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Funding Opportunities

Unique Opportunities

Keck Foundation

The Keck Foundation strives to fund endeavors that are distinctive and novel in their approach. It encourages projects that are high-risk with the potential for transformative impact. "High-risk" comprises several factors, including questions that push the edge of the field, present unconventional approaches to intractable problems, or challenge the prevailing paradigm.

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Blavatnik Family Foundation

The Blavatnik Family Foundation awards are open to scientists age 42 and younger working in the fields of Chemistry, Physical Sciences and Engineering or Life Sciences. Honorees are selected based on the quality, novelty, and impact of their research and their potential for further significant contributions to science. 

Limited Submission Announcement

The DOR limited submission application is due 6 weeks before the Foundation due date.

Each College may submit one nominee per category: Chemistry, Physical Sciences and Engineering, or Life Sciences

Nomination application requirements:

  • Rationale for Nominations (200 words max)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Confirmation of eligibility criteria and selection of category and subcategory
  • Research Summary (1000 words max)

Internal Review

The AVP/AVC for Research and Technology Transfer along with college ADRs, will review all limited submission applications.

One application from each category will be selected by the review committee to move forward in the process.

The selected candidates will need to provide additional materials to the application:

  • Professional Service and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
  • Nomination Form
  • Full-text publications and/or patents
  • Names and email addresses of two letter writers; letters of support must be submitted by the letter writers through the online nominations

Application Submission

The UH President, Provost or equivalent will officially nominate the selected candidates to the Blatvatnik Awards team.

The official nominator will submit the application by the due date (late fall).

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Arnold & Mabel Beckman Young Investigator Program

The Beckman Young Investigator (BYI) Program provides research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers in the chemical and life sciences, particularly to foster the invention of methods, instruments and materials that will open up new avenues of research in science. The BYI program is open to those within the first four years of a tenure-track position.

Letter of Intent

The PI is responsible for submitting a LOI. UH is not limited to the number of LOIs it can submit.

Letter of Intent Requirements:

  • Documentation of Citizenship/Permanent Residency
  • 1,200 word Proposal
  • Biosketch
  • Research Support Form
  • Institutional Endorsements from the Chief Academic Officer or Dean (electronic signatures)

Invitation for Full Proposals

The Foundation will review the LOIs and invite selected faculty to submit a full proposal.

Notification and full proposal instructions will be sent from the Foundation.

Interview

To make a final selection, the Foundation conducts in-person interviews for the awards.

Notification will come from the foundation regarding an interview.

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Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program

The Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences. Based on institutional nominations, the program provides discretionary funding to faculty at an early stage in their careers.

Limited Submission Announcement

The DOR limited submission application is due 6 weeks before the external application due date.

The PI must have a research focus in the chemical sciences.

The announcement will be sent to the ADRs of NSM and Engineering.

Internal Application Documents: Abstract, Biosketch, Current and Pending Funding, Cost Share Information.

Internal Review

The AVP/AVC for Research and Technology Transfer along with college ADRs, will review all limited submission applications.

  • One application will be selected to move forward for submission..
  • Applications are due in February.
  • The selected PI will be responsible for completing each document: online nomination form, a letter of nomination (2 pages), summary description of the nominee’s research accomplishments and research plans (6 page max incl. references), statement that illustrates the nominee’s efforts in education in the chemical sciences (2 page max), CV (5 pages max include research support) one-page budget ($7,500 is for departmental expenses).

Submission

The nominee’s departmental RA or DOR will be responsible for submitting the application.

Three letters of support should be sent directly to the Foundation and should not be included in the nomination package.

Award recipients are announced in May.

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Moore Inventor Fellows

The Moore Inventor Fellowship supports scientist-inventors who create new tools and technologies with a high potential to accelerate progress in the foundation’s areas of interest: scientific discovery, environmental conservation and patient care.

Letter of Intent

The PI responsible for submitting a LOI. UH is not limited to the number of LOIs it can submit.

Letter of Intent Requirements:

  • Documentation of Citizenship/Permanent Residency
  • 1,200 word Proposal
  • Biosketch
  • Research Support Form
  • Institutional Endorsements from the Chief Academic Officer or Dean (electronic signatures)

Invitation for Full Proposals

The Foundation will review the LOIs and invite selected faculty to submit a full proposal.

  • Notification and full proposal instructions will be sent from the Foundation.

Interview

To make a final selection, the Foundation conducts in-person interviews for the awards.

  • Notification will come from the foundation regarding an interview.

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National Academy of Inventors Fellows Program

The NAI Fellows Program was established to highlight academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

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Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards

The Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards annually recognize rising Texas researchers who are addressing the essential role that science and technology play in society, and whose work meets the highest standards of exemplary professional performance, creativity and resourcefulness.

Limited Submission Announcement

The DOR will announce the acceptance of nominations 6 weeks prior to the April deadline.

Eligibility: Nominees must be within 15 years of their first faculty appointment, have spent the last 2 years performing research in the State of Texas.

Four nomination categories:

  • Medicine
  • Engineering
  • Science
  • Technology Innovation

Application

DOR and the nominee’s departmental RA will be responsible for submitting the nomination.

Nominations are due in April.

The nominator is responsible for following documents:

  • Nominee application form, Nominator statements (250-word statement and 50-word summary), Nominee biosketch and research bibliography, List of five (5) of the most important research publications with the highest number of citations and a link to an electronic PDF version of each research publication, Three letters of support.

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Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards

Our commitment to enriching the research skills and professional growth of young faculty members at ORAU member institutions is embodied in the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards Program. These competitive research awards provide seed money for junior faculty members that often result in additional funding from other sources.

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USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship

The program consists of one week in Washington, DC and one week at a USDA research location. Science Fellows will be placed with either the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) or Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Science Division for the research portion of their fellowship.

Announcement

The DOR will announce the E. Kika De La Garza Science Fellowship

There are two opportunities under this fellowship:

  • USDA Agricultural Research Service.
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Science Division.

Application

The USDA fellowship is due in February.

The PI is responsible for the following documents:

  • Completed Application Form.
  • Essay- 800-1000 word statement describing your interest in the USDA, the specific research topic/interests you wish to pursue, and how you envision the fellowship will impact you, your institution’s programs, and your work with your institution and its community.
  • CV/Resume (3-4 pages).
  • Signed Application Certification Form.
  • Letter of Reference.
  • Statement of institutional Support.

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Welch Award in Chemistry

The purpose of The Robert A. Welch Award in Chemistry is to foster and encourage basic chemical research and to recognize, in a substantial manner, the value of chemical research contributions for the benefit of humankind as set forth in the will of Robert Alonzo Welch. Any person can be considered for the award who has made important chemical research contributions which have a significant, positive influence on humankind. The award is intended to recognize contributions that have not previously been rewarded in a similar manner.

Announcement

The DOR sends the Welch Award guideline to department chairs for nominations in November.

The following UH departments are included:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biology
  • Chemistry

Welch Application

The Welch Award is due the last business day of January.

The PI is responsible for the following documents:

  • detailed description of the research areas in chemistry on which the nomination is based.
  • brief biographical sketch of the proposed nominee.
  • list of 25 of the nominee's most important scientific publications.
  • not more than three seconding nomination letters.

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