The fall semester is off to a lively start with several research showcase and training events, and some new grant programs on novel topics including “Humanity AI” and “Digital Justice.” If any of these events or solicitations seem relevant to your work, please reach out to ber@education.illinois.edu to discuss. Deadlines still seem to be getting shorter and shorter, so reach out early!
Research Events
IHSI Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD). Three Causal Modeling Webinars, Wednesday, 10/28/26, 12-3:30pm. Accessible introduction to causal modeling as a statistical approach across health, social, behavioral, educational, and other applied sciences.Led by Chuck Huber of StataCorp LLC, Texas A&M, and NYU. Register for More information and to Attend.
NSF Center for STEM Education Research and Translation. Friday, 10/30/26, 1-2pm CT. Talk with Program Officers about the STEM K-12 Program. Register to Attend.
IHSI: Navigating the IRB with Community Research Collaborators. Thursday, 11/5/26, 12-1pm. Virtual panel discussion for researchers, community partners, and staff and students who support community-engaged research with Cheri Pettey, Director of OPRS, Tara Powell, Social Work, Laura Edwards, and Lindsey Communities, Urbana. Register to Attend.
Illinois REDCap fall office hours: Tuesdays this fall, 10-11am. Have a question about your REDCap project? Wondering if REDCap will work for your research project? Drop in for remote REDCap office hours. Sign up to receive Zoom details.
Siebel Center for Design. SHIFT: Scholars in Human-Centered, Innovative, and Forward-Thinking Teaching. Fall 2026 professional learning series for educators ready to humanize learning and lead systemic change, includes 11/5/26 session on Designing Research Projects. Visit SHIFT website for details.
Research Funding
NEH Public Humanities Projects. Supports projects that bring the ideas of the humanities to life for general audiences through public programming. 2026 focal topics: (1) Western civilization and America's place in it; (2) Great works of literature, history, philosophy, and theology and their relevance to contemporary questions; (3) The 250th anniversary of the American Revolution; (4) Civic education; civil discourse; cultural literacy, and the practice of close reading. Exhibitions, Historic Places, Public Lectures and Discussion Forums. Due: 12/9/2026.
NSF Statistics. Recommended alternative for the SBE Directorate Mathematics, Measurement & Statistics (MMS) program, which is not taking proposals. Rolling Deadline.
IES NCER. From Seedlings to Scale (S2S). Funds three phases of increasing funding and duration to support ideas as they grow from seedlings to scalable solutions. FY27 Focus: Phase 1, Coordinating Systems to Translate Evidence into Policy and Practice (C-STEP). Applications due 12/11/26.
IES NCSER Transformational Research in Special Education. Transformative solutions to seemingly intractable problems and challenges in special education. FY27 Focus: Phase 1, Dramatically improving preservice teacher education systems to attract, train, and retain preK-12 teachers for students with or at risk for disabilities. Optional LOI due 10/29/26. Applications due 12/11/26.
Russell Sage Foundation Margaret Olivia Sage Grants (new). Research by multi- or inter-disciplinary teams on social, economic, and political challenges with generational consequences for social and living conditions in the US. Current priorities: (1) democracy; (2) the societal impacts of artificial intelligence; (3) inequality and affordability; and (4) data infrastructure for social science research. LOI due 12/1/26; Full proposal (if invited) due 2/22/27.
Russell Sage Foundation Core Research Grants. Projects under four core research priorities: (1) Behavioral Science and Decision Making in Context; (2) Future of Work; (3) Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration; and (4) Social, Political, and Economic Inequality. LOI due 10/26/26; Full proposal (if invited) due 2/22/27.
NSF STEM K-12. Fundamental, applied, and translational research that advances STEM teaching and learning and improves understanding of education across the human lifespan and a range of formal and informal settings. Rolling deadline.
ACLS Digital Justice Grants. Seed Grants and Development Grants. Projects at various stages of development that diversify the digital domain, advance justice and equity in digital scholarly practice, and/or contribute to public understanding of racial and social justice issues. Due 11/3/2026.
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