Sponsored Projects - Funding Forecast
A periodic newsletter for Bucknell faculty researchers, scholars and grantseekers with information on external funding opportunities, recent grant successes, upcoming deadlines, and updates and resources from the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP).
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News and Updates
Proposed Changes to Federal Rules for Grants
The federal Office of Management and Budget recently proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), federal-wide grant guidance for both federal agencies and grantee organizations. If enacted later this fall, proposed changes would affect a number of areas for grant management, including, but not limited to: grant review and funding decision processes; disallowance of conference, publication and certain international collaboration costs; and incorporation of elements of Executive Orders into grant regulation. University associations, research and professional societies, and individuals have shared resources and comments on the potential impacts of these changes during the open public comment period, which runs through July 13, 2026.
Fulbright U.S. Scholars Hidden Gems Webinar and Other Resources
A Fulbright U.S. Scholars Program's recent webinar highlighted "hidden gems," promting country awards that do not receive as many applications. It highlighted awards in all regions of the world, including some open to all disciplines and others limited to specific fields, each with varying language requirements or none at all. All program webinars are archived, offering a wealth of resources for those interested in conducting research, teaching or professional projects abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholars program. The annual deadline for proposals is September 15.
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Recent External Funding Awards
(April - June 2026)
College of Arts & Sciences
Mark Haussmann (Biology). "Biomarkers as outcome-based indicators for chickens' welfare status." U. S. Department of Agriculture, via Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
College of Engineering
Margo Donlin (Mechanical Engineering). "Improving Gait Speed in Individuals with Stroke Using Vibrotactile Feedback." Bucknell Geisinger Research Intitiative.
Kevin Gilmore (Civil & Environmental Engineering). Levenick Resident Scholar in Sustainability Leadership. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Rajesh Kumar (Computer Science). "Biometrics, AI, and Trustworthy Computing." Pioneer Academics PBC.
SingChun Lee (Computer Science). "Development and Pilot Validation of an Ultrasound-Aligned HD-sEMG Sleeve for Reproducible Muscle Activation Mapping in Rehabilitation." Bucknell Geisinger Research Intitiative.
William Scott (Mechanical Engineering). "Development of a Biomimetic Soft-Robotic Ureteral Peristalsis Platform." Bucknell Geisinger Research Intitiative.
Interdisciplinary
Institutional
Rob Jacob (Geology) and Janine Glather (Library Services). "State View Program Development & Operations for the State of Pennsylvania: 2026 BU Farm and Nearby Area Remote Sensing Survey." U.S. Geologic Survey, via Pennsylvania Western University.
Steven Stumbris (Small Business Development Center). "Partnership for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) 2025-2026 Funding." Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, via Kutztown University. "SBA 2026 Funding." U.S. Small Business Administration, via Kutztown University. "Start Up Incubators 2026." Ben Franklin technology Partners, Northeast PA.
*Grant and contract awards being administered at the university, or that have been communicated to OSP and via the Sponsored Projects Approval (SPA) form.
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External Funding Opportunities and Upcoming Deadlines
Are you interested in applying for external funding to support your research, project or program at Bucknell? Here are just a few examples of opportunities, from federal, state, private and foundation sources. (For a more customized list based on your project needs, timeline and scholarship/research focus, contact OSP for a consultation or InfoGlobal SPIN database search.)NOTE: Federal opportunities linked to in this newsletter and in the "View More Grants" google document were active as of 2/24/26. We recommend checking the status of the program and reviewing the solicitation carefully before beginning a proposal, as solicitations may have been updated without notice.
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Interdisciplinary
7/31/26. LEGO Foundation: LEGO Foundation Fellowship. This new fellowship program supports early- and mid-career researchers (PhD within the past 10 years) whose work can strengthen understanding of how children thrive across diverse contexts. The fellowship provides flexible support over a three-year period for researchers pursuing ambitious, rigorous, and practically relevant work that builds evidence that can inform action for children. Applicants should be working in one of three themes - the youngest children in crisis and conflict settings; inclusion and wellbeing for neurodivergent children; and/or children's thriving in an AI-enabled world.
Applications welcome from researchers across disciplines, methods, and geographies. Relevant fields may include, but are not limited to, education, psychology, child development, public health, economics, sociology, neuroscience, data science, humanitarian studies, disability studies, human-computer interaction, and implementation science. $300,000 maximum over three years.
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Social Sciences
8/14/26 (LOI). Sociological Initiatives Foundation. The Foundation supports social change by linking research to social action, funding research projecs that investigate laws, policies, institutions, regulations, and normative practices that may limit equality in the United States. It also supports research that furthers language learning and behavior and its intersection with social and policy questions. Most projects should plan for a two-year timeline.
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Natural Sciences and Mathematics
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Humanities
9/16/26. NEH: Scholarly Editions or Translations. This program supports collaborative teams who are editing, annotating, and translating foundational humanities texts that vital to generating new scholarship but are not available in adequate editions or translations. This deadline is limited to projects that focus on topics in the history and culture of the United States in any period from the Colonial Era to the present, or topics in Western civilization from antiquity to the present.
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Creative and Performing Arts
9/1/26, 3/1/27. Furthermore: Publishing Grants. Furthermore supports the publication of nonfiction books concerning the arts, history, and the natural and built environments. It seeks work that will appeal to an informed general audience and give evidence of high standards in writing, design, and production. Grants range from $1,500 to $12,000 for specific publication components such as writing, research, editing, indexing, design, illustration, photography, and printing and binding. Preference is given to projects with a publisher’s commitment and feasible distribution plans.
9/30/26. AAUW: Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship. The AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship is intended to increase the number of women in tenure-track faculty positions and promote equity for women in higher education. The fellowship is designed to assist scholars in obtaining tenure by spending a year pursuing independent research; tenured faculty are not eligible. The fellowship year runs July 1 to June 30. The Fellowship is open to women scholars in all fields of study; follow the link for additional eligibility criteria.
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Engineering
The NSF Engineering Directorate has issued new solicitations in the areas previously served by the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems Division. Full proposals are accepted anytime.
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Management, Business and Commerce
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