Best Grants for Science Research in Michigan

The EGLS Howard Maxwell Award recognizes outstanding service to the Eastern Great Lakes Section of the American Physical Society (APS). Established in 1938, the section fosters collaboration among physicists and scientists from various fields through biannual symposia. Named after Howard Maxwell, this award honors dedicated contributions to the APS community, encouraging participation from students and educators in the greater Ohio region.

American Physical Society provides Michigan physics researchers with an annual Doc Brown Young Investigator Award recognizing outstanding early-career faculty research. Eligible nominees are EGLS APS member PhD lecturers or faculty within six years of appointment at institutions in the Eastern Great Lakes region, with undergraduate co-authors and a tenured faculty nomination.

Doctoral candidates at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities conducting Smithsonian-based science or humanities research can receive up to US $50,000, including a stipend and research allowance. The Smithsonian Institution provides Michigan and other member-state researchers with 3–12 month fellowships in fields like biology, earth sciences, ecology, anthropology, art history, and U.S. social and cultural history.

Michigan science research organizations working in eligible BSF-supported fields can access funding through the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation to support short-term PhD research visits. Awards of US $6,000 fund up to two-month trips for U.S. or Israeli PhD students needing facilities or expertise in Israel or the U.S.

Michigan science research institutions collaborating with Israeli partners can access funding through the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for two-year start-up research projects in fields like chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science. Eligible junior principal investigators must be within 10 years of earning a Ph.D. or M.D., with each PI able to receive up to US $90,000.

Undergraduate natural science majors of Polish descent in the U.S. can receive support for full-time studies through the Drs. James and Wanda Trefil Science Scholarship. Grants from Kosciuszko Foundation help students, including those from Michigan, fund physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, earth science, or biochemistry coursework with a US $5,000 award.

Universities, colleges, and research institutions conducting STEM research can access funding through the National Science Foundation to support undergraduate research experiences in Michigan and nationwide. Grants from National Science Foundation help Michigan science researchers create REU Sites or add REU Supplements that engage undergraduates in hands-on research across fields like chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, engineering, and computer science.

Michigan higher education institutions and nonprofits serving colleges can access funding through the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to plan partnerships that improve STEM pathways from undergraduate to graduate education. Grants up to US $75,000 support one-year planning projects that assess barriers, design collaborations, and strengthen access-focused STEM programs, including for low-income and underrepresented students.

Michigan colleges, universities, and higher education–serving nonprofits can pursue STEM partnership seed funding to pilot efforts that reduce systemic barriers to STEM master’s and doctoral degrees. Focused on STEM education and diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Alfred P Sloan Foundation supports multi-institution collaborations, especially those serving high percentages of Pell Grant–eligible undergraduates, with awards up to US $250,000.

Graduate students conducting drinking water quality, environmental science, or public health research can receive US $3,000 through the Dr. Philip C. Singer Scholarship from American Water Works Association. Students in Michigan working on science research related to current water industry challenges may be especially interested in this academic scholarship opportunity.

Nonprofit two- and four-year colleges and universities in Michigan working to expand equitable STEM pathways can apply for Alfred P Sloan Foundation implementation grants, with awards up to US $500,000. Funding supports multi-institution partnerships that scale proven strategies to remove systemic barriers to STEM master’s and doctoral education, especially for low-income and underrepresented students.

Michigan science and engineering faculty at EPSCoR-eligible institutions can access funding through the National Science Foundation to build research capacity and advance their STEM careers through extended collaborations at premier research institutions or NASA centers. Projects may involve chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, engineering, computer science, space science, or STEM education, and can include one student or postdoctoral trainee from an EPSCoR jurisdiction.

Cherokee Nation citizens studying physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, nursing, engineering, or mathematics who live within the Cherokee Nation jurisdictional area can receive scholarship support for undergraduate or graduate study. Grants from Cherokee Nation Foundation help students pursuing advanced STEM education, which may benefit those engaged in science research, including applicants from or connected to Michigan institutions.

Graduating seniors in physical sciences planning post-secondary study at accredited colleges or universities can receive US $4,170 to support their education, renewable annually. With a mission to strengthen education, Daviess County Community Foundation provides this scholarship, which may benefit Michigan science students who meet the specific school and academic criteria.

Graduate students in Earth system sciences attending universities in Canada, the U.S., or Mexico can receive US $40,000 for research, policy, or convergence work connecting science and society. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research provides Michigan and other North American students with multi-year fellowships, mentoring, and funded research visits to UCAR/NSF NCAR locations.

Researchers and research organizations conducting NIH-relevant quantitative science and engineering studies involving health and disease may be eligible for mentored career development support, including in Michigan. Focused on quantitative research integration, the National Institutes of Health invites investigators from fields like mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering to pursue supervised study and research time.

Women pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, physics, or human or animal medicine who reside in the Battle Creek area can receive scholarship support for post-secondary education and training in Michigan and beyond. Grants from Battle Creek Community Foundation help cover total cost of attendance, including tuition, books, fees, equipment, and sometimes childcare or transportation.

High school seniors pursuing engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, or business degrees can receive US $1,000 - US $3,000 through the Lambeth Family Scholarship, administered by Seattle Foundation. Although applicants must be Washington State students attending public universities, community colleges, or technical schools, those interested in chemistry, physics, biology, geology, or related science fields may benefit.

Universities, research institutions, and other eligible organizations conducting energy and physical or life science research can apply for U.S.-wide Office of Science support, including projects based in Michigan. Focused on fundamental science, the Department of Energy invites proposals in areas like chemistry, physics, biology, environmental and computational sciences, with awards from US $50,000 - US $5,000,000.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Neil Ashcroft Early Career Award for Studies of Matter at Extreme High Pressure Conditions

The award recognizes outstanding theoretical or experimental contributions by an early-career scientist to studies of matter at extreme high pressure conditions. This includes static and/or dynamic compressions within the disciplines of Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Earth and Planetary Science, Soft Matter and Biology. The honor is conferred annually and includes of a $5,000 stipend, a certificate citing the contributions of the recipient, and an allowance for travel to an APS meeting to receive the award to deliver an invited lecture at either the biennial SCCM Conference or the APS March Meeting.

Nominations are active for three years provided the the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline and all eligibility criteria are still met.

Community Foundation of New Jersey

Over our 46-year history, the Community Foundation of New Jersey has collaborated with individuals, families, organizations, and businesses to design charitable funds and implement the philanthropic solutions they want to see in their communities. We leverage $1.17 billion in assets and 1,200 funds to help our partners think boldly and creatively about ways to give.

Scholarship Fund Overview

Beyond a shared commitment to educational opportunity, families establish scholarship funds with a variety of goals and purposes in mind. They may offer traditional scholarships or customize fund awards for alternative scholarships.

Currently, CFNJ administers more than 135 scholarship funds. Our scholarship opportunities run the gamut, from those exclusive to a local high school or geographic region to those supporting specific majors or career pursuits. Last year, we awarded over $2 million in scholarship assistance to 271 scholars.

Applicants may be evaluated on academic performance; extracurricular activities; community involvement; paid or unpaid work; and a statement of their personal aspirations, educational goals, and demonstrated unmet financial need in our scholarship review process.

David H. Roe Scholarship

This scholarship assists graduating high school seniors from the Greater Newark area who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in mathematics, physics, biology, botany, or chemistry. Applicants must have been accepted to a four-year accredited college/university within the United States and must be entering their freshman year in the fall. If you have not yet been accepted to a college or university, please do not apply at this time. Scholarships are based on merit and unmet financial need.

Michigan science and engineering graduate students using high-performance computing for research can access funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Computational Science Graduate Fellowship. This national fellowship supports U.S. citizens and permanent residents pursuing Ph.D.s at accredited U.S. universities in fields like physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and environmental science who are early in their graduate training.

Early-career academic researchers in physical, mathematical, computational sciences or engineering moving into biological science research in Michigan can receive substantial support for postdoctoral and early faculty work. Burroughs Wellcome Fund provides US $560,000 over five years to degree-granting institutions on behalf of eligible U.S. and Canadian investigators pursuing biomedical science careers.

The Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grant (PCMNCG) supports small college science departments by providing grants for scientific equipment, teaching aids, and library materials. With a maximum funding of $10,000, this initiative promotes excellence in science education and encourages proposals that demonstrate effective integration of requested resources into curricula. Eligible institutions must have fewer than 5,000 students, ensuring that funds significantly impact undergraduate science education across diverse fields.

Beekhuis Scholarship

Award:

• One time award of $4,000.

The 2026 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science will award three $50,000 prizes to exceptional young immigrant scientists in the U.S. This prestigious prize recognizes innovative research contributions in biomedical science. Eligible candidates must be under 38 years old, hold a doctoral degree, and have made significant achievements in their field. The Vilcek Foundation aims to highlight the impact of immigrant scientists on the advancement of biomedical research, fostering diversity and excellence.

The Edison Scholars Program, sponsored by Edison International, offers $12,500 annually to thirty high school seniors pursuing degrees in STEM fields at accredited U.S. colleges. This renewable scholarship supports students who demonstrate financial need and reside in Southern California Edison’s service territory. Scholars also gain access to a paid summer internship after their first year. Eligible majors include engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences, fostering the next generation of innovators and leaders.