Research & science
Federal science money and research fellowships — NSF, NIH, DOE, NASA, DARPA, USDA, NEH, ARPA-H — plus the discovery tools researchers use.
NSF
The primary U.S. funder of non-medical basic research across all science and engineering. Thousands of programs; submit via Research.gov / Grants.gov.
▸ Science, engineering, math, and education research
Go to the official source →
NIH
The largest public funder of biomedical research on earth. Find programs in the NIH Guide, see funded work in RePORTER, and apply through Grants.gov / ASSIST.
▸ Biomedical & health research (the world's largest)
Go to the official source →
DOE Office of Science Federal
U.S. Department of Energy
Department of Energy research funding — physical sciences, advanced computing, fusion, climate and the national labs. Apply via PAMS / Grants.gov.
▸ Physics, energy, computing, climate, materials
Go to the official source →
NASA Research (NSPIRES) Federal
NASA
NASA's solicitation and proposal system for space, earth-science and aeronautics research grants and fellowships.
▸ Space, earth science, aeronautics research
Go to the official source →
DARPA Federal
U.S. Department of Defense
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency — funds breakthrough, high-risk research. Opportunities post as BAAs on SAM.gov / DARPA's site.
▸ High-risk, high-reward defense R&D
Go to the official source →
USDA NIFA Federal
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture funds agricultural, food-system, nutrition and rural research and extension.
▸ Agriculture, food, rural & land-grant research
Go to the official source →
NEH
Federal funding for humanities scholarship, archives, digital humanities, museums and public programs.
▸ Humanities research, preservation, public programs
Go to the official source →
ARPA-H Federal
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
The newer health-focused DARPA analogue — high-risk, high-reward biomedical projects.
▸ Breakthrough biomedical & health research
Go to the official source →
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) Fellowship
NSF
A flagship fellowship paying a stipend + tuition for graduate study in science and engineering. Apply early in (or just before) grad school.
▸ For early-stage graduate students in STEM
Go to the official source →
Fulbright Program Fellowship
U.S. Department of State
The flagship international exchange fellowship — research, study or teach abroad. Separate programs for students, scholars and teachers.
▸ Study, research or teach abroad (and to the US)
Go to the official source →