Research Funding
Virginia Sea Grant offers a range of funding opportunities for researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students. We support sound scientific research that is consistent with Virginia Sea Grant’s Strategic Plan to benefit the Commonwealth.
National Research Competitions
Since 1966, Sea Grant has invested in the development of sustainable marine and Great Lakes resources to help coastal communities maintain a safe and sustainable local seafood supply. The National Sea Grant College Program continues to invest in research aimed toward protecting these resources through funding opportunities offered at the national level.
Current Opportunities
Sea Grant Programs Only
Letter of Intent Deadline: January 29, 2025
Application Deadline: March 19, 2025
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2025-29019
Project Description
Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates that approximately $4,000,000 will be available for research projects and programs to create up to four Regional Collaboratives (one per region) focused on enhancing engagement of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in aquaculture, with up to $1,000,000 available for each. MSIs are defined as institutions of higher education that serve minority populations. For a list of institutions that are considered MSIs, please refer to the following link provided by NASA’s MSI Exchange.
The four regions in which Collaboratives are sought to be established (including states and territories) are: West Coast/Alaska/Pacific (CA, OR, WA, AK, HI, GU, and other Pacific territories); Southeast/GOM/Caribbean (TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, PR, US Virgin Islands, GA, SC, NC); Northeast/mid-Atlantic (VA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, NH, ME); and Great Lakes (NY, VT, PA, OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MN). Successful proposals will integrate research and extension. Proposals are sought that will support collaborative, multi-Sea Grant Program efforts to enhance engagement and collaboration of Sea Grant programs and MSIs within each region in direct support of aquaculture activities of MSIs. Proposals will preferably include participation from and involvement of Sea Grant extension personnel and aquaculture community stakeholders.
Applicants should note that the National Sea Grant Office has recently published the document “A Needs Assessment of Aquaculture at Minority Serving Institutions.”
Federal funds up to $1,000,000 may be requested per application. Projects may have a duration of up to three years. Applications will require 50% in non-federal match funding. The cumulative match at the end of each year of the grant must not fall below 50 percent of the cumulative federal request up to that point. All projects must take place within the United States or territories or their respective waterways. There is no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards, or that any application will be selected for funding.
This competition is open to all Sea Grant Programs. A Sea Grant Program may submit or be a part of more than one application. Applications involving multiple Sea Grant programs within a given region are strongly preferred. Programs are required to partner with MSIs as part of each Regional Collaborative. Programs are encouraged to partner with other entities such as individuals, State and Tribal Agencies/Organizations, NGOs, aquaculture industry members and associations, universities, and colleges, including community colleges.
Please carefully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific instructions on how to apply for the competition via grants.gov. This information is also available on Inside Sea Grant.
Letters of Intent are due by January 29, 2025. Full proposal applications must be submitted to Grants.gov and accepted by eRA by March 19, 2025.
For questions about this competition, contact Chuck Weirich or Mark Rath, National Sea Grant Office’s aquaculture managers (oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov). Please only use this email address regarding submission of questions pertaining to this competition and put the name of the competition in the subject line.
Sea Grant Programs Only
Deadline for applications: January 29, 2025
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2025-28993
Project Description
Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates that approximately $1,500,000 will be available to fund projects through the Sea Grant Aquaculture Internships Program. The goal of the Internships Program is to provide commercial aquaculture experience for students (attending high school, undergraduate or graduate school, including community colleges) and other interested individuals at partnering aquaculture operations. Successful proposals will provide hands-on, practical aquaculture work experience. Sea Grant programs and associated partners will administer their specific internship opportunities and funds should be utilized, in part, to fund salaries of interns, intern housing, and transportation expenses as appropriate. Successful programs will provide interns with exposure to a variety of tasks associated with the operation of partnering aquaculture-related operations either public or private; enhance future employment opportunities and professional development; demonstrate significant partnership with the aquaculture community; and require documentation/reporting from interns and participating partners regarding internships. Participation of students enrolled in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) is encouraged. Proposals must include participation from and involvement of Sea Grant extension personnel and aquaculture community stakeholders.
Federal funds ranging from $100,000-$500,000 may be requested per application. Projects may have a duration of up to two years. Applications will require 50% in non-federal match funding. The cumulative match at the end of each year of the grant must not fall below 50 percent of the cumulative federal request up to that point. All projects must take place within the United States or territories or their respective waterways. There is no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards, or that any application will be selected for funding. It is anticipated that this funding opportunity will occur on an annual basis, pending federal appropriations.
This competition is open to all Sea Grant Programs. A Sea Grant Program may submit or be a part of more than one application. Programs are encouraged to partner with other Sea Grant Programs and/or other entities such as individuals, State and Tribal Agencies/Organizations, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), aquaculture industry members and associations, high schools, universities, and colleges, including community colleges.
Applicants should note that the National Sea Grant Office has recently published the document “A Needs Assessment of Aquaculture at Minority Serving Institutions.”
Please carefully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific instructions on how to apply for this competition via grants.gov. This information is also available on Inside Sea Grant.
Full proposal applications must be submitted to Grants.gov and accepted by eRA by January 29, 2025.
For questions about this competition, contact Chuck Weirich or Mark Rath, National Sea Grant Office’s aquaculture managers (oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov). Please only use this email address regarding submission of questions pertaining to this competition and put the name of the competition in the subject line.
Letters of Intent Due: December 4 2024
Deadline for full applications: February 12, 2025
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2025-28975
Project Description
Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates that approximately $5,000,000 will be available in FY2024 and FY2025 federal funds for research projects and programs that will focus on strengthening U.S. coastal, marine, and Great Lakes aquaculture via support for the development of new aquaculture businesses, as well as enhancing existing aquaculture business output, efficiency, and profitability. Strong applications will integrate research and extension. Proposals are sought that will encompass broad, non-proprietary research to address topics and issues relevant to the support of new and existing aquaculture businesses and make that information available to the U.S. aquaculture community. Projects should be focused on supporting businesses that will be or are now involved with aquatic species currently being produced on a commercial scale in the U.S. Proposals are not being considered that involve new or emerging aquatic species, new or novel production methods, improving production of species, or restoration projects.
Federal funds ranging from $100,000-$1,000,000 may be requested per application. Projects may have a duration of up to three years. Applications will require 50% in non-federal match funding. The cumulative match at the end of each year of the grant must not fall below 50 percent of the cumulative federal request up to that point. All projects must take place within the United States or territories or their respective waterways. There is no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards, or that any application will be selected for funding.
This opportunity is open to any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant College, Sea Grant Institute or other institution); or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider projects that involve Sea Grant extension personnel and members of the US aquaculture community.
Please carefully review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific instructions on how to apply for the competition via grants.gov.
Letters of Intent are due December 4, 2024. Full proposal applications must be submitted to Grants.gov by February 12, 2025.
An informational webinar is scheduled for Monday, October 28, 2024, at 3:30 pm ET. To access the webinar, use this Google Meet link.
For questions about this competition, contact Chuck Weirich or Mark Rath, National Sea Grant Office’s aquaculture managers (oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov). Please only use this email address regarding submission of questions pertaining to this competition and put the name of the competition in the subject line.
Regional Research Competitions
To address broader regional priorities, Virginia Sea Grant periodically partners with other Sea Grant programs throughout the mid-Atlantic region to bring together innovative research teams with high levels of integration, those who demonstrate synergistic benefits, and mechanisms for transferring knowledge to end-users.
No Opportunities are Currently Available
Notice of Intent Deadline: January 31, 2024, by 11:59pm ET.
Application Deadline: March 27, 2024, by 11:59pm ET.
Project Description
Subject to the availability of funding in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, Sea Grant anticipates approximately $16,000,000 will be available to support innovative, transformational research to application (R2A) projects that will address the prevention and/or removal of marine debris, with award periods of three years. “Research to application” or R2A refers to research and development projects that transition into tangible, scalable outcomes and outputs. Examples include (but are not limited to) new prototypes, products, processes, or tools.
Proposals may address (but are not limited to) innovative or non-proven interception and/or removal technologies (i.e. prototype devices that require additional research and development prior to deployment, and/or need to be tested in new environments), reusable systems, microplastics, and/or nanoplastics. Successful proposals will build upon and extend existing knowledge and efforts related to marine debris; support broad, innovative research to address critical gaps with respect to marine debris; make that information available to communities and stakeholders; include Sea Grant education and extension professionals, community representatives, government, academic, non-governmental, tribal, and industry partners, as appropriate; and proactively incorporate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility at every level of the work. Proposals must include funding for Sea Grant education and/or extension personnel as collaborators. Community, government, academic, non-government, and industry stakeholder participation/involvement in projects is strongly encouraged. Applications DO NOT require non-federal match. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA federal funding with formal matching contributions and informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors. To this end, applicants should note that cost sharing and leverage of other funds is an element considered in the evaluation criteria.
Applicants and awardees from the FY22/23 National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Marine Debris Challenge Competition are eligible to apply for these funds. Current awardees may submit an application outlining how additional funds would advance their original project. These applicants should focus on scaling and operationalizing their original technology or method rather than additional research. NOAA also encourages new applicants or previous applicants with new project ideas to apply.
Fully integrated teams of collaborators noted above must submit proposals with a Sea Grant program (Sea Grant Colleges, Institutions, or Coherent Area Programs) as a partner. A Sea Grant program may participate in more than one proposal. Collaborations among Sea Grant programs are encouraged, as appropriate. Please note that it is not a requirement that investigators, including the PI, are part of a Sea Grant program. Contact information for each program can be found at https://seagrant.noaa.gov/About. All 34 Sea Grant programs are eligible to serve as partners and to submit applications. If you need further assistance in identifying a program to partner with please contact the National Sea Grant Office via email at sg.grants@noaa.gov
Eligibility:
This opportunity is open to any person or group within the United States or its territories, as well as tribal nations within those geographies.
Applicants must submit proposals in partnership with a relevant Sea Grant program. Please note that it is not a requirement that investigators, including the PI, are part of a Sea Grant program. Contact information for Sea Grant programs can be found at: https://seagrant.noaa.gov/About. If you need further assistance in identifying a program to partner with, please contact one of the Sea Grant Marine Debris Team listed below in Section VII. Agency Contacts.
Federal agencies and their personnel are not permitted to receive federal funding under this competition; however, federal scientists and other employees can serve as uncompensated partners or co-Principal Investigators on applications. Federal labs and offices can also make available specialized expertise, facilities, or equipment to applicants but cannot be compensated under this competition for their use.
Funding Availability:
Subject to the availability of funding, this announcement describes how eligible applicants should apply for the National Sea Grant BIL Marine Debris Challenge Competition. Sea Grant anticipates having approximately $16,000,000 to fund approximately 5-12 projects of up to three years’ duration. We expect the average project size will be between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000; however, applications may request up to $3,000,000 in federal funds addressing the program priorities.
Questions:
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Program Development Awards
One of the most valuable aspects of a Sea Grant program is its capacity to bring university, governmental, or private resources to bear upon various emerging problems or opportunities. Program Development funds are provided by Virginia Sea Grant to achieve four primary goals: support high-impact students, cultivate innovation through collaborative proof-of-concept projects, nurture strategic initiatives, and to examine pressing or emerging problems. Proposals to convene multi-institutional or partnership-focused meetings that explore opportunities for collaboration, help advance integration across partners, or address pressing or emerging needs are encouraged.
For more information, contact VASG Associate Director Scott Sandridge at sasandridge@vaseagrant.org or 804-684-7251.
Additional Support
Virginia Sea Grant will no longer fund external requests to sponsor conferences or support participants at conferences. This policy change results from increased organizational requests seeking financial support that exceed our available resources. Instead, our emphasis will be on providing our fellows with the professional development opportunities that they require to be successful and on meeting emerging strategic needs to benefit the Commonwealth.
If your proposal includes a communications component involving the Virginia Sea Grant Communications Center, please include this in your budget. The Center offers services like science writing, copy editing, photography, videography, drone footage, graphic design, web design, and web hosting. For more information, contact Jay Clark, assistant director for communications.
