Funding

USC offers faculty, postdocs, and research administrators a wide range of internal and external funding sources across the university for research and other scholarly projects. Please see the list below. For COVID-19-specific funding, please visit the COVID-19 Research Continuity section of our website.

For funding programs or limited submissions managed by OORI, please visit Research Initiatives and Infrastructure (RII).

Using your USC email you can also subscribe to Grant Forward, a search engine dedicated to helping institutions and individuals find grant opportunities. In addition, Philanthropy News Digest publishes RFPs and notices of awards as a free service for U.S.-based nonprofit and grantmaking organizations.

Internal Funding Opportunities

To add or update a funding opportunity below, please fill out our Funding Opportunities Form.

Note: The table below is provided for your convenience as a resource in your search for internal funding and may contain outdated information. It is your responsibility to confirm the award deadline and other details by following the links to the RFP.

DeadlineTitleSponsored ByAmount
RollingUSC Marshall Venture Fund - The The Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies fund’s mission is to bridge the funding gap for early-stage and amplify the impact for later-stage USC-related companies; train students to evaluate, make, and manage venture investments; and engage alumni, advisors, experts, and other stakeholders in helping build the entrepreneurial ecosystem at USC and in Southern California.Internal FundingMarshall School of Business$50,0002022/01/01
RollingSupplemental Faculty Support - Funds are available to provide supplemental research grants for tenured, tenure-track, and full-time research faculty and lecturers in WiSE-eligible departments.Internal FundingWomen in Science and Engineering (WISE)$2,5002022/01/01Medicine and Health, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences
RollingFaculty Bridge Funding - The primary responsibility for bridge funding rests with the deans. However, from time to time external funding situations become particularly difficult, causing interruption in funding. In these cases the WiSE program may be able to help by providing additional funds.Internal FundingWomen in Science and Engineering (WISE)See solicitation for details2021/05/19
2025/03/04Student Empowerment Award - Supports USC undergraduate or graduate students and their faculty mentors to pursue groundbreaking use-inspired research and early-stage entrepreneurship that translates student intellectual property for social and economic good.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/31Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Arts and Humanities
2025/02/25Institutional Training Planning Award - Assist in developing and enhancing USC’s institutional research infrastructure by preparing faculty to submit competitive institutional training applications to federal agencies like the NIH and the NSF.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences
2025/02/05Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award - USC is committed to enhancing and expanding its support of faculty research activities by stimulating the pursuit of funding from federal agencies and other external sponsors. Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Arts and Humanities, Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
2025/01/29Ming Hsieh Institute Research Award - Support integrated interdisciplinary translational research that speeds discovery and creates pathways to rapidly improve the lives of cancer patients. Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Sustainability, Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences
2025/01/15Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Research Program - Given that the implications of this quickly advancing technology across all industries, disciplines, and fields is substantial, USC aims to provide funding for critical and timely cutting-edge research on GenAI.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences
2025/01/08Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Award - Establish and bolster USC’s ongoing technology transfer and commercialization efforts. This will be accomplished by supporting faculty partnered with a small business to plan and prepare for submitting a competitive SBIR/STTR application to a federal funding agency.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Arts and Humanities, Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
2024/10/02Howard Hughes Medical Institute Mentorship Award​ - Intends to enhance USC's researcher pool and the quality of research being conducted by preparing highly qualified researchers to apply to the HHMI Investigator Program.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences
2024/09/25Associates Award for Creativity in Research and Scholarship - Call for nominations for one fo the highest honors the university can bestow on its members for their distinguished achievements.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Arts and Humanities, Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
2024/05/29Humanities & Humanistic Social Sciences Program - Aims to promote creativity and excellence by supporting humanities and humanistic social science faculty in their individual and collective scholarly work.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2024/05/15Collaborative Research Planning Award - USC is committed to enhancing and expanding its current institutional infrastructure through increased support of faculty teams interested in pursuing funding from federal agencies and other external sponsors. Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Arts and Humanities, Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
2024/04/17Instrumentation Award - To establish and bolster the University of Southern California’s research infrastructure by supporting the purchase of shared instrumentation and further preparing faculty to submit large-scale instrumentation grants to external sponsors.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences
2024/03/18President’s Sustainability Initiative Award - Integrating sustainability as a core value in USC’s strategic planning is a critically important institutional commitment. In addition to implementing impactful sustainability initiatives across USC’s campuses, great opportunities exist to expand and enhance USC’s research strengths and capabilities in sustainability.Internal FundingOffice of Research & Innovation (OORI)See solicitation for details2024/01/01Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Arts and Humanities
2024/01/10Children’s Environmental Health Research Translation Pilot Projects Program - The Southern California Children's Environmental Health Research Translation Center is pleased to announce its request for applications for 1-year pilot projects intended to promote children's environmental health research translation. The theme of the Center is Urbanism, Air Pollution, Children's Health, and Environmental Justice.
Internal FundingSouthern California Center for Children's Environmental Health Research Translation (USC-CEHRT)$15,0002023/11/21Arts and Humanities, Communication and Information Sciences, Social and Behavorial Sciences, Medicine and Health, Sustainability, Life Sciences
2024/01/05Team Building Voucher - Supports team building activities from small research teams. This mechanism is intended to provide rapid funding for activities that promote the SC CTSI goal of assembling new multidisciplinary or transdisciplinary teams focused on clinical and community research, particularly those that are grounded in the science of team science principles.Internal FundingSouthern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI)$10,0002023/09/05Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2023/12/31CHLA Core Pilot Program - At CHLA, the Core Pilot Program exists to supply funding support for investigators to acquire preliminary data to provide a competitive edge for securing extramural grant funding. This program is one of a number of institutional investments to grow the research portfolio of the CHLA research enterprise.Internal FundingChildren's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)See solicitation for details2021/03/24Medicine and Health
2023/09/22Multidisciplinary Pilot Grant Program - These awards are intended to support newly formed, multidisciplinary teams conducting a new endeavor that is beyond the scope of one principal investigator or laboratory.
Internal FundingSouthern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI)$125,0002023/09/21Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2023/09/22Standard Pilot Program - These awards will broadly support the development of new Clinical and Community-based research projects in either/both of two areas: (a) collection of initial data in the areas of clinical, community or health systems research to support extramural grant applications and/or (b) development and testing of new approaches and/or tools to increase the speed, efficiency, safety and/or quality of clinical, community, health outcomes and/or implementation research.Internal FundingSouthern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI)$50,0002023/09/21Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2023/09/12Environmental Health Disparities Research Pilot Projects Program - The NIH-funded Maternal And Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors Center of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research (MADRES) is pleased to announce the third year of its Pilot Projects Program, supporting one-year research projects that aim to address scientific gaps in our understanding of the unequal burden of adverse environmental health impacts in susceptible communities.Internal FundingMADRES Center for Environmental Health Disparities$50,0002023/07/27Medicine and Health
2023/08/31Mentored Career Development in Clinical and Translational Science Program - For Post-Doctoral Training ONLY. This award is a three-year program created to support research career development for health professionals or individuals with research doctoral degrees who wish to pursue formal training and a career in clinical and translational research.Internal FundingSouthern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI)See solicitation for details2023/07/23Medicine and Health
2023/05/22HDS Center Seed Grant - The Southern California Healthcare Delivery Science Center (SC HDS Center) and Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LAC DHS) are interested in supporting the design, implementation and evaluation of innovations in care delivery at LAC DHS.Internal FundingSouthern California Healthcare Delivery Science (HDS) Center$30,0002023/03/24Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
2023/05/01Catalyzing Pediatric Innovation Grant - CHLA and USC's pediatric medical device competition to assist the development of medical device projects for children.Internal FundingWest Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP) $50,0002023/03/23Medicine and Health
2023/04/03Translational Research on Environmental Health - USC Center for Translational Research on Environmental Health (USC R-TEN) and Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center (SCEHSC) are pleased to announce the 2023 Translational Research Funding Opportunity, supporting one-year research projects incorporating translational research on environment.Internal FundingSouthern California Environmental Health Sciences Center (SCEHSC)$90,0002023/03/06Medicine and Health
2023/04/02Beth and Arthur Lev Student Research Fellowship provides support for students of all disciplines doing research focused on the testimonies of the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive and/or other related USC resources and collections during the summer.Internal FundingCenter for Advanced Genocide Research (CAGR)$3,0002023/02/07Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2023/03/31Alzheimer’s Trial Recruitment Innovation Lab Fellowship Program - This two-year program is designed to train and develop the next generation of researchers interested in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias clinical trials through a multidisciplinary, active and team-based learning approach. Review of applications will begin in March 2023 and continue on a rolling basis until a fellow is selected.Internal FundingUSC Schaeffer CenterSee solicitation for details2023/02/21Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2023/03/172023 Clinical Trial Recruitment Lab - Call for projects to pilot ideas that increase access to and reduce inequalities in Alzheimer’s clinical trials.Internal FundingUSC Schaeffer Center$250,0002023/02/07Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2023/03/01USC Sea Grant Biennial Request for Research Proposals: 2024-2026 - The University of Southern California Sea Grant Program (USCSG) is soliciting preliminary proposals (funding up to 6 projects worth $1.2 million from NOAA) for research projects of one or two years’ duration beginning February 1, 2024; projects should focus on topics pertaining to the "Urban Ocean," USC Sea Grant's primary focus.Internal FundingUSC Sea Grant$1,200,0002023/02/10Communication and Information Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Physical Sciences, Sustainability
2023/02/10Advancing Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Grant Writing Mentorship - The ASHSS grant writing mentorship program promotes and encourages a culture of grant writing among the faculty in the arts, humanities, and humanistic social sciences.Internal FundingProvost$2,5002022/12/01Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2023/01/31Early Modern Studies Institute Faculty and Ph.D. Fellowship - The Institute will offer up to two one-semester fellowships for USC faculty whose work relates to the period from c. 1450 to c. 1850.Internal FundingEarly Modern Studies Institute (EMSI)See solicitation for details2021/12/01Arts and Humanities
2023/01/30Major Support for Current Faculty - This competitive program offers awards of up to $25,000 and is aimed at offsetting subtle biases, barriers, and career interruptions that have been shown to hinder the advancement of women faculty in science and engineering at research universities.Internal FundingWomen in Science and Engineering (WISE)$25,0002021/05/19
2023/01/06Advancing Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Research and Creative Grants - ASHSS research and creative project grants program promotes the development of innovative and influential scholarly and creative output in the arts, humanities, and humanistic social sciences.Internal FundingProvost$25,0002021/10/01Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2022/11/18Advancing Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Sabbatical - The ASHSS early sabbatical program supports our most productive faculty at critical moments during the research or creative process so that they are enabled to produce high-caliber work sooner.Internal FundingProvostSee solicitation for details2021/10/01Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2022/10/12Environmental Health Pilot Projects Program - The Center funds approximately four pilot projects each year. Awards of approximately $20,000 are available to support junior faculty with an existing research interest in the Center’s theme; junior faculty with an interest in basic or translational research; or for investigators interested in transitioning to alcohol or cirrhosis research.Internal FundingSouthern California Environmental Health Sciences Center (SCEHSC)$50,0002023/11/21Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavorial Sciences, Medicine and Health, Sustainability, Life Sciences
2022/10/08Arts in Action - The Provost’s Arts and Humanities Initiative invites USC faculty and students working with community partners to submit community-based projects that address social issues, bring people together, facilitate dialogue, and create spaces to imagine and design future change.Internal FundingProvostSee solicitation for details2021/08/01Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2022/09/30Visions and Voices - The Provost’s Arts and Humanities Initiative invites USC faculty to submit proposals on an annual basis to conceive and organize events that will be presented as part of Visions and Voices’ exciting and diverse programming season.Internal FundingProvostSee solicitation for details2021/08/01Arts and Humanities
2022/08/30Peter G. Peterson Foundation Pandemic Response Policy Research Fund - Supporting research that advances our understanding of the short and long-run impact of public policies implemented in response to the pandemic.Internal FundingSchaeffer Center$150,0002022/05/11Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Sustainability
2022/07/21Marine Debris Challenge Competition - This USC Sea Grant funding opportunity via National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act addresses the prevention and/or removal of marine debris, supporting original, innovative, and transformational marine debris prevention and removal research that pushes the boundaries of existing technologies and approaches, changes the current landscape of marine debris mitigation, and ties that research to tangible outputs.Internal FundingUSC Sea Grant$3,000,0002022/06/28Engineering and Technology, Sustainability, Physical Sciences
2022/06/01Translating Coastal Research into Application - On behalf of USCRP, it is anticipated that approximately $4,000,000 will be available to integrate research, its application, and community engagement in thematic areas of long-term coastal evolution, extreme storms, and human and ecosystem health. Internal FundingUSC Sea Grant$500,0002022/05/24Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences
2022/06/01ATRI Epstein Family Foundation Alzheimer's Research Collaboration - Supporting innovative research including basic science, clinical, and/or nontraditional approaches for promising projects that will help catalyze advances in pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in individuals with AD across the spectrum from pre-symptomatic to more severe stages of disease.Internal FundingAlzheimer's Research Therapeutic Institute (ATRI)See solicitation for details2022/04/01Medicine and Health
2022/04/29USC Lusk Center for Real Estate Research Applications - The USC Lusk Center for Real Estate is pleased to announce the availability of research awards to become available in July 2021. The stipends are to facilitate high-quality research that will eventually get published in the leading scientific journals. The broad topics should be related to real estate and urban issues.Internal FundingLusk Center for Real Estate$20,0002022/03/25Engineering and Technology, Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability
2022/04/29USC Marshall / Greif Incubator - The Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies takes founders from feasibility and development work, on to customers, a tested business model, getting distribution, building a team, bootstrapping and investment preparation. They also provide access to other supporting resources, such as legal and financial assistance.Internal FundingMarshall School of BusinessSee solicitation for details2022/03/25Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health, Sustainability
2022/04/18Pilot Funding: Establishing New Collaborative Research Teams - Support junior investigators launching a research program in obesity and/or diabetes; established investigators who are moving into diabetes and/or obesity research; new collaborative research teams in diabetes and obesity related research.Internal FundingDiabetes & Obesity Research Institute (DORI)$50,0002022/03/04Medicine and Health
2022/03/31Faculty Innovation Award - Provide funding for established or new, high-potential faculty research aligned with the institute’s three new interdisciplinary Research Centers: Earth & Environmental Systems; Applied Environmental Solutions; Social Transformation.Internal FundingWrigley Institute for Environmental Studies (WIES)$50,0002022/03/07Sustainability, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2022/03/27Fellowships In Genocide Studies - CAGR invites proposals for its three research fellowships for advanced-standing PhD candidates from any discipline for dissertation research focused on testimony from the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive and other USC resources.Internal FundingCenter for Advanced Genocide Research (CAGR)$4,0002022/03/03Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
2022/03/01Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center - Research program is organized around four themes: technology for improved mobility, improving mobility for disadvantaged populations, improving resilience and protecting the environment, and managing mobility in high growth cities and regions.Internal FundingMETRANS Transportation Center$900,0002022/01/31
2022/02/22Donald E. & Delia Baxter Foundation Faculty Fellows Program - Program is to provide seed funding to help prepare and support young investigators as they embark on their careers and start up their independent research programs. This early stage of career development is a critical period for a new researcherInternal FundingKeck School of Medicine of USC$100,0002022/01/01Medicine and Health
2022/02/22USC Undergraduate Research Associates Program - Supports faculty engaging in collaborative research with undergraduate students. The goal of this program is to provide resources that enable faculty to integrate undergraduates into their scholarly and professional activities.Internal FundingOffice of Undergraduate ProgramsSee solicitation for details2021/12/01
2022/02/18Technology Advancement Grants - TAGs support early stage technologies invented at USC through validation or proof-of-concept development. The awards add value to unlicensed USC-owned technology, aiming to increase the probability of obtaining a license in the future. These awards are not intended to fund basic research or app development.Internal FundingStevens Center for Innovation$100,0002021/12/01Arts and Humanities
2022/02/13BSEL Social Venture Coaching Competition - The USC Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab offers the annual Social Venture Coaching Competition (SVCC). Established to find sustainable business solutions to the most pressing social needs in Los Angeles, SVCC offers the opportunity for USC-affiliated teams to receive six weeks of business development coaching and $100,000+ in capital.Internal FundingMarshall School of BusinessSee solicitation for details2021/12/01Sustainability
2022/02/11New Venture Seed Competition - Open to all USC students, faculty and researchers. The Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies' competition is an opportunity to get your business idea in front of investors and to win seed money to get you started.Internal FundingMarshall School of Business$150,0002022/01/03
2021/06/28Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation - Supports collaborations focus around joint drug discovery where the investigator brings the target, validation and knowhow, and together with Pfizer a joint drug discovery research plan is developed. Pfizer’s areas of interest are aligned with their current core research areas of: Oncology, Inflammation & Immunology, Rare Diseases, Internal Medicine.Internal FundingStevens Center for InnovationSee solicitation for details2021/04/01Medicine and Health
2021/03/02National Center for Sustainable Transportation - The goal of the NCST is to produce research that directly supports the efforts of policy makers and professionals to improve the sustainability of the transportation system.Internal FundingMETRANS Transportation Center$500,0002021/02/01Sustainability