Recurring Limited Submissions

Some limited submission opportunities repeat annually or semi-annially. Below is a list of opportunities with institutional limits that  typically recur on a regular basis. The campus announcement dates and due dates listed below are anticipated but are subject to change pending the release of the sponsor's solicitation. The listed dates are projected based on historical announcements and due dates; they should be viewed as forecasts for planning purposes.

To view limited submissions that have been announced for 2025, please visit our Program Announcements page.

Opportunities for Faculty or Staff

Sponsor Opportunity Title Institutional Limit Summary Anticipated Month VCRO Announces Campus Process Anticipated Month of Campus Application Deadline Anticipated Month Applications due to Sponsor
Breast Cancer Alliance Exceptional Project Grants 1 Supports creative, unique, and innovative breast cancer research by researchers at any stage of their careers. January February March
Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) 2 Brings together multidisciplinary teams of researchers to address the toughest grand scientific challenges at the forefront of fundamental energy science research. Topics shift with each solicitation. January  February March (tyoically every other year)
Council on Library and Information Resources Recordings at Risk 1 Supports the preservation of rare and unique audio and audiovisual content of high scholarly value. January  February April
National Science Foundation Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) 2 Supports the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM graduate education training.  January  February April
National Science Foundation Partnerships for Innovation- Research Partnerships 1 Funds projects that translate prior NSF-funded research results in any field of science or engineering into technological innovations with promising commercial potential and societal impact. The PI must have had an NSF award that ended no more than 7 years prior. February March May
National Institutes of Health Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams 2 Supports projects that address complex and challenging biomedical problems that would benefit from the integrated efforts of teams/labs employing complementary approaches with multiple areas of expertise. March April May
Mellon Foundation Higher Learning Program 3 Supports humanities research in areas of the foundations interest. March April May (typically invited every other year)
National Institutes of Health S10 Instrumentation Programs - SIG and HEI There is no restriction on the number of SIG/HEI applications an institution can submit each year provided the applications request different types of equipment. Provides funds to purchase or upgrade expensive, state-of-the-art, commercially available instruments that are needed for NIH-supported projects.  March April June
W.M. Keck Foundation Fall Cycle Research Grants 1 per track, 2 total Supports high risk-high reward, paradigm-shifting research projects that enable new directions in Medical Research and Science & Engineering. March April November
Public Interest Technology University Network PIT-UN Challenge 3 Seeks to encourage new ideas, foster collaborations, and incentivize the sharing of resources and information among a national network of universities working to create a robust public interest technology field. April May May
Brain Research Foundation Scientific Innovations Award 1 Supports neuroscience projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings. Applicants must be full time associate or full professors. April May June
Conservation, Food and Health Foundation Grants 1 Supports parnerships that seek to protect natural resources, improve the production and distribution of food, and promote public health in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.  April May July
National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program 2 Supports interdisciplinary, evidence-based traineeships that advance ways for graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs to pursue a range of STEM careers. May June September
G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation’ Basic and Translational Research Grants in the Life Sciences 3 Supports potentially transformative basic and translational science projects in the life sciences.  May June October
Engineering Information Foundation Engineering Communitcation and Women in Engineering Grant 1 per track, 2 total Supports developmental projects, instructional projects, and training programs in engineering education and research. May June August
National Institutes of Health Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program 1 Supports programs that will support cohorts of research-oriented students to transfer from associate degree-granting institutions to baccalaureate degree-granting institutions and complete a baccalaureate degree in disciplines related to the biomedical sciences.  June July September
National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) 2 Track 2, 1 Track 1, and 1 Track 3, 4 total To increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation through the acquisition or development of research instruments that are too costly or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. June July November
Schmidt Sciences Schmidt Science Polymaths 2 Funds creative, recently-tenured professors (tenured within 3 years) with multidisciplinary track records, promising futures, and research ideas that cross field boundaries and could lead to impactful breakthroughs. June July August
National Institutes of Health Modern Equipment for Shared-use Biomedical Research Facilities 1 Provides funds to transform or improve the operations of existing shared research facilities through the purchase and installation of the latest equipment that enable and enhance a broad range of research-supporting activities. August August September
National Science Foundation Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships 3 Supports exceptionally innovative, complex research and education projects that require large-scale, long-term awards. STCs focus on creating new scientific paradigms, establishing entirely new scientific disciplines and developing transformative technologies which have the potential for broad scientific or societal impact. August September November (typically every 2-3 years)
Carnegie Corporation of New York Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program 2, 1 junior and 1 senior scholar Supports extraordinary scholars and writers performing high-caliber research in the humanities and social sciences. Topics of interest change every few years. Currently, the foundation is interested in Political Polarization. August September November
Mellon Foundation Mellon Sawyer Seminars 1 Supports comparative research on historical and contemporary topics of scholarly significance. August September November
W.M. Keck Foundation Spring Cycle Research Grants 1 per track, 2 total Supports high risk-high reward, paradigm-shifting research projects that enable new directions in Medical Research and Science & Engineering. September October February
St. Baldrick's Foundation Pediatric Cancer Grants 3, 1 per track Supports research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.  October October December
Department of State Internet Freedom Program 2 Supports programs to protect the open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet by promoting fundamental freedoms, human rights, and the free flow of information online through integrated support to civil society.  October November  January
Conservation, Food and Health Foundation Grants 1 Supports parnerships that seek to protect natural resources, improve the production and distribution of food, and promote public health in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.  October November  January
National Institutes of Health Biomedical Research Facilities (C06) 1 Provides support to upgrade or create novel biomedical research infrastructure to strengthen biomedical research programs. October November  January
National Institutes of Health Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams 2 Supports projects that address complex and challenging biomedical problems that would benefit from the integrated efforts of teams/labs employing complementary approaches with multiple areas of expertise. November November  January
National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) 2 Seeks to increase the success of domestic low-income students with academic ability, talent or potential and demonstrated financial need who are pursuing associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees in eligible disciplines of strategic importance for the Nation. November December March
G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation’ Basic and Translational Research Grants in the Life Sciences 3 Supports potentially transformative basic and translational science projects in the life sciences.  November December March
National Endowment for the Arts Grants for Arts Projects 1 Provides project-based funding to support opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector.  December December February

Opportunities for Early-Career Faculty

The eligibility for some limited submission opportunities is limited to early-career faculty. Each sponsor defines "early-career" differently, so please refer to the specific opportunity's eligibility guidelines to confirm your eligibility. 

Sponsor Opportunity Title Institutional Limit Summary Anticipated Month VCRO Announces Campus Process Anticipated Month of Campus Application Deadline Anticipated Month Applications due to Sponsor
Breast Cancer Alliance Young Investigator Grants 1 Supports those at an early stage in their research career (Faculty with less than four years in a tenure track position) through seed funding to enable larger, longer-term grants. January February March
David & Lucille Packard Foundation Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering 2 Invests in future leaders who have the freedom to take risks, explore new frontiers, and follow uncharted paths that may lead to groundbreaking discoveries in the natural and physical sciences or engineering. Applicants must be faculty within the first three years of their careers. January February April
Pew Charitable Trusts Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research 1 Supports assistant professors of outstanding promise conducting innovative, cutting-edge, basic cancer research that may accelerate and advance progress toward a cure for cancer. Applicants must be within three years of their first assistant professor appointment. February April May
Pew Charitable Trusts Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences 1 Provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. Applicants must be within three years of their first assistant professor appointment. February April May
William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Program 1 per school/college Funds five-year research and mentoring plans that significantly expand researchers’ expertise in new disciplines, methods, and content areas. The foundation’s mission is to support research to improve the lives of young people ages 5-25 in the United States. Applicants must be faculty who recieved their terminal degree within the last 7 years. March April July
American Diabetes Association Pathway to Stop Diabetes Awards 2 Supports early-career postdocs and faculty focusing on innovative ideas and transformational approaches that will lead to ground-breaking discoveries in diabetes prevention, management and cures. April May July
Mallinckrodt Foundation Biomedical Research Grant 1 Supports early stage investigators (Tenure-Track faculty in their first to fourth year) engaged in basic biomedical research that has the potential to significantly advance the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of disease.  May June August
Kinship Foundation Searle Scholars Program 3 Supports outstanding early-career scientists who are pursuing independent research careers in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and related areas in chemistry, medicine, and the biological sciences.  June July September
Greenwall Foundation Faculty Scholars Program 1 A career development award to enable faculty members to carry out innovative bioethics research. July August September
Rita Allen Foundation Rita Allen Scholars 1 Recognizes early-career scholars (in the first three years of their tenure track appointment) who demonstrate extraordinary promise in basic biomedical research in the fields of cancer, immunology, and neuroscience. July August September
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Moore Inventor Fellows 2 Invests in individuals within ten years of receiving their terminal degree who are harnessing science and technology solutions to enhance scientific research, strengthen environmental conservation, or improve the experience and outcomes of patient care.  August September November
Brain Research Foundation Seed Grants 1 Supports new and innovative neuroscience projects, especially those of junior faculty, who are working in new research directions. September October December
The Vallee Foundation Vallee Scholars Award 1 A career development award to exceptional, early stage, independent investigators to engage in bold and innovative research in the biomedical sciences. Applicants must have received their terminal degree within 12 years and be in the first 6 years of an independent research position. September November  December
Mallinckrodt Foundation Scholars Program 2 Supports early-stage investigators (in the fifth to eighth year of a tenure-track position) engaged in basic biomedical research that has the potential to significantly advance the understanding, diagnosis or treatment of disease. October November  January (every other year)
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards 1 Supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty (appointed to a Tenure-Track position in the last 5 years) in the chemical sciences, including biochemistry, materials chemistry, and chemical engineering. November November  February
Agilent Early Career Professor 2 Promotes and encourages research excellence on topics of importance to Agilent and the world and to establish strong collaborative relationships with emerging academic leaders early in their career (completed PhD within 12 years). December December February
Ono Pharma Foundation Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards 2 Supports individuals with 15 or fewer years on experience who are working on innovative research at the interface of chemistry and biology.  December January February

Opportunities for Postdocs

Sponsor Opportunity Title Institutional Limit Summary Anticipated Month VCRO Announces Campus Process Anticipated Month of Campus Application Deadline Anticipated Month Applications due to Sponsor
National Institutes of Health NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers 1 per track, 4 total Supports postdocs with less than 2 years of postdoctoral research experience to transition from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions. March April June
AXA Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellowships 1 Provices fellowships to postdocs within 5 years of receiving their PhD. The topic of interest changes annually. The theme for this 2024's program was navigating misinformation and trust erosion in the digital age. April April May
American Diabetes Association Pathway to Stop Diabetes Awards 2 Supports early-career postdocs and faculty focusing on innovative ideas and transformational approaches that will lead to ground-breaking discoveries in diabetes prevention, management and cures. April May July
National Institutes of Health NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers 4 To facilitate a timely transition of postdocs (with no more than 2 years of postdoctoral research experience) from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions.  July August October

Opportunities for Graduate Students

Note that limited submission opportunities for students are typically coordinated through chairs' and/or deans' offices. Please reach out to ltdsubs@berkeley.edu for infomation about the campus process for these opportunities.

Sponsor Opportunity Title Institutional Limit Summary Anticipated Month VCRO Announces Campus Process Anticipated Month of Campus Application Deadline Anticipated Month Applications due to Sponsor
Google PhD Fellowships Program 4 Recognizes outstanding PhD students doing exceptional and innovative research in areas relevant to computer science and related fields. February April  May
National Institutes of Health Director’s Early Independence Awards 2 Supports junior investigators (gradstudents and postdocs) who have demonstrated unusual scientific vision and maturity to accellerate their entry into independent research.  May June September
Apple Apple Scholars in AI/ML 3 Supports the work of outstanding PhD students who are pursuing cutting edge research in machine learning and artificial intelligence. June July September
IBM PhD Fellowships Program 4 Supports graduate students whose research work aligns with IBM’s strategic directions in Semiconductor Technology, Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Multi-Cloud Computing and Hybrid Cloud Platforms for AI, Security, and Responsible Computing. July August August
Eno Center for Transportation Future Leaders Development Conference 2 Berkeley may nominate up to two masters or PhD students in transportation programs to attend the annual conference in Washington, D.C. December December January