August 6, 2025

University biosafety officer and responsible official candidate presentations

As part of the Office of Research Integrity, Compliance, and Security , or ORICS, the assistant vice president for research compliance also serves as the university biosafety officer and responsible official, with primary oversight for compliance and safety at the Biosecurity Research Institute — a cornerstone of K-State’s national biosecurity portfolio.

Candidates will describe their vision of Biosafety Leadership for a Next-Generation Land-Grant University in a 45-minute presentation. 

All presentations will be held in room 207 in the K-State Student Union.

Please RSVP: https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a4NY7gcYoIIDzF4.

Candidate materials can be found at https://www.k-state.edu/comply/restrictedaccess/AVPRCCandidateInformation.html.   

On July 1, 2025, the National Science Foundation announced that it will not accept new proposals for the NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program during the previously scheduled FY 2026 submission window (October 15 – November 14, 2025). Any proposals submitted during this period will be returned without review. NSF currently has many meritorious proposals from the FY 2025 submission window (October 15 – November 15, 2024). Subject to the availability of funds, NSF will instead consider funding additional awards from this cohort in FY 2026. The NSF MRI program anticipates accepting new proposals again during the next submission window, scheduled for October 15 – November 16, 2026.

NSF webinars & office hours:

The National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) has replaced its CORE Program with Future Computing Research (Future CoRe).  The new RFA includes all of the core programs from the previous RFA except for Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Core Research (OAC Core) program which has been archived.  It has added Cyber-Physical Systems Foundations and Connected Communities (CPS).   NSF has archived the Cyber-Physical Systems and the Smart and Connected Communities RFAs that were associated with those areas. 

The number of anticipated awards (up to 600) and the funded amount ($280 million) have not changed from the old CORE Program.  However, awards are capped at $1 million with a duration of up to 4 years.  Typical projects will likely range from $150k to $250k per year and will be 3 to 4 years in duration.  The previous Core Program allowed awards up to $1.2 million.  The archived Cyber-Physical Systems Frontier program went up to $7 million and the Smart and Connected Communities program allowed some projects to be as high as $4 to $5 million.

NSF is holding a webinar on this new RFA on Thursday August 14.  To register, please click here.

The U.S. National Science Foundation marked the kickoff of its joint effort with the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND), congratulating SPRIND for the announcement of its challenge that aims to accelerate access to metals and critical materials from complex waste streams. In the coming months, NSF, through its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP), expects to announce a closely aligned U.S.-based effort as part of the NSF TIP Tech Metal Transformation program. These joint efforts build on the NSF-SPRIND partnership established last year that aims to accelerate breakthrough innovations in critical and emerging technologies on two continents.

View the full announcement here.

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new funding opportunity that would invest up to $100 million to support a network of "programmable cloud laboratories," aimed at expanding access to cutting-edge technology to accelerate the automation of scientific discovery and innovation.  

The NSF Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratories (NSF PCL Test Bed) would establish artificial intelligence-enabled laboratories nationwide to integrate, test, evaluate and validate the capabilities of new cutting-edge AI-based technologies.  

This new program directly implements a priority of the White House AI Action Plan to accelerate AI-enabled science through automated laboratory infrastructure. It will be led by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) and subject to future appropriations. 

View the full announcement for more information.

Summer can be an opportune time for planning new directions for research and education. I encourage you to continue bringing your great ideas in engineering to the U.S. National Science Foundation. We support all fields of engineering, and our core programs in the NSF Directorate for Engineering (NSF ENG) accept proposals throughout the year.

As you prepare your NSF proposal, consider these tips:

• Review how NSF invests in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce and our merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts.
• Learn about updates on NSF priorities and the agency's implementation of recent executive orders (you can submit questions to us through this page, too).
• Reach out to NSF ENG program directors to see if your idea is a good fit.

This program invests in data frameworks to create a neutral and secure data repository and cooperative where producers, universities, and nonprofit entities can store and share data to foster agricultural innovation and support technological progress and production efficiencies.

The program must have clear and complete plans to ensure widespread participation, including all Land-grant University types, growers, and representatives of all relevant data producers and consumer organizations, as appropriate. The program should outline the costs and benefits for all sectors, and with special attention to how barriers will be overcome, and value will be added for farmers.

The application deadline is August 6, 2025.

For More Information, visit the NIFA website to read the Request for Applications.

Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Join the leadership of the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF CISE) for a webinar introducing the new Computer and Information Science and Engineering: Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) solicitation NSF 25-543.

This session will provide an overview of the goals of the solicitation, eligibility, deadlines and other key points that are important for prospective applicants. A question and answer (Q&A) session will follow the presentation to address questions from the research community. This webinar will be recorded and posted for later viewing.

Future CoRe supports transformative research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering through multiple research programs. Programs in the Future Computing Research solicitation include: Algorithmic Foundations program, Communications and Information Foundations program, Computer Systems Research program, Computing Education Research program, Cyber-Physical System Foundations and Connected Communities program, Foundations of Emerging Technologies program, Human-Centered Computing program, Information Integration and Informatics program, Networking Technology and Systems program, Robust Intelligence program, and Software and Hardware Foundations program.

Register in advance for this webinar here.

NSF has announced a $30 million investment in its new Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) program. This initiative offers flexible pathways for researchers to translate cutting-edge discoveries into societal and market impact, with a strong emphasis on cross-sector partnerships and entrepreneurial education.

Register for the August 12, 2025, webinar to learn more

The TTP program builds on lessons from NSF’s Partnerships for Innovation program but expands eligibility and flexibility. TTP supports a broader range of translational goals, beyond commercialization, including startup formation, open-source ecosystems, licensing, and more. This is a key opportunity for researchers to deepen university-industry-government collaboration and accelerate innovation adoption.

Three flexible tracks available:

- Explore (NSF TTP-E): invests in adventurous, “high-risk” use-inspired activities, bridging the gap between fundamental scientific curiosity and a practical desire to address real-world problems. Proposers must have a current NSF award and be interested in transitioning the foundational research to “use-inspired” activities.
- Translate (NSF TTP-T): invests in translating prior research results into technological innovations with promising commercial, economic and/or societal impacts. This track starts with use-inspired research and further matures the ideas, iterates and improves the solutions, ensures scalability and accessibility and lowers the barriers to effective translation.
- Partner (NSF TTP-P): invests in complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-organizational teams pursuing translational development projects. Here, strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond their universities and research organizations are essential for success and may include industry, government entities at all levels, philanthropies or other groups associated with large-scale productization and distribution.

August 12, 2025, Overland Park Convention Center

Join your friends, colleagues, collaborators and hundreds of life sciences professionals from across the country for this unique, one-day conference. We bring together cutting-edge scientists, inventors, industry leaders, and the next generation of bioscientists to celebrate Midwest life sciences and explore emerging opportunities in a diverse and dynamic meeting.

Sessions Include:
•    Entrepreneurship and Investing
•    Innovation Resources in the Region
•    Cutting Edge Research in Biomaterials
•    Advances in Medical Devices
•    Economic Development and the Bioscience Landscape
•    Al Trends and Health Systems Evolution
•    Breakthroughs in Basic and Translational Science
•    Navigating Research Funding Challenges
•    Dynamic Exhibition Hall
•    Integrated Science Poster and Art Gallery
•    The Brewseum - an Interactive Museum for the Science of Brewing
•    Startup Pitch Competition

More information and registration can be found here. 

The NSF Engineering Directorate proudly supports early-career engineers as they chart the course of their future.  Keep an eye out for upcoming webinars and deadlines.

NSF Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) (NSF 24-590). The NSF ERI program provides up to $200,000 over 24 months to support faculty who are not affiliated with "very high research activity" R1 institutions, including community colleges, who lack significant federal funding. Proposals are due Sept. 16, 2025.

Watch an NSF CAREER webinar.