Research Development

Office of Research Development

The Office of Research Development (ORD) at Rowan University is dedicated to empowering faculty, staff, and administrators in securing competitive external funding to advance innovative research. Our expert team collaborates closely with researchers to elevate the quality and impact of grant proposals, ensuring alignment with sponsor guidelines, fostering clear and compelling communication, and assembling dynamic, interdisciplinary teams. With a commitment to academic excellence and research advancement, ORD provides comprehensive services designed to maximize funding opportunities and drive scholarly success. Explore our resources and discover how we can support your research journey. For more information, contact us at ord@rowan.edu.

Federal Funding Updates

The Division of University Research is actively monitoring updates from federal agencies. Please visit the Federal Reseach Funding Updates webpage for more information.

Highlighted Funding Opportunities

Limited Submission Opportunity: Searle Scholars Program (Internal Deadline: August 1, 2026)

The Office of Research Development (ORD) invites internal applications for the 2027 Searle Scholars Program, a prestigious limited submission opportunity supporting exceptional early-career faculty in the biomedical sciences.

This program recognizes high-potential investigators pursuing innovative and impactful research at the frontiers of biology, chemistry, and medicine.

Key Dates

Sponsor Deadline: September 30, 2026
Rowan Internal Deadline: August 1, 2026 (5:00 PM EST) (60 days prior to sponsor deadline)

Award Overview

Supports independent research of outstanding early career faculty.
Focus on high-risk, high-reward scientific innovation.
Competitive national recognition with strong institutional prestige

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Hold a tenure-track appointment at the Assistant Professor level.
Have begun their first independent appointment on or after July 1, 2023 (anticipated guidance; final criteria to be confirmed upon sponsor release)
Demonstrate strong potential for independent research leadership in biomedical sciences.

Limited Submission Guidance

Rowan University is limited in the number of nominations permitted (final allocation to be confirmed upon receipt of sponsor invitation)
If the number of internal applicants exceeds the institutional limit, ORD will coordinate a competitive internal review process.

Internal Application Requirements

Interested faculty should submit:

Brief Research Summary (2 pages max) – outlining the proposed research vision and innovation.
NIH-style Biosketch
Statement of Eligibility (including appointment start date)

Submit materials to: ORD@rowan.edu by the internal deadline.

Strategic Positioning

This opportunity aligns strongly with Rowan’s continued growth in:

Translational and biomedical research
Early-career faculty development
National research competitiveness and prestige positioning

Participation enables Rowan to elevate high-impact investigators while strengthening its national research profile.

Next Steps

ORD will distribute additional guidance and nomination details upon receipt of the official sponsor invitation (June 2026). Faculty are encouraged to begin preparing materials early.

For questions or to discuss competitiveness, contact the Office of Research Development at ORD@rowan.edu.

Limited Submission Opportunity: NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY (Internal Deadline: May 6, 2026)

The Office of Research Development (ORD) is pleased to announce a new limited submission opportunity from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF):

NSF 26-507: NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY

National Science Foundation Fostering Interdisciplinary Networks to Develop Emergent and Responsive Solutions Foundry

This exciting new NSF program supports interdisciplinary teams working to design and develop technology-enabled, evidence-based solutions to persistent challenges in K–12 learning and workforce development, with a strong emphasis on AI-driven innovation, stakeholder co-design, and real-world educational impact. The program is designed to bring together educators, technologists, researchers, and parents/guardians to create responsive solutions that prepare learners for a rapidly evolving future. (NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation)

Why This Opportunity Matters

This program presents a strong opportunity for Rowan faculty and partners to lead innovative, translational work at the intersection of:

STEM education
Artificial intelligence
Learning technologies
Workforce readiness
Community-engaged research
Interdisciplinary innovation

Projects should be bold, collaborative, and designed to create scalable solutions that improve student outcomes and strengthen future talent pipelines.

Limited Submission Notice

Please note that NSF permits only one Planning proposal per organization, requiring Rowan to conduct an internal review and selection process. (NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation)

Internal ORD Deadline

Wednesday, May 6, 2026, by 5:00 PM

This internal deadline is set to allow sufficient time for institutional review, team coordination, and proposal development support prior to the sponsor deadline.

Sponsor Deadline

Wednesday, May 27, 2026, by 5:00 PM local time

(Planning Proposals only) (NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation)

Planning Proposal Snapshot

Selected teams may pursue a Planning Proposal of up to $50,000 for up to 2 months to support early-stage collaboration, design, stakeholder engagement, and pilot planning. NSF anticipates making approximately 50 Planning awards. (NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation)

Key Team Requirement

Each proposed leadership team must include at minimum:

One K–12 educator
One technologist
One researcher
One parent or guardian

One of these individuals must serve as the PI through an eligible institution. (NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation)

Internal Submission Requirements

Faculty interested in being considered for Rowan’s institutional nomination should submit the following to ORD by the internal deadline:

Project Title
Lead PI and Team Members
1–2-page concept paper including:
- Challenge or problem being addressed.
- Proposed innovation or technological solution
- Intended K–12 population/community.
- Interdisciplinary team composition
- Potential impact and alignment with NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY goals
Brief statement of institutional/team readiness

ORD Encouragement

We strongly encourage submissions from teams with ideas that are:

innovative and future-facing
community-engaged
education- and workforce-centered
technology-enabled
positioned for meaningful translational impact

This is an excellent opportunity for Rowan to elevate bold ideas that connect research, education, innovation, and societal need.

If you are considering applying and would like to discuss fit, competitiveness, or team development, we encourage you to connect with ORD as early as possible.

To Submit or Inquire

Please send internal materials and questions to:
Office of Research Development
ord@rowan.edu

NJDEP Natural Climate Solutions Grant

CALLING ROWAN UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS & FACULTY: PARTNER FOR IMPACT WITH NEW NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS GRANT

Dear Rowan Research Community,

We are excited to share a major funding opportunity that aligns with Rowan’s sustainability priorities, climate resilience research, and community-engaged environmental innovation. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has launched a new round of the Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) Grant Program, making approximately $30 million available to support on-the-ground projects that protect, enhance, and restore New Jersey’s natural carbon sinks. These natural climate solutions are vital to mitigating climate change, improving ecosystem health, and bolstering community resilience.

About the Opportunity:

Funding supports implementation of blue and green carbon projects, including—but not limited to:

Forest restoration and urban tree canopy expansion
Coastal and tidal wetlands restoration
Living shorelines and enhanced carbon sequestration landscapes
Urban and community green infrastructure that captures carbon and enhances resilience

Grant awards range from approximately $250,000 to $5 million per project, and applications are being accepted on a rolling basis through 2026 (or until funds are fully allocated). Projects are reviewed and selected as they are submitted, so early application submission is strongly encouraged.

Why This Matters for Rowan:

This grant presents a tremendous opportunity to:

Advance interdisciplinary research that integrates ecology, engineering, social sciences, and environmental policy
Strengthen partnerships with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders
Translate theory into practice with measurable climate mitigation and resilience outcomes
Secure significant external funding that benefits faculty research, student engagement and real-world impact

Call for Collaborative Proposals:

We encourage faculty and research teams from across disciplines—environmental science, geography, sustainability studies, engineering, public policy, social sciences, health sciences, and more—to begin strategic planning now and reach out to potential partners early. Let’s leverage Rowan’s research excellence to build competitive, united proposals that demonstrate academic rigor, community connection, and tangible climate outcomes.

Next Steps & Support:

Identify interdisciplinary teams and community partners
Brainstorm project concepts that align with NCS goals
Begin drafting project scopes, partnerships, and impact narratives
Connect with research development staff early to strengthen submissions

For full program details and application guidance, please visit the NJDEP’s Natural Climate Solutions Grant page: https://dep.nj.gov/climatechange/mitigation/ncs-grant.

Let’s seize this opportunity to amplify Rowan’s role in advancing natural climate solutions across New Jersey and beyond. If you’re interested in collaborating or need help connecting with partners, please reach out soon!

— Office of Research Development

Corporate & Foundation Relations Research Grant Opportunities

The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) works with Rowan faculty and staff to identify and coordinate funding proposals to corporations and foundations. Learn more about resources and upcoming grant opportunities.

For more information contact the CFR team at cfr@rowan.edu.

Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs: Funding Opportunities

Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) offer funding opportunities for novel biomedical research that addresses the specific needs of various stakeholders, including the American public, the military and Congress.

View current CDMRP funding opportunities.

All pre-applications must be submitted electronically to the Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) https://ebrap.org. Full applications must be submitted electronically to the Grants.gov website https://grants.gov.

Announcements and Resources

New Jersey Research Cores Conference: July 8, 2026

Expand your research network at the 2026 New Jersey Research Cores Partnering Conference

The Office of Research Development encourages Rowan faculty, researchers, center and institute leaders, laboratory personnel, and research administrators to participate in the New Jersey Research Cores Partnering Conference 2026, hosted by Princeton University on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

This free, statewide event brings together researchers, core facility leaders, industry partners, and higher education institutions from across New Jersey to foster collaboration, showcase research capabilities, and identify new opportunities for innovation and external partnerships.

With more than 100 participants already registered, this conference offers an outstanding opportunity to:

Connect with researchers and industry partners from across New Jersey
Explore cutting-edge research resources and core facilities
Identify potential collaborators for future grant proposals and research initiatives
Showcase your laboratory, center, institute, or research program through a poster presentation
Strengthen Rowan's visibility within the state's research and innovation ecosystem

Faculty, centers, institutes, laboratories, and core facilities are encouraged to submit posters and share their research, services, and capabilities with attendees.

Registration and poster submissions remain open.

For conference details, agenda information, registration, and poster submission opportunities, visit: NJ Research Cores Partnering Conference Registration and Information.

For more information, contact the Division of University Research at ORD@rowan.edu.

Library Research Support Services

Rowan University Libraries provides the following services to support researchers:

Support for Research Data Management – consult us about creating a Data Management Plan, identifying an appropriate data repository, and other research data issues.

Journal Selection Reports – get help identifying a journal to submit your manuscript.

Support for Open Access Publishing – learn more about how to publish your work Open Access with the help of various library services

ORCID @ Rowan – set up an ORCID account that is connected to your Rowan affiliation.

Researcher Impact – analyze and show the impact of your work using metrics.

For more information, view the complete list of library research support services. To get assistance, please contact your local campus’s Rowan University Library.

Pivot Funding Database

Pivot is the Office of Research Development's comprehensive database for finding funding opportunities and discovering research collaborators. This platform empowers faculty members to actively showcase and promote their research, scholarly, and creative activity to all corners of the Rowan community and other research institutions within the Pivot network.

To access Pivot, you must be a faculty member, staff member, or student at Rowan University. You may access Pivot by creating an account and claiming your profile. Please access go.rowan.edu/pivot to begin this process. If you have questions, please access our Pivot how-to guide and frequently asked questions.

In addition, please see video tutorials with step-by-step instructions on how to get started using Pivot.

Grant Workshops

Virtual workshops are regularly offered on finding funding, the submission process, managing awards and related topics to support the research community. For more information, please visit the workshop schedule.

Rowan University's Statistical Consulting Group

Get expert, low-cost support from the Rowan Statistical Consulting Group (SCG). The benefits of working with our faculty statisticians include:

Lowering study costs by optimizing statistical methodology aligned with your research needs
Grant and future publication preparation support related to statistical methodology and analyses, including responses to reviewer comments - shown to improve funding outcomes!
Peace of mind knowing that your study used appropriate and effective statistical analyses.
Receiving an additional portion of indirect costs returned when you include a Rowan SCG statistician in your grant.

SCG faculty have expertise in a variety of fields and approaches. Examples include:

Biostatistics: study design, data cleaning, and statistical analyses such as t-test, ANOVA, chi-square, regressions, survival analysis, modeling, multivariate analysis, meta-analysis, propensity-score matching
Data Mining/Deep Learning/Machine Learning: dimensionality reduction, classification, clustering, decision trees, neural networks
Platforms: SAS, R, Python, JMP, SPSS

We have experience working with a variety of clients and projects, including academic institutions, hospitals and health care systems, and non-profit organizations.

Learn more about SCG

USDR Federal Grant Finder Tool

Rowan University faculty now have the opportunity to streamline their grant discovery efforts with access to the U.S. Digital Response (USDR) Federal Grant Finder Tool. In collaboration with the USDR team and the New Jersey Department of the Treasury Grants Management Office, this tool automates the search for federal funding opportunities and helps identify potential partnerships easily.

This resource is available at no cost to Rowan faculty, making it easier than ever to explore funding avenues. To access the tool, you will need login credentials. Simply submit a request, and the team will guide you through the onboarding process. For department-wide access, please reach out, and the team will provide additional details.

For more information and to submit your request, visit www.grants.nj.gov.