July 1, 2026

Final fringe benefit rates for fiscal year 2027 have been confirmed. You may begin using these rates when preparing budget estimates to be included in proposals submitted for extramural support that has a start date in FY2027. To facilitate the transition to these new rates, budgets that are in process will be accepted at the old rate until July 17, 2026, at which time the Office of Sponsored Programs will require the adoption of fiscal year 2027 rates.

Fiscal year 2027 rates are as follows:

*Add 12.272% to this rate to include health insurance for benefit-eligible graduate students not enrolled during the summer.

The above rates are to be used for estimating purposes. An individual’s actual fringe benefits will be charged to the sponsored project account.

Details regarding the different rates are available on the research website.

If a particular employee’s actual fringe benefit rate is known to be higher than the estimates detailed within the table due to higher health insurance costs, then you may use that individual’s substantiated actual rate for budget estimating purposes. Payroll documentation will be obtained and secured as a part of the sponsored proposal/award record.

Please circulate this notification to all who need to know these new rates. Questions? Call Sponsored Programs at 785-532-6804 or email research@k-state.edu.

Kansas State University researchers who want to turn ag innovation into validated businesses are invited to apply for the Ag45 cohort of the National Science Foundation Great Plains I-Corps program.  

The new Great Plains I-Corps: Ag45 cohort is a seven-session program to help teams that are developing agriculture or ag-related technologies to validate their ideas and build a strong foundation for commercialization. The cohort includes several weeks of virtual sessions and an in-person reception and conference Sept. 15-18 in Fargo, North Dakota.  

The program is free to join for any K-State faculty and students. Applications are due Monday, July 13. Learn more and apply at gp-icorps.org/events/ag45. 

Ag45 cohort participants get: 

Up to $3,000 in support funding to use toward customer discovery efforts 

Access to ag industry experts and professionals  

A validated commercialization plan 

The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps, or I-Corps, program equips researchers and innovators with the tools to translate federally funded discoveries into market-ready technologies, startups and industry partnerships. Learn more about the I-Corps program at gp-icorps.org.  

We encourage faculty, students, and post-docs in bioscience and biomanufacturing to attend the Midwest Bio Research & Industry Conference – Kansas (BRICK), taking place August 4-5, 2026, at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park, KS. Additional information is available on the event website. BRICK is an exciting opportunity to showcase your research, connect with scientists and industry professionals across the region, and engage with the growing Kansas City bioscience community. Please note that trainee (student and post-doc) registration is free.

Day 1 features cutting‑edge scientific and applied research presentations from regional universities, institutions, and innovating companies, highlighting emerging technologies, translational research, and commercialization pathways. Day 2 transitions into a dynamic industry trade show, focused on the biomanufacturing and CRO/CDMO sectors, offering exhibitor booths, live engagement, and direct access to decision‑makers and partners.

Abstract submissions for the Midwest Bio Research & Industry Conference – Kansas (BRICK) are due by June 19 for consideration for an oral presentation. The deadline to submit an abstract for a poster presentation is July 15. Please note that trainee (student and post-doc) registration is free.

Additionally, the BRICK Networking Lunch will provide valuable opportunities to interact with academic and industry leaders while expanding your professional network. 

In addition, trainees who participate in BRICK will be eligible to compete for a KC RiBS Travel Award. There will be 3 travel awards, 1 for each category: undergraduates, graduate students, and post-docs.

To be considered, participants must:
1. Submit an abstract
2. Participate in the networking lunch and obtain all 6 passport stamps
3. Attend both days of the conference
4. Bring a business card and CV/resume

Once abstract registration closes, the organization will reach out to all trainee participants to ensure they are signed up for the networking lunch and have all information necessary to comply with the requirements for KC RiBS Travel Award eligibility.

We strongly encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to present your work, build connections, and engage with the broader biomedical and biotechnology community.

Registration is available here. We look forward to seeing you at BRICK!

The National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program provides support for the acquisition of a multi-user research instrument that is commercially available through direct purchase from a vendor, or for the personnel costs and equipment that are required for the development of an instrument with new capabilities.  It is also a limited submission program, with the number of proposals K-State can submit typically restricted to three. If you are interested in applying to this program, you must notify (working title, team list, track submitting to, short synopsis) the Office of Research Development by 5 pm on July 14, 2026, via ordlimitedsubs@ksu.edu. 

A confounding factor is that the program’s website says that this year NSF will be issuing a new RFA for the MRI program, but it is not clear when this will be released or what changes might be made.  Even with this uncertainty, we have decided to continue with our typical internal limited submission process so that we will be in the best position to move forward when an RFA is finally released.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mary Lou Marino at mlmarino@ksu.edu.

NSF webinars & office hours:

Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships provide early career researchers the opportunity to pursue independent research of their own choosing that supports the mission of ARL. 

Applicants:
- Must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree in the physical sciences, life sciences, computational sciences, behavioral sciences, or engineering by October 1, 2026
- May not be more than five years beyond the award date of their Ph.D. or Sc.D. by the fellowship application deadline
- Must demonstrate exceptional qualifications with respect to academic and scholarly achievement, as evidenced by research and publication
- Are expected to have conducted research on a major scientific or engineering problem during their thesis work or have provided a new approach or insight, evidenced by a recognized impact in their field

There are no citizenship requirements to apply; however, selected fellows must pass a Department of Defense (DoD) clearance process, requiring a background security investigation. Foreign nationals must hold or anticipate holding a visa accepted by the program and must get further DoD approval, requiring a background investigation. 

Fellowship Benefits:
- Full-time, one-year in-residence appointment at ARL, renewable for up to three years based on performance
- Annual stipend of $115,000
- Health insurance (including dental and vision)
- Relocation assistance
- Professional travel allowance

Watch the recording of the most recent informational webinar to learn more about the program and application process. 

Qualified candidates can find additional information and apply by July 9, 2026, at https://arldpf.nationalacademies.org.

This report defines the most pressing technical hurdles in advanced AI adoption today. Developed in collaboration with eight leading frontier AI companies and over fifteen Chief AI Officers from the Department of War (DoW) and the Intelligence Community (IC), it outlines the concrete challenges that the research community must address.

Read the full report here.

Congress appropriated $1.27B in FY26 funding for CDMRP through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 signed into law on February 3, 2026. CDMRP is releasing its FY26 research program funding opportunities and hosting four webinars for the program areas. These meetings will be recorded. Live attendance as well as the recordings can be viewed using the same links provided below.

July 8, 12-1 p.m. Topic areas: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Joint Warfighter Medical, Kidney Cancer, Neurofibromatosis, Parkinsons, Prostate Cancer, Rare Cancers and Toxic Exposures.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced a Pitch Day for the Multi X Office (MXO) to catalyze future research efforts.

The MXO Pitch Day aims to fund scientific discovery solutions within three specific thrust areas: a world beyond electronics, foundations beyond components, and materials beyond nature and current synthetic practice. DARPA is seeking proposals from non-traditional organizations, small businesses, and university principal investigators who have not previously received a DARPA-funded award as a prime performer. The program seeks to reduce technical uncertainty and generate new concepts in non-electronic or hybrid physical approaches, resilient components for extreme environments, and novel material synthesis.

Performers are expected to provide a clear technical approach, risk mitigation strategy, and evidence of feasibility for efforts not to exceed 12 months in duration.

The event will be held in-person on November 2, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, with abstract submissions due by July 29, 2026. Total funding per award is capped at $500,000.

The full solicitation is available here.