Best Grants for Science Research in Indiana

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.

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.

Doctoral candidates at Indiana universities in the Big Ten Academic Alliance can receive Smithsonian Institution fellowships supporting dissertation research in fields such as biology, earth sciences, anthropology, art history, and U.S. history. Awards up to US $50,000 include a stipend and research allowance for 3–12 months of Smithsonian-based work.

Academic researchers and graduate students conducting non-commercial geography education research in Indiana can apply for grants of US $5,000 - US $10,000 to support their projects. Grants from National Geographic Society help Indiana science and earth science researchers study educational approaches, learning outcomes, or tools, producing deliverables such as white papers, empirical studies, theses, or dissertations.

American Physical Society provides Indiana physics faculty with an annual Doc Brown Young Investigator Award recognizing outstanding research. Eligible nominees are early-career EGLS APS member lecturers or faculty within six years of appointment at institutions in Indiana, Michigan, or Ohio, with undergraduate co-authors and a tenured faculty nomination, who attend the spring EGLS meeting.

Indiana higher education institutions and organizations serving STEM undergraduates can access funding through the Alfred P Sloan Foundation to plan partnerships that improve pathways to STEM master’s and doctoral programs. Planning grants up to US $75,000 support multi-institution collaborations that assess barriers to student success and design concrete strategies to expand equitable STEM graduate education opportunities.

Indiana colleges, universities, and higher education-serving nonprofits can access funding to pilot partnerships that remove systemic barriers to STEM master’s and doctoral education. Focused on STEM education and diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Alfred P Sloan Foundation supports multi-institution seed projects nationwide, with awards up to US $250,000 for 1–2 years of collaborative work.

Universities and research institutions conducting science and engineering research in Indiana can apply for National Science Foundation support to host undergraduate Research Experiences for Undergraduates projects. Grants from National Science Foundation help Indiana science research programs engage undergraduates in meaningful, mentored research through REU Sites or REU Supplements across NSF-funded disciplines, including chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, and related STEM fields.

Nonprofit two- and four-year colleges and universities in Indiana conducting STEM education and research can apply for Alfred P. Sloan Foundation implementation grants, with awards up to US $500,000 for 2–3 years. Funding supports multi-institution partnerships that expand proven pathways to STEM master’s and doctoral degrees, especially for low-income and underrepresented students.

Indiana PhD students in eligible scientific fields who need research facilities or expertise abroad can access funding through the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for up to two-month research visits. Awards of US $6,000 support U.S. citizens conducting supervised PhD research at accredited institutions, traveling to partner institutions in Israel or the U.S.

Graduate students conducting science research on drinking water quality, environmental science, or public health in Indiana and beyond can apply for the Dr. Philip C. Singer Scholarship, awarding US $3,000 for impactful research. Focused on water-related challenges, American Water Works Association seeks projects with actionable, timely outcomes for the water industry.

Indiana science researchers in eligible chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, and related fields can access funding through the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for collaborative projects with Israeli partners. Junior principal investigators within 10 years of earning a Ph.D. or M.D. may receive up to US $90,000 for two-year start-up research grants.

Undergraduate natural science majors of Polish descent in the U.S. can receive support for full-time studies through this competitive scholarship, including students from Indiana. Grants from Kosciuszko Foundation help chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, earth science, and biochemistry students with a US $5,000 award for tuition and related educational costs.

Indiana STEM faculty at EPSCoR-eligible institutions can access funding through the National Science Foundation to build research capacity and advance their careers through extended collaborations at leading research centers. Projects in areas like chemistry, physics, biology, earth science, engineering, and related fields may be supported, including participation of one student or postdoctoral trainee.

Researchers and research institutions conducting quantitative, NIH-relevant health and disease studies in Indiana can seek mentored career development support through this K25 award. Focused on integrating mathematics, statistics, engineering, computer science, imaging, and related fields into biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health provides protected time for supervised study and research across the U.S., including Indiana.

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.

Graduating seniors from Washington Community or North Daviess High School in Indiana planning to study physical sciences at an accredited college or university can receive US $4,170 in renewable scholarship support. With a mission to serve local students, Daviess County Community Foundation backs majors in chemistry, physics, astronomy, earth science, meteorology, mineralogy, and related fields.

The DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) supports U.S. citizens and permanent residents pursuing Ph.D. degrees in computational sciences. Established in 1991, it provides a $45,000 annual stipend, full tuition, and a $1,000 professional development allowance over a maximum of four years. The program encourages interdisciplinary research, offering fellows practical experience in DOE laboratories, enhancing their careers in high-performance computing and scientific research across various fields.

Early-career academic researchers in physical, mathematical, computational sciences or engineering pursuing biological science postdoctoral work can receive US $560,000 over five years to support their transition to faculty roles, including those based in Indiana. The 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 high school seniors pursuing undergraduate studies in mathematics, physics, biology, botany, or chemistry can access funding through the David H. Roe Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of New Jersey. Students from the Greater Newark area planning four-year science degrees may be eligible; Indiana science-focused applicants should review geographic requirements carefully.

Universities, research institutions, and other eligible science organizations in Indiana can seek funding for advanced computing, energy, physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental research. Focused on fundamental and applied science, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science invites proposals under this open, multi-year opportunity, with awards ranging from US $50,000 - US $5,000,000.

The UCAR Next Generation Fellowship offers graduate students a unique opportunity to engage in Earth System Science research while addressing societal impacts. With a $40,000 fellowship over two years, participants can expect mentorship from UCAR leaders and professional development training. This program encourages interdisciplinary exploration, allowing fellows to collaborate closely with experts, attend conferences, and build lasting networks. It aims to empower diverse students as future change-makers in the field, fostering a commitment to equity and innovation.

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 students pursuing advanced STEM education, which may benefit those conducting science research, including applicants from Indiana who meet these criteria.

High school seniors in Washington State planning to study engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, or business can receive US $1,000 - US $3,000 through the Lambeth Family Scholarship. Seattle Foundation provides support that may benefit students interested in science-related fields, including those comparable to research-focused programs in Indiana institutions.

Women pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, physics, or human or animal medicine who are U.S. citizens or certain eligible non-citizens may receive scholarship support for post-secondary study, including in Indiana. Grants from Battle Creek Community Foundation help cover total cost of attendance, such as tuition, books, fees, equipment, and sometimes childcare or transportation.

The ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE) program aims to advance plasma science research by addressing societal challenges through multidisciplinary collaboration. It encourages proposals that integrate fundamental scientific inquiries with technological applications, fostering innovation in areas such as environmental remediation, advanced manufacturing, and nanotechnology. Proposals should align with NSF priorities and promote diversity in STEM, enhancing workforce development and broadening participation from underrepresented groups.

The MMUF Dissertation Grant, funded by the Mellon Foundation, supports doctoral candidates who are alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. This grant aids scholars in completing their dissertations, ensuring diverse perspectives are represented in academia. With up to $30,000 for a 12-month period, the program encourages candidates to secure additional funding from their institutions. The initiative aims to bolster access to education and foster understanding among varied backgrounds, ultimately enhancing the academic landscape.