Funding Opportunities

IISG provides funding to researchers in Illinois and Indiana who are working on issues of importance to the southern Lake Michigan region. If you would like to receive emails related to funding competitions,including career opportunities,please subscribe to our mailing list.

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Funding is competitively awarded following procedures outlined in each request for proposals or applications (RFP or RFA). The RFP or RFA document details all steps that applicants should follow for that competition, including evaluation criteria reviewers will use to assess the proposed work.

Work can typically be completed outside of the immediate Lake Michigan vicinity, provided strong connections are made between potential impacts of the proposed work and the southern Lake Michigan region or surrounding communities. IISG typically supports Illinois- and Indiana-based researchers, but occasionally funding opportunities are open to researchers outside of our two states.

If a researcher has an idea for a pilot project that fits with IISG’s mission and would cost less than $10,000 including indirect costs, they are encouraged to contact IISG with their idea.

OPPORTUNITIES

Applicants to Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant should review the following templates and guidance. 

Lake Michigan Science and Monitoring Research Competition: OPEN

This funding opportunity will support promising research that addresses the 2025 Lake Michigan Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative (CSMI) priorities. Specific priorities of interest are nearshore dynamics and overwinter sampling. CSMI is an effort instituted under the Science Annex of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) to coordinate science and monitoring activities in one of the five Great Lakes each year to generate data and information for environmental management agencies. The 2025 Lake Michigan CSMI priorities were developed by the Lake Michigan Partnership, a collaborative team of natural resources managers established under the Lakewide Management Annex of the GLWQA.

This competition will fund up to $75,000 a year for two years (maximum $150,000).  Funded projects should start by July 1, 2025 and end by June 30, 2027

View full request for proposals for more information.

Applicants should submit materials via https://esg.iiseagrant.org/ by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on February 6, 2025.

One-year research projects: CLOSED

Competitions happen as funding is available. Funding for one-year projects is typically $10,000-$25,000 for not more than one year. The amount applicants can request is listed in the RFP or RFA.

2025 IISG Scholars competition: OPEN

IISG scholars programs are professional networking and development opportunities for graduate students and faculty from institutes of higher learning in Illinois and Indiana who wish to develop extension, education, or communication capacities related to their scholarly interests. 

The 2025 IISG Scholars competition for Graduate Students only is currently open. The IISG Faculty Scholars Program is on hiatus for 2025 but faculty with research ideas that could benefit the IISG mission are encouraged to contact IISG to discuss them.

Applicants should submit materials via https://esg.iiseagrant.org/ by April 9, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Applications should be submitted to the “IL-IN SG 2025 Scholars Competition.”

Awards are issued for one year and activities should be completed during that year. IISG expects to support 6–10 graduate student scholars in 2025. Projects are anticipated to start June 1, 2025 and end May 31, 2026. More information can be found here. View the full request for applications at this link. 

Two-year research projects: OPEN

Competitions typically occur every two years. Funding typically ranges from $40,000-$120,000 per year for two years. The specific opportunity you are applying to will outline the total amount that can be requested, and if cost share (match) is required.

The competition for 2-year research projects is currently open. IISG plans to award successful projects up to $200,000 per project ($100,000 per year) with a 50% non-federal match requirement. Funded projects should begin no earlier than February 1, 2026 and end no later than January 31, 2028.

Prospective PIs must submit a pre-proposal to be considered for funding. Preproposal materials should be submitted via https://esg.iiseagrant.org/ by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 5, 2025. Applicants should apply to the “IL-IN SG 2025 2-Year Research Competition”.

More information on priorities for this funding cycle can be found here. You can also view the full request for proposals for more information.

 

National competitions: VARIABLE

The National Sea Grant Office periodically requests proposals for research and outreach projects in topics of regional and national importance. Recent competitions have focused on aquaculture, American lobster, and marine debris. Topics for future competitions will vary.

Further information, plus other national competitions, are listed here: https://seagrant.noaa.gov/Funding. 

Fellowships & Scholarships

Find additional opportunities for faculty and graduate students on our Fellowships & Scholarships page.

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