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. 

Translating Coastal Research into Application

Letters of Interest Deadline: June 15, 2022 at 5:00 PM local time
Application Deadline: August 31, 2022 at 11:59 PM ET

Sea Grant and the U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP) announce a new funding opportunity for collaborative projects to integrate research, its application, and community engagement in thematic areas of long-term coastal evolution, extreme storms, and human and ecosystem health.
 
Proposals should address the needs or gaps that have been identified by or are evident from USCRP-funded projects, to move research project findings toward application through service delivery and decision support for coastal community decision-makers, planners, and other coastal stakeholders.
 
The following entities are encouraged to participate in this funding opportunity, in conjunction with a Sea Grant Program: any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant Program or other institution); or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. Applications for the opportunity must come from a Sea Grant Program and interested partners should participate in conjunction with a Sea Grant Program. 
 
It is anticipated that approximately $4,000,000 will be available to fund 10-20 projects at up to $150,000 over two years (Tier 1) or up to $500,000 over four years (Tier 2). Matching funds will not be required for this competition.
 
If you have questions or need further assistance in identifying a Sea Grant Program to partner with, please contact oar.hq.sg.competitions@noaa.gov and specify that your question is related to the Translating Coastal Research into Application competition in the subject line.
 
 
Informational Webinar
An informational webinar about the funding opportunity will be held on May 16, 2022 from 2-3 pm ET. Register in advance here. 
LEARN MORE AND APPLY

Special Projects H: Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions

Application Due Dates:
Letters of intent due to NSGO by August 16, 2022.
Application materials due to Grants.gov by September 15, 2022.

Important Note to All Applicants: All proposals require an active role and partnership with Virginia Sea Grant. Please email Dr. Troy Hartley at vasg@vaseagrant.org as soon as possible notifying him of your intent to compete. Virginia Sea Grant wants to fully support Virginia’s research community to optimize the Commonwealth’s success in securing Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding. Sufficient time is required to build a competitive partnership proposal and clarify needs, roles, and responsibilities.

The Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions funding opportunity will support the creation of coalitions and partnerships among communities, groups, and localities, especially those that have been traditionally underserved, to address marine debris prevention and removal.

Brief Description: The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates approximately $3,000,000 in FY 2022 and 2023 federal funds will be available to individual Sea Grant programs in order to support approximately 10-15 Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions. Each award will be no greater than $300,000. Applications DO NOT require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects.

Eligible Applicants: This competition is open to all Sea Grant programs.

Application Due Dates: Letters of intent due to NSGO by August 16, 2022. Application materials due to Grants.gov by September 15, 2022.

Please carefully review the specific instructions for the National Sea Grant IIJA Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions opportunity found on Inside Sea Grant.

Webinar: An optional webinar will be held to answer questions pertaining to this funding opportunity on July 12, 2022 at 4:30 pm ET. Please register here.

Questions may be sent to oar.sg.marine-debris@noaa.gov. Please specify which competition your question is related to in the subject line.

LEARN MORE

Marine Debris Challenge Competition

Application Due Dates: Letters of intent due to NSGO by August 9, 2022.
Application materials due to Grants.gov by September 30, 2022.

Important Note to All Applicants: All proposals require an active role and partnership with Virginia Sea Grant. Please email Dr. Troy Hartley at vasg@vaseagrant.org as soon as possible notifying him of your intent to compete. Virginia Sea Grant wants to fully support Virginia’s research community to optimize the Commonwealth’s success in securing Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding. Sufficient time is required to build a competitive partnership proposal and clarify needs, roles, and responsibilities.

The Marine Debris Challenge Competition will support original, innovative, and transformational marine debris prevention and removal research that pushes the boundaries of existing technologies and approaches, changes the current landscape of marine debris mitigation, and ties that research to tangible outputs. 

Brief Description: Sea Grant anticipates approximately $16,000,000 in FY 2022 and 2023 federal funds will be available to support research to application projects that will address the prevention and/or removal of marine debris, with award periods of three years. Applications DO NOT require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects. 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.

Eligible Applicants: Sea Grant College Programs, Sea Grant Institutional Programs, and Sea Grant Coherent Area Programs. A Sea Grant program may submit or participate in more than one proposal. Other interested entities must submit letters of intent and proposals in partnership with and through 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; however proposals must be submitted with and through a Sea Grant program.

Application Due Dates: Letters of intent due to NSGO by August 9, 2022. Application materials due to Grants.gov by September 30, 2022.

Please carefully review the specific instructions for the Marine Debris Challenge Competition opportunity found on the Sea Grant Funding page.

Webinar: An optional webinar will be held to answer questions pertaining to this funding opportunity on July 12, 2022 at 4:30 pm ET. Please register here.

Questions may be sent to oar.sg.marine-debris@noaa.gov. Please specify which competition your question is related to in the subject line.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY

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.

Please check back in the future for available funding opportunities.

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.

RECEIVE UPDATES ABOUT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
BUDGETING FOR THE VASG COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

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, communications center manager, or Stacy Keating, VASG business manager.

Scroll to Top

Sign up for our announcements newsletter

Stay up-to-date on fellowship, internship, training, and research funding opportunities offered by Virginia Sea Grant.

Thank You!

Your request has been submitted.