Announcements | Division of Research

Federal Funding Update

The university is monitoring this evolving situation closely. The university has also established a webpage where additional information is available: research.umd.edu/federalupdate

SPINPlus Webinar - Sign Up!

Want to take control of how you discover funding opportunities that align with your research? Join us for an upcoming SPINPlus webinar, where you’ll learn how to use this powerful funding search tool available to all UMD faculty, staff, and students – for free!

Webinar Dates:
Tuesday, Mar 4, 2025, 3:00 – 4:00 PM

Location: Zoom

Register Now

1:1 NIH Proposal Development Consultation

The Research Development Office is offering 1:1 consultations on strategic approaches to NIH grant applications and responsiveness to NIH’s evolving priorities and review criteria. Investigators applying to any NIH mechanisms, including research projects (e.g. R01, R21), training grants (e.g. T32), program projects/centers (e.g. P01), career development awards (e.g. K awards), as well as specific mechanisms (e.g. Katz award) are welcome. Please plan to share a one page summary of your proposed work in advance of meeting.

Please email Michelle Smith (msmith02@umd.edu) with questions or to schedule a meeting.

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UMD I-CORPS Workshops

The regional UMD I-Corps Customer Discovery Workshops introduce teams and individuals with innovations to the concepts of business models and customer discovery. UMD offers several live (over Zoom), instructor-led I-Corps workshops each year. You may only join these cohorts with instructor approval upon completing I-Corps Prep, a self-paced, online course.

I-Corps Prep: The I-Corps Prep mini course is the required first step of participating in I-Corps. It is self-paced, and allows you to enroll and complete it at any time.

Upcoming Workshops - Next series starts March 7, 2025. Click links below for more information.

On The Horizon

The UMD Research Development Office, RD Capture Director, and Strategic Intelligence Analyst support our faculty by providing pre-competition intelligence with recommended actions and support.

Did You Know

Proactively engaging with new government program managers can significantly enhance your research visibility and funding opportunities. By presenting your technologies using a quad chart, you can effectively communicate your innovations and their potential impact. Schedule a time with Patrick M. Mendez, UMD’s Research Development Capture Director, to discuss your technology and identify potential federal customers who might align with your research interests. Let's collaborate to bring your research to the forefront!

New and Upcoming Programs

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
New Programs

DARPA-EA-25-02-04: Crystal Substrate Bonding Technologies and Algorithms (CRYSTAL)
The CRYSTAL program seeks to revolutionize wafer bonding by developing predictive models for integrating thin-film crystal materials onto compatible substrates. Bonded single-crystal thin-film multi-functional materials are essential for next-generation electro-optic, acousto-electric, and quantum-enabled platforms, yet current bonding processes rely on costly and time-consuming empirical experimentation. CRYSTAL will develop a computational framework that models wafer bonding dynamics under varying process conditions—such as temperature, pressure, ion implantation dose, and interface chemistry—allowing researchers to predict optimal bonding parameters and rapidly explore novel material systems. By establishing generalizable bonding models, the program will accelerate the design, fabrication, and scalable integration of advanced material-substrate platforms, including lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI), lithium tantalate, and silicon carbide, among others.
Our Department of Materials Science and Engineering, IREAP, and the QMC researchers may find this program highly relevant. CRYSTAL’s emphasis on wafer-scale integration of functional materials aligns with ongoing research in semiconductor physics, nanofabrication, and quantum photonics. Faculty with expertise in computational materials science, thin-film deposition, and wafer bonding technologies may benefit from this opportunity to advance scalable crystal-substrate bonding techniques for defense and commercial applications. Researchers focused on integrated photonics, quantum sensing, RF and THz technologies, and MEMS devices may also find value in engaging with CRYSTAL’s modeling and experimental validation efforts.

Upcoming Programs

DARPA-SN-25-41: Exponentiating Mathematics (expMath)
This upcoming program aims to revolutionize mathematical research by developing an AI co-author capable of theorem discovery and proof validation. The program will focus on auto decomposition, allowing AI to break down complex problems into reusable lemmas, and auto(in)formalization, bridging informal mathematical notation with formal proof languages like Lean and Isabelle. Despite advances in AI, current models struggle with high-level mathematical reasoning, and expMath seeks to address this gap by enabling AI to generate useful abstractions and validate proofs at a professional level. With strong engagement from both the mathematics and AI communities, the program has the potential to accelerate mathematical discovery and reshape research methodologies.
Our Department of Mathematics, UMIACS, QuICS, and MCWIC may find this program highly relevant. Researchers specializing in computational mathematics, symbolic AI, theorem proving, automated reasoning, and mathematical modeling can leverage expMath to advance AI-assisted problem-solving in mathematics, proof automation, and algorithmic discovery. (In the program development stage with I2O PM Dr. Patrick Shafto)
DARPA-SN-25-43: Reengineering Enabling Sleep Transitions in Operationally Restrictive Environments (RESTORE)
The RESTORE program addresses the critical challenge of maintaining cognitive performance in warfighters operating under severe sleep deprivation. Traditional sleep treatments focus on achieving the standard seven-to-eight-hour sleep cycle, which is often unfeasible in military settings. RESTORE will explore cutting-edge non-invasive neuromodulation technologies to precisely control sleep macro- and micro-architectures, enabling more efficient restorative sleep even under restricted conditions. By enhancing sleep efficiency, rather than increasing sleep duration, the program aims to develop novel solutions that can improve alertness, decision-making, and overall cognitive function in service members who routinely operate on minimal rest. The program’s research could have significant implications beyond military applications, including for first responders, shift workers, and individuals in high-stress professions requiring peak cognitive performance despite limited sleep.
Our researchers in neuroscience, cognitive science, psychology, biomedical engineering, human factors, and sleep medicine. Faculty within BSOS, the Department of Psychology, the School of Engineering (especially in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering), and the SPH (specifically in kinesiology and behavioral sleep research) may find this program highly relevant. Additionally, researchers working on AI-driven cognitive modeling, non-invasive neuromodulation, wearable sleep technologies, and the intersection of brain-computer interfaces with human performance optimization could provide valuable contributions. The program also aligns with ongoing work in HESP and human resilience studies, offering a pathway for cross-disciplinary collaborations in optimizing neurocognitive recovery under extreme conditions.

Upcoming Proposer’s Day
A Proposer’s Day is an event held by government agencies or organizations to share information about upcoming opportunities, answer questions, and engage potential collaborators, contractors, or researchers. It fosters better understanding of requirements, encourages networking, and ultimately improves the quality of submitted proposals.

DARPA-SN-25-45: Critical Orientation of Mathematics to Produce Advancements in Science and Security (COMPASS)
This upcoming proposers day seeks to develop new mathematical frameworks that improve modeling and analysis of complex systems, stochastic processes, and high-dimensional geometric structures. Areas of interest include graph signal processing, mean field theory, random matrices, stochastic differential equations, and geometric structures—all of which have the potential to enhance supply chain logistics, cyber defense, sensor networks, mission planning, and swarming control. The workshop will provide researchers with a comprehensive overview of ARC initiatives, funding mechanisms, and submission guidelines.

Faculty and researchers within the Departments of Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Applied Mathematics & Statistics may find this workshop particularly relevant. Those specializing in complex systems, optimization, network science, and stochastic modeling will gain valuable insights into how their expertise can align with DARPA’s mission. Additionally, researchers in cybersecurity, AI-driven decision-making, and operations research could leverage COMPASS to develop cutting-edge mathematical approaches for real-world defense challenges. (3/4 registration deadline)
DARPA-SN-25-08: Pulling Guard
This upcoming proposer’s day seeks to develop and demonstrate a semi-autonomous defense platform to enhance the survivability of unarmed logistics vessels against threats, particularly uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs). While retaining human supervisory control over engagement decisions, the system will incorporate sufficient autonomy to manage multiple platforms securely. The program focuses on the integration and marinization of existing sensors and effectors, emphasizing modularity in both software and hardware to enable rapid adaptation to emerging threats and facilitate export compliance. Structured in two phases, the Development Phase (18 months) will focus on platform and sensor development, fostering cross-performer collaboration and iterative design cycles. The Integration, Manufacturing, and Commercial Transition Phase (21 months) will refine the system for final design, production, and operational deployment. A key emphasis is on resilient software, leveraging formal methods to ensure secure and verifiable software performance, aligning with DARPA's broader focus on high-assurance autonomy and maritime security.

Faculty and researchers from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and ISR may find this program particularly relevant. Experts in autonomous systems, maritime defense, cybersecurity, sensor integration, and human-in-the-loop decision-making will have opportunities to contribute to sensor fusion, secure autonomy, and naval threat mitigation strategies. Additionally, researchers specializing in formal methods, digital security, and resilient software architectures could provide innovative approaches to the program’s software assurance and security challenges. (TTO PM Dr. Christopher Kent; 3/11 registration deadline)

Air Force Research Laboratory
New Funding Opportunity

NOFOAFRLAFOSR20250005: FY2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)
The Fiscal Year 2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), administered by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Office of Naval Research (ONR), is designed to enhance the research and educational capabilities of U.S. institutions by funding the purchase of advanced research equipment and instrumentation. This funding aims to support universities in conducting DoD-relevant basic research, developing future scientists and engineers, and fostering technological innovation in national security domains. DURIP awards range from $50,000 to $3 million, with potential exceptions for projects demonstrating critical defense research needs. Proposals should focus on acquiring major research equipment or instrumentation that cannot typically be purchased under single-investigator awards. The goal is to improve institutions' ability to conduct long-term, high-payoff research in disciplines crucial to national security, such as quantum sciences, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, hypersonics, autonomous systems, advanced materials, and biomedical sciences.
Faculty and researchers in physics, engineering, materials science, cybersecurity, and quantum computing, may find this opportunity highly relevant. UMD’s strong collaboration with DoD agencies, advanced research infrastructure, and focus on national security challenges make it well-positioned for DURIP funding. Faculty engaged in DoD-sponsored basic research projects are encouraged to apply, leveraging this funding to expand their research capabilities and train future defense scientists.

Requests for Information (RFIs): RFIs offer guidance to the federal government on specific areas of interest. Researchers can respond to RFIs to influence policy decisions and shape future funding calls. For questions or support on RFIs, please contact Patrick M. Mendez. RFI due dates are noted in parentheses.

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