USDA- Specialty Crop Research Initiative

Letter of Intent due: November 25, 2011
Full Proposal due: January 31, 2012

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) was established to solve critical industry issues through research and extension activities. SCRI will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary; and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas: research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics; efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators; efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term; new innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops.

Click here for full announcement.

National Endowment for the Humanities- Planning and Implementation Grants

Applications due: January 11, 2012

NEH offers two categories of grants for America's Historical and Cultural Organizations: planning and implementation grants. Planning grants are available for projects that may need further development before applying for implementation. This planning can include the identification and refinement of the project's main humanities ideas and questions, consultation with scholars, preliminary audience evaluation, preliminary programming, research, or the drafting of interpretive materials.

Implementation grants support the final preparation of a project for presentation to the public.

Visit here for both full solicitations.

Robert A. Welch Foundation Research Grant- FY 12

The purpose of this program is to support fundamental chemical research at universities, colleges, or other educational institutions within the state of Texas. In specific, the program provides support for a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member to conduct research in chemistry.

Funding may be used for the following:
-Fellowships and scholarships
-Fringe benefits for individuals receiving fellowship
-Permanent scientific equipment with at least one year useful life expectancy and costing a minimum of $5,000
-Expendable scientific items, services, and equipment maintenance
-Publication expenses
-Travel expenses not exceeding $1,500 per funding cycle.

Application due: 02/01/2012

For more information, please visit the full solicitation here.

Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study

Application due: 11/08/2011


The purpose of this program is to ensure the U.S. meets human resource needs in the environmental science, engineering, and policy fields by supporting graduate-level projects that address protection of human health and the environment from various perspectives/approaches, with a focus on pollution prevention and/or control. Fellowship awards will be provided to promising students obtaining advanced degrees to pursue careers in an environmental field. Funds will support a monthly stipend, tuition, and expenses for students beginning a master's or doctoral program and undertaking a project that addresses one of the following topic/subtopic areas:

-Emerging Environmental Approaches and Challenges

-Air,Climate, and Energy

-Chemical Safety for Sustainability

-Human Health Risk Assessment

-Safe and Sustainable Water Resources

-Safe and Health Communities

Click here for full solicitation.

National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program -STATEMAP- FY 12

Application due: 11/02/2011
Solicitation posted: 09/21/2011


The purpose of this program is to establish the geological makeup of areas that are determined to be of vital importance to the economic, social, or scientific welfare of individual states. As part of this program, the state geologist within each state to be mapped must determine mapping priorities in conjunction with a state mapping advisory committee represented by multiple stakeholder groups. 


For more details, please visit the full solicitation.

Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD)

Full Proposal Deadline Date:  November 22, 2011

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) are partnering to support a new research program to be administered by NSF. The objective of the BREAD Program is to support innovative basic scientific research designed to address key constraints to smallholder agriculture in the developing world. A significant distinction between BREAD and other NSF programs is that proposals to BREAD must make a clear and well-defined connection between the outcomes of the proposed basic research and its direct relevance and potential application to agriculture in the developing world. The BREAD Program takes the activities of the Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) to the next level by supporting a broader range of scientific research and by enabling funding to be allocated to international collaborators through subawards.

The Program's focus is on novel, transformative basic research at the proof-of-concept stage rather than its application or development. Especially encouraged are original proposals that address major constraints to the productivity of crops important to smallholder farmers, or on the development of novel and efficient production practices. Although the Program places an initial emphasis on crop improvement, it will also consider innovative basic research proposals from scientists in all fields of research in the biological and physical sciences and engineering as long as the proposed research is consistent with the Program objectives. Proposals are also expected to address project outcomes in the context of broader societal impacts, and as appropriate to the research proposed, engage international partners in scientific collaborations.


For full solicitation, click here.

Texas Commission on the Arts: Arts Respond Performance Support FY12

The Texas Touring Arts Program is designed to ensure that all Texans have the ability to enjoy performances by outstanding Texas-based companies and artists in their own communities. The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) provides grants to help with the costs of bringing in companies and artists from this roster for performances.

Performing arts companies and artists from throughout the state apply to be included on the Texas Touring Roster. These artists must have a history of touring and must be willing to travel outside of their community to do a performance. They are also required to maintain a reasonable fee range. Evaluators with expertise in touring arts evaluate applicants to this program. Artists approved for fiscal years 2011-2012 are included in this roster.

Arts Respond Performance Support is the companion grant program that allows performing arts presenters in Texas to apply for a portion of the artistic fees for one or more approved companies or artists from the Texas Touring Roster. This is a mini-grant program that can provide a grant to help with these costs. These applications must be submitted in advance of the performance and by the appropriate quarterly deadline. You can learn more about this program here.

Applications due: November 1, 2011