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.
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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.
Sea Grant Young Fishermen's Career Development Projects
Letters of intent deadline: December 1, 2022, by 5:00pm ET.
Application deadline: February 15, 2023, by 11:59pm ET.
2023 Aquaculture Workforce Development Support Projects: Special Projects "D"
Application deadline: February 22, 2023, by 11:59pm ET.
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2023-2007550
Project Description
The goal of this funding opportunity is to support activities towards workforce development of the U.S. aquaculture industry, including activities and initiatives that may provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance to the U.S. aquaculture and seafood sector. Proposals responsive to this opportunity will conduct projects to enhance job opportunities for the next generation of aquaculturists, as well as individuals entering the aquaculture industry from other industries such as commercial fishing, and others who are vital to supplying high quality seafood to consumers. Following results from funded FY 21 Sea Grant “Food from the Sea” pilot projects in support of the Young Fishermen’s Development Act (YFDA), or based on knowledge of needs and gaps within the state or region, proposals should focus on development and/or expansion of existing targeted and innovative training opportunities; growing the economies of coastal and Great Lakes communities; and preserving local culture and heritage foodways. Proposed work should ensure that underrepresented/underserved populations and under-resourced communities are actively included as participants and/or partners.
This funding investment should remain consistent with Sea Grant’s focus area of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (SFA) and the Sea Grant Network 10-year Aquaculture Vision and in support of NOAA and Department of Commerce aquaculture goals.
Funding Availability
The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates that up to approximately $2,000,000 will be available to fund approximately 5 to 10 projects for up to two years through this competition. Awards will be made for no more than $400,000 in federal funds per project, and no more than $200,000 per year. Applications require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects.
Award Timeframe
The proposed start date should be no earlier than July 1, 2023, with projects to be completed no later than two years after the project start date. The project end date should be no later than September 30, 2025.
Eligible Sea Grant Programs
This competition is available to Sea Grant Programs. A Sea Grant Program may submit more than one application. Programs are encouraged to partner with other SG Programs and/or other entities such as high school vocational programs, institutions including community colleges, colleges, or universities, organizations, and industry as appropriate. Please note that projects focused on a combination or integration of workforce development needs of both aquaculture and the wild caught fishing industry are eligible for this competition. All projects must take place within the United States or territories or their respective waterways.
2023 Aquaculture Technologies and Education Travel Grants: Special Projects "F"
Application deadline: April 5, 2023, by 11:59pm ET.
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2023-2007550
Project Description
NSGO anticipates that up to $200,000 in FY 2023 federal funds will be available to Sea Grant programs to support travel for one or more individuals to domestic or international aquaculture facilities or sites to facilitate enhancing the knowledge exchange and expertise of coastal, Great Lakes, or marine-focused aquaculture.
Approximately 4-10 projects may be funded for a duration of up to one year. Awards will be made for no more than $50,000 in federal funds per project. Applications require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects.
This competition is open to all Sea Grant Programs. Programs are encouraged to partner with other Sea Grant Programs and/or other entities such as individuals, State and Tribal Agencies/Organizations, HBCUs/MSIs, NGOs, aquaculture industry members and associations, universities, and colleges, including community colleges. International travel must adhere to federal and university-specific international travel policies as well as the Fly America Act.
Please carefully review the competition description (PDF) for specific instructions on how to apply for the competitions via grants.gov.
2023 Aquaculture Economics and Markets Collaborative: Special Projects "G"
Application deadline: April 12, 2023, by 11:59pm ET.
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2023-2007550
Project Description
NSGO anticipates that up to $1,000,000 in FY 2023 federal funds will be available to Sea Grant programs to support the creation of an aquaculture economics and markets focused collaborative program. The selected project will develop fully integrated research, outreach, and education activities that will seek to align aquaculture more closely with established commercial fishing and agricultural industries with respect to applied economics and market practices and resources. Applications require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects.
This competition is open to all Sea Grant Programs. Programs are encouraged to partner with other Sea Grant Programs and/or other entities such as individuals, State and Tribal Agencies/Organizations, HBCUs/MSIs, NGOs, aquaculture industry members and associations, universities, and colleges, including community colleges.
Please carefully review the attached competition description (PDF) for specific instructions on how to apply for the competitions via grants.gov.
Disaster Preparedness for Coastal Communities: Special Projects "H"
Application deadline: March 13, 2023, by 11:59pm ET.
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2023-2007550
Project Description
The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates that up to $480,000 in FY 2023 federal funds will be available to individual Sea Grant programs in order to support innovative all-hazard preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives for coastal communities. Each award will be no greater than $160,000. No matching funds are statutorily required for this competition.
Program Overview
The Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP), a program within the NOS Office of Response and Restoration, was formed to ensure NOS, partners, and coastal communities are able to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards, including coastal disasters. The DPP accomplishes this through focusing on a few key focus areas:
- Capacity building – this includes the use of exercises, training, and workshops to increase NOS and partner readiness for all hazard response and recovery operations,
- Coordination and communication – this involves intra-agency, regional and partner coordination as well as outreach,
- Continuous improvement – this includes a formal review of post-incident lessons learned, documentation and tracking in after-action reports, and resource/tool development,
- Preparedness, response and recovery support – this involves coordination and collaboration on the planning to improve preparedness, response to and recovery from disasters.
Funding Opportunity
The objective of this funding opportunity is to support innovative all-hazard preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives for coastal communities. The nature of these projects could be legal/policy analysis, research and development, training or education, or tool/resource development. The goal is to improve the ability of communities to manage impacts from natural and anthropogenic disasters including (but not limited to) hurricanes, flooding, harmful algal blooms, oil spills, and marine debris. Another desirable outcome is to improve disaster preparedness and communication in underrepresented coastal communities. This is an opportunity to provide resources to communities that do not typically have access to them.
A successful project will address a preparedness gap or need of the community to enable them to reduce disaster impacts and reach recovery more quickly. Projects should directly benefit the coastal communities and natural/cultural resources they are meant to support. Development and evaluation of a success metric shall also be integrated into the project to allow post-project assessment of the outcome.
Disaster Preparedness Program Coordination
Applicants are encouraged to consult with the DPP in the development of the project proposal in advance of submission. The DPP coordinator may be able to provide information on training and exercises, connections to other potential partners and regional resources, and help to align the proposal with the DPP strategic plan. If awarded, the recipient will be required to work with the DPP coordinator throughout the award period, including regularly scheduled update meetings.
Please carefully review the attached competition description (PDF) for specific instructions on how to apply for the competitions via grants.gov.
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 available at this time.
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, communications center manager, or Stacy Keating, VASG business manager.
