U.S. Department of Defense Minerva Research Initiative University Research optional white papers due January 16, 2024 and full applications due April 2, 2024

The Minerva’s University Research program aims to promote and support innovative basic research in specific areas of social science and provide new methods and understandings on social and behavioral questions of security and defense-related interest. The specific eight research topics of interest include:

• Societal Cohesion in Crisis
• Considering Societal Resilience at Multiple Scales
• Sociotechnical Adaptation to Climate, Food, and Water Stress
• Social Impact of Technological Change
• Parasocial Relationships, Social Media, and Radicalization
• Temporal Orientation and Strategic Considerations
• Evolving Contexts of Deterrence
• War Termination Processes and Prospects

U.S. Department of Defense; Army Research Laboratory Trapped Ions and Neutral Atoms Quantum Computing optional white papers due January 23, 2024 and proposals due April 9, 2024

The Trapped Ions and Neutral Atoms Quantum Computing four-year program is primarily focused on the following three topic areas in the field of quantum computing with trapped ions and neutral atoms:

• Modular Atoms Primary Research Goal: Advance the state-of-the-art for remote two-qubit gates between two spatially separated modules to enable distributed quantum computing.
• Fast Atoms Primary Research Goal: Faster high-fidelity qubit operations, such as two-qubit gates or mid-circuit measurements, that correspondingly improves algorithm run-time.
• Versatile Atoms Primary Research Goal: Increase the versatility of atomic qubits through innovative concepts that preserve the advantages of such systems in a multi-qubit setting.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; National Institutes of Health Assessment of Climate at Institutions applications due July 1, 2024

 The objective of this funding opportunity is to conduct institutional climate assessments using validated survey instruments and to develop action plans for positive change in the recruitment, hiring, retention, and advancement of faculty, including those from groups underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research. The plans for self-studies should lead to institutional culture change by identifying perceptions, attitudes, and concerns, about, for example, inequities, micro-aggressions, institutional racism, and bias. The self-studies should provide a foundation for the development of an action plan to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility outcomes in the recruitment, hiring, retention, and advancement of faculty.

National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America submissions to Grants.gov due April 25, 2024, and to the NEA portal due May 14, 2024

Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups/communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions to share that are underserved. The program is rooted in principles that include, but are not limited to, recognition that some groups/communities and some geographic areas with rich cultural identities have limited grant funding opportunities, and/or have been historically underserved by national arts funding; some small organizations may face barriers to accessing grant funding; and some applicants to the NEA may benefit from enhanced technical assistance resources. Challenge America seeks to address these potential barriers for organizations seeking funding.