Best Grants for Science Research in Tennessee

The FY26 Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) aims to enhance research capabilities in eligible states by increasing the number of university researchers and institutions conducting relevant science and engineering research. Sponsored by the Department of Defense, this program will fund multiyear awards to promote research aligned with national security needs. Applications require a multi-stage submission process, emphasizing early registration and timely proposal submissions.

Physics educators, researchers, and leaders advancing physics in Tennessee and the broader Southeast can be nominated for American Physical Society’s SESAPS Francis Slack Award, recognizing exceptional service to the physics community. Eligible contributions include building research facilities, strengthening physics departments, leading regional physics organizations, forming consortia, and organizing outreach or major conferences, with encouragement for women and minority nominees.

Professional biologists conducting research in fields like biology who are ASB members and presenting at the annual meeting can apply for the Association of Southeastern Biologists’ research award, offering US $1,000 for outstanding work. Researchers in Tennessee and other eligible Southeastern states may benefit if they meet authorship and presentation requirements.

Tennessee science research PhD students needing overseas facilities or expertise can access funding through the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for short-term research visits. Grants of US $6,000 support 2‑month trips for U.S. citizens to Israel or Israeli citizens to the U.S. in eligible scientific fields such as chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science.

Tennessee science researchers in early independent careers conducting collaborative projects with Israeli partners can access funding through the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for two-year basic research in fields like chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science. Eligible junior principal investigators must be within ten 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 studying full time in the U.S. can receive US $5,000 for tuition through the Drs. James and Wanda Trefil Science Scholarship. Grants from Kosciuszko Foundation help students in fields like chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science, including those from Tennessee, pursue their degrees.

Universities, colleges, and research institutions conducting STEM research can access funding to support undergraduate research experiences in Tennessee and nationwide. Grants from National Science Foundation help science research programs involve undergraduates in meaningful research through REU Sites or REU Supplements across fields like chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, engineering, and related disciplines, with awards ranging from US $5,000 - US $500,000.

Nonprofit U.S. colleges, universities, and higher education partners, including those in Tennessee, can apply for Alfred P. Sloan Foundation implementation grants of up to US $500,000 to expand proven STEM pathways between undergraduate and graduate programs. Funding supports multi-institution collaborations that remove systemic barriers to STEM master’s and doctoral degrees, especially for students from underserved backgrounds.

Tennessee STEM research faculty at EPSCoR-eligible institutions can access funding to build research capacity and advance their careers through extended collaborations with leading research centers. Tennessee science research organizations may benefit where faculty-led projects strengthen institutional R&D infrastructure and student training. The National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR Research Fellows program supports fields like chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, engineering, and more.

The BSF Research Grants program supports collaborative research between U.S. and Israeli scientists, focusing on basic science projects. Annually, approximately 400 applications are submitted, with around 100 grants awarded. To foster collaboration, joint publications are essential for evaluation. Applications are accepted once per year in mid-November, with results announced the following July. Since its inception in 1972, the BSF has funded over 5,400 high-quality research initiatives, distributing more than $700 million.

Tennessee higher education institutions serving STEM undergraduates can access funding through the Alfred P Sloan Foundation to plan partnerships that remove systemic barriers to STEM master’s and doctoral pathways. Nonprofit two- and four-year broad access colleges working collaboratively on equity-focused planning projects may be eligible for up to US $75,000 for one year of work.

Graduate students conducting drinking water quality, environmental science, or public health research can receive US $3,000 for actionable, timely projects through the Dr. Philip C. Singer Scholarship. Focused on water-related science, American Water Works Association invites Tennessee researchers and others in North America to advance solutions for current water industry challenges.

Nonprofit colleges, universities, and higher education–serving organizations collaborating on STEM pathways projects can access funding to pilot partnership activities that reduce systemic barriers to STEM graduate education, including in Tennessee. Focused on STEM and equity, the Alfred P Sloan Foundation invites multi-institution teams to test and assess new approaches, with awards up to US $250,000 for 1–2 years.

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.

Researchers and research institutions conducting NIH-relevant quantitative health and disease studies, including in Tennessee, can apply for mentored career development support through the National Institutes of Health. Focused on integrating mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, physics, and related fields, this K25 award provides supervised research time to transition into biomedical and health-focused research careers.

Graduating high school seniors in the Greater Newark area planning undergraduate studies in mathematics, physics, biology, botany, or chemistry can receive scholarship support for U.S. four-year colleges. Grants from Community Foundation of New Jersey help students with strong academics and unmet financial need, which may benefit Tennessee-focused science education pathways indirectly.

Cherokee Nation citizens studying physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, nursing, engineering, or mathematics who reside within the Cherokee Nation jurisdictional area can receive one-year scholarship support for junior, senior, or graduate study. Grants from Cherokee Nation Foundation help science and engineering students, including those from Tennessee with Cherokee citizenship, reduce higher education costs and student debt.

Women pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, physics, or human or animal medicine may be eligible for scholarship support that can benefit Tennessee-based science students. Grants from Battle Creek Community Foundation help cover post-secondary costs such as tuition, books, fees, equipment, and sometimes childcare or transportation, with payments sent directly to educational institutions.

Seattle high school seniors in Washington State pursuing engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, or business degrees can receive US $1,000 - US $3,000 through the Lambeth Family Scholarship, renewable for up to four years. Students planning to study chemistry, physics, biology, geology, or related science fields may be especially interested in this support.

Tennessee graduate students pursuing Ph.D. research that applies high-performance computing to science or engineering problems can access funding through the United States Department of Energy; support includes stipend, tuition, and practicum opportunities. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in early-stage graduate study at accredited U.S. universities across fields like physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering.

Early-career academic researchers in physical, mathematical, computational sciences or engineering transitioning into biological sciences can receive US $560,000 over five years to support postdoctoral and early faculty research, including in Tennessee. Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Career Awards at the Scientific Interface are made to degree-granting institutions on behalf of individual investigators in the U.S. and Canada.

Graduating seniors in the upper third of their class at Washington Community or North Daviess High School pursuing physical science majors can receive US $4,170 for accredited post-secondary study. With a mission to support education, Daviess County Community Foundation provides renewable scholarships that may benefit students interested in chemistry, physics, or earth science research beyond Tennessee.

Graduate students in Earth system sciences attending universities in Canada, the U.S., or Mexico can receive UCAR Next Generation Fellowship support for science research and its societal impacts. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research provides fellows with US $40,000 over two years, paid research visits, conference funding, and professional development to collaborate with UCAR/NSF NCAR experts.

The Cottrell STAR Award recognizes exceptional research and educational achievements of Cottrell Scholars and Holland Award recipients. It aims to enhance science education at U.S. and Canadian universities, promoting the Cottrell Scholars' national profile. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize, with applications initiated through nominations. Highlighted at the summer Cottrell Scholar Conference, the award supports a vibrant community of early career faculty committed to innovative research and teaching in the physical sciences.

The Cottrell SEED: Exceptional Opportunities grant supports high-impact research activities for Cottrell Scholars and Holland Award recipients. It encourages innovative projects at primarily undergraduate institutions, with a maximum award of $60,000. The initiative aims to advance existing research to new levels of innovation and impact. Eligible applicants include those six years post-Cottrell Scholar Award, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration. Preference is given to proposals in Physics and Astronomy in odd years, while Chemistry is prioritized in even years.

Beekhuis Scholarship

Award:

• One time award of $4,000.

The Cottrell SEED: New Research Directions grant supports early career researchers in chemistry, physics, and astronomy to launch innovative projects. With a maximum award of $60,000, this initiative encourages interdisciplinary and exploratory research without requiring preliminary data. Eligible applicants include Cottrell Scholars and Holland Award recipients, with a focus on fostering a diverse scientific community. The grant aims to enhance impactful research and academic leadership, aligning with the mission of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement.