephanie Davis, Small Business Lead at the NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).”

Register for bbc NIH NHLBI SBIR/STTR Webinar

“Our Center provides activities to educate faculty and research administrative staff at SuRE-eligible institutions in the NIH funding process. Research experts cover various topics associated with grant writing and management and work closely with applicants as they progress toward their submissions.”  Recent webinar “How to Carve Out Time for Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs)” was held on April 15, 2026. 

Read More about the SuRE Resource Center and Watch Previous SuRE Webinars

“EPA hosts this webinar series to share current research activities and results. This webinar series covers the latest information on research supporting EPA's response to chemical, biological, and radiological incidents, as well as natural disasters.” Recent topics include: “Emergency Deployment of Water Treatment Systems During Disasters” and “Cleanup of Fentanyl Contaminated Surfaces and Associated Waste Management.”

View EPA Emergency Response Research Webinar Series

If your research includes patient medical data and you need to take HIPAA / Sensitive Data Handling training, if you have a question about data privacy or security, or need to report a concern, please contact the WSU Privacy or Security Office. 

Privacy: 316-978-4HIP (4447) or privacy@wichita.edu

Security: 316-978-4SEC (4732) or askinfosec@wichita.edu

Wichita State University continues to host Beoshock, a High-Performance Computing Cluster (HPC). This HPC is available and free to faculty members, researchers and students engaged in course work or research activities. BeoShock runs the CentOS Linux operating system and features approximately 720 processor cores, two high memory compute nodes with 1.5 terabytes of memory, and four graphics processing unit (GPU) accelerators. BeoShock also has a variety of software tools that may be helpful in your research endeavors, such as Matlab,Mathematica, R, Python and many more.  

Learn more about BeoShock High-Performance Computing and access the BeoShock High Performance Computing User Guides.

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This month, we are pleased to highlight a major leap forward in Wichita State University’s research computing capabilities with the completion of significant upgrades to the BeoShock High Performance Computing (HPC) system. This investment dramatically expands the power and flexibility available to our research community, positioning WSU to support larger, more complex, and more data‑intensive projects across every discipline.

Prior to the upgrade in January 2025, BeoShock served as a focused computational resource, offering approximately 500 working CPU cores and limited GPU capacity across three GPU‑enabled nodes—including two nodes equipped with NVIDIA V100 GPUs and one node with NVIDIA A30 GPUs. While effective for targeted workloads, this configuration constrained concurrency and limited the scale and diversity of research that could be supported.

Following the upgrade, BeoShock has been transformed into a campus‑scale research computing platform. The system now comprises 45 compute nodes delivering 4,704 scheduler‑allocatable CPU cores, with node memory ranging from approximately 190 GB to 2.3 TB. GPU resources have expanded to 36 total GPUs, including NVIDIA V100, A30, RTX Pro 6000, and H200 NVL accelerators, substantially enhancing support for advanced simulation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and visualization.

BeoShock is managed by the SLURM scheduler and supported by approximately 150 TB of shared ZFS RAID user storage, with user access available through both command‑line interfaces and Open OnDemand. Additional information about system access, policies, and support resources is available on the HPC website at: https://www.wichita.edu/services/hpc/index.php.

Importantly, this expansion was made possible through WSU’s HPC buy‑in (condo) program, which allows research groups to contribute hardware that is integrated into the shared BeoShock environment while retaining priority access. This collaborative funding model both accelerates system growth and maximizes the impact of institutional and grant‑funded investments. More information about the buy‑in program is available at https://www.wichita.edu/services/hpc/hpc-condo-program.php.

Together, these enhancements represent an order‑of‑magnitude increase in computational capacity and a significant expansion in system flexibility and capability. BeoShock is now positioned to enable faster processing, more efficient workflows, and significantly larger and more ambitious simulations and analyses. We are excited to see how this strengthened infrastructure accelerates discovery and advances innovative research across campus.

Dr. Jung Mee Park, Data Librarian, Ablah Libraries, has created a libguide for WSU researchers who are interested in using the free DMPTool to create data management plans that are compliant with sponsor requirements.  The libguide may be found here: https://libraries.wichita.edu/dmptool. Researchers interested in using the DMPTool do not need to wait to have a formal proposal to start using the tool.  Ablah Librarians are also available to assist with creating data management plans within the DMP Tool system. Remember, the WSU Office of Research should be notified in advance of any planned submissions for external sponsored funding: proposals@wichita.edu, so that our office may assist with meeting sponsor requirements.

Read More about DMP Tool

ARPA-H introduced “STOMP, a nationwide $144 million program to create the definitive toolbox for measuring, researching, and affordably removing microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the human body.”

Read More about ARPA-H STOMP

“Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) announces the launch of a new, interactive dashboard that allows users to explore impactful outcomes of CDMRP-funded research.”

Access the CDMRP Dashboard

CDMRP has released pre-announcements in the Combat Readiness—Medical Research Program (CRRP)

Read CDMRP Pre-Announcement for Translational Research Awards in CRRP

“Use of the Common Forms for Biographical Sketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support, and NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement will be required for all application due dates and Just-In-Time (JIT), Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR), and Prior Approval submissions on or after May 8, 2026.”

Read NIH Notice OD-26-079

“Effective June 1, 2026, all prime recipients are required to obtain NIH prior approval when adding a new domestic subaward to a project post-award, when the arrangement was not originally a part of the peer-reviewed and approved application...”

Read NIH Notice OD-26-062

“The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces publication of the updated NIH Grants Policy Statement (NIHGPS, rev. March 2026). The NIHGPS provides both up-to-date policy guidance that serves as NIH standard terms and conditions of award for all NIH grants and cooperative agreements, and extensive guidance to those who are interested in pursuing NIH grants.”

Read NIH Notice OD-26-057

“NIH welcomes responses from individual researchers, research institutions, scientific organizations, and other stakeholders across the biomedical research ecosystem. This is an opportunity for all to help shape NIH’s strategic direction and ensure that the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan reflects and addresses the realities, challenges, and opportunities of conducting biomedical research over the next five years. Responses must be received by May 26, 2026.”

NIH Strategic Plan Feedback Sought

“This topic encourages research focused on optimizing and testing school-based mental and behavioral health interventions and service delivery models.”

Continue Reading NIH Highlighted Topic of Interest

“Halo is a platform where researchers can discover industry-sponsored funding opportunities, connect with corporate research and development teams, and showcase their work to potential partners.” 

Read about NSF Emerge and Register for an Account on the HALO Platform

ORCID is an international, interdisciplinary, open, non-proprietary, and not-for-profit organization created by the research community for the benefit of all stakeholders, providing a persistent digital identifier (an ORCID iD) that distinguishes researchers with record that supports automatic links among all professional activities.  A researcher’s ORCID iD and connections are stored in the ORCID Registry, in an account owned and managed by individual researchers.  The WSU Office of Research recommends that Researchers set up their ORCID if they have not already, as some federal funders may require the use of an ORCID as part of a researcher’s biographical sketch or CV. 

View Training Videos about ORCID and setting up your ORCID ID

Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) requests a minimum of 30 business days to process letters of support or participation in research. It is WSU’s responsibility to have appropriate support from the school(s)/personnel that will be involved in the project prior to submitting a request.   Letters of Support/Grant Proposals: WSU personnel who need a letter of support or USD259 participation on a grant proposal, should complete the External-Request for Grant Support form and are encouraged to reach out directly to Holly Wilson at hwilson@usd259.net early in the process for questions/clarification. Research Requests: WSU personnel who want to conduct research in USD 259 are encouraged to reach out directly to Katelyn Schoenhofer at kschoenhofer1@usd259.net early in the process for questions/clarifications.

As a reminder, all proposals submitted on behalf of WSU must be reviewed by the Office of Research prior to submission. This includes proposals where WSU is a direct recipient of funds and proposals where WSU is a proposed subawardee/subcontractor. Please contact the Office of Research at proposals@wichita.edu to get started.

Email funding@wichita.edu to:

• Set up a Pivot account and receive guidance on how to search the database to find funding opportunities;
• Subscribe to funding announcements and funding-related alerts; and
• Attend Research Workshops that will help you with finding funding, budgeting and writing effective proposals (and much more)!

Please let us know how we can help you.

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