University-wide funding opportunities
Bridge Grant
The Bridge Grant program provides support for externally funded investigators who have lost extramural funding in the past twelve months or will lose their extramural funding within six months of the application submission. These funds provide temporary support to retain key personnel and maintain project momentum until funding can be secured again from external sources.
Deadline: open through June 5, 2026 with quarterly reviews
Maximum amount: $50,000 Grant plus 50% match
Eastman Residency for the Arts and Humanities
Supports IU faculty working on arts and humanities research and creative activity by providing residencies from one to three weeks on the IU-owned Eastman property on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.
Deadline: TBD
Residency of one to three weeks, $500 award
External Resubmission Grant
The External Resubmission Grant program supports new research projects that were previously submitted for, but did not receive, external funding, and whose likelihood of funding on resubmission would increase with the acquisition of additional data or proof of concept.
Deadline: open through June 5, 2026 with quarterly reviews
Maximum amount: $50,000
IU 2030 Emerging Frontiers Grant
The IU 2030 Emerging Frontiers Grant program is a new initiative designed to support the formation of high-caliber, interdisciplinary research teams within IU. These teams are expected to develop bold and innovative research or creative projects capable of competing for substantial external funding (at least $1 million per project) from federal agencies or other external sources. The long-term goal of the Emerging Frontiers Grant program is to help build the pipeline for large-scale, teams-based projects over $5 million per project to align with the IU 2030 Strategic Plan goal of doubling $5 million externally-funded projects by 2030.
Deadline: November 1, 2025
Maximum amount: $50,000
IU Presidential Arts and Humanities Program
Supports path-breaking work in arts and humanities areas. Funding is available through four programs.
Deadline: See specific programs.
Funding varies
Layered-Learning Program for Undergraduate (UG) Researchers
The Layered-Learning Program for Undergraduate Researchers is designed to support collaboration between undergraduate students and faculty, research staff, postdocs and/or graduate students. The program’s main objectives are three-fold including:
- Providing undergraduate students with the opportunity to have a high impact, high value undergraduate research experience utilizing a cohort model.
- Providing faculty with the opportunity to expand their research program, pursue new opportunities, and to potentially increase research outcomes (new grants, papers, etc.).
- Serving as a scalable way to offer more undergraduate students the opportunity to pursue research experiences.
Deadline: February 15, 2026
$65,000 maximum award amount per PI applicant.
Public Arts and Humanities Project
Funds new projects that benefit the community and state at large through partnership and collaboration with civic or other community organizations.
Deadline: Closed for FY 2025
Maximum amount: $25,000
Research Conference Grant
The Research Conference Grant program purpose is to convene scholars from other institutions around the country and the world with IU faculty and students to explore novel ideas and initiatives, expand scholarly networks, and build new research and creative activity partnerships. Preference will be given to proposed conferences that are interdisciplinary and/or advance innovative ideas and themes within areas of research or creative activity consistent with the goals and objectives of the IU 2030 Strategic Plan.
Deadline: open through June 5, 2026 with quarterly reviews
Maximum amount: $10,000 Grant plus 50% match
Research Equipment Fund
The Research Equipment Fund (REF) provides support for purchasing new research or creative activity equipment, for repairing or upgrading existing equipment, and for datasets at IU university-wide that are strategically necessary to support high-quality research, attract and retain research faculty, and generate external funding. All requests to IU Research should be more than $5K (after the required cost-share is secured). There is no maximum request. There is no specified annual limit of funds available for this program. Funds will be allocated as available and consistent with the requirements of this program. This program requires matching funds.
Deadline: open through June 5, 2026
There is no maximum request.
Research Micro Grant
The Research Micro Grant program provides funding for small research projects, research expenses, publishing, and other research related items in support of faculty research and creative activities that are sustainable through external funding.
Deadline: open through June 5, 2026 with quarterly reviews
Maximum amount: $3,000
Seed Grant
The Seed Grant program supports new, innovative research or creative activity projects that are sustainable through external funding. Seed Grant awardees are required to submit proposals for external funding based on their Seed Grant awarded research project within two years of the award letter date.
Deadline: October 1, 2025 and April 1, 2026
Maximum amount: $50,000
Bloomington funding opportunities
Competitive funding programs
Faculty Assistance in Data Science
The Program for Faculty Assistance in Data Science (FADS) is designed to provide access to expertise and assistance in advanced data analytics, data visualization, and database development for the purpose of catalyzing faculty research. This program pairs faculty in any discipline with graduate students pursuing a M.S. in Data Science (MSDS) through the Luddy School of Informatics for summer research internships.
Deadline: September 19, 2025
N/A
Open Access Article Publishing Fund
Deadline: Closed for FY 2025.
Please note that some IU Libraries agreements include coverage of publishing fees. These agreements change from time to time. Researchers can visit https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/OApublishing for more information and contact Willa Tavernier at wtavern@iu.edu. If applicable to your research you should use these benefits instead of the OA Fund.
Maximum amount: $2,000
Nominations required
Distinguished Faculty Research Award and Lecture (DFRL)
The Distinguished Faculty Research Award and Lecture recognizes the research achievements of an IU Bloomington faculty member whose work makes important contributions to society.
Award amount: $5,000
