Funding for Minority Serving Institutions

UMass Lowell is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) by the U.S. Department of Education.

Several sponsoring agencies provide research and education grants, resources, and opportunities for collaboration specifically for MSIs. Learn more about UMass Lowell’s participation in some agency MSI programs:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) is administered through NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement. Through MUREP, NASA provides financial assistance via competitive awards to Minority Serving Institutions, as required by the MSI-focused Executive Orders. MSIs recruit and retain underrepresented and underserved students, including women and girls, and persons with disabilities, into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

MUREP investments enhance the research, academic and technology capabilities of MSIs through multiyear cooperative agreements. Awards assist faculty and students in research and provide authentic STEM engagement related to NASA missions. Additionally, awards provide NASA-specific knowledge and skills to learners who have historically been underrepresented and underserved in STEM. MUREP investments assist NASA in meeting the goal of a diverse workforce through student participation in internships and fellowships at NASA centers and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Learn more about MUREP Engagement Opportunities.

UMass Lowell is a part of NASA’s MSI Exchange, a tool that supports the search for innovative and diverse academic collaborators by curating STEM offerings and capability statements of MSIs nationwide. The MSI Exchange can inform partnerships for teaming opportunities and competitive federal awards such as contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants.

View UMass Lowell’s MSI Exchange Capabilities Statement (pdf).

Faculty may also subscribe to the bi-weekly NASA MSI Engagement Newsletter which curates NASA funding and faculty and student opportunities.

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

The Air Force Research Laboratory Minority Leaders – Research Collaboration Program (AFRL ML-RCP) enables collaborative research partnerships between AFRL and academia that engage a diverse pool of talent in addressing foundational research challenges in support of the nation's air, space, and cyberspace technology needs. This program supports Historically Black Universities (HBCU) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) and their engagement with AFRL.

UMass Lowell is a member of the AFRL ML-RCP. Under the membership, the ML-RCP provides a community of support and best practices for institutions, including a network of faculty and AFRL researchers to support the development of proposals.

View UMass Lowell’s AFRL ML-RCP Research Capability Statement.

The AFRL publishes research topics through a Project Opportunity Announcement (POA) and UML faculty may respond with a white paper submission. AFRL will then invite select PIs to submit full proposals for funding. There is no limit to the number of white papers that faculty can submit.

Learn more about the program by reading the AFRL ML-RCP Frequently Asked Questions.

UMass Lowell is also a part of the AFRL Mid-Atlantic Regional Network. View the funding opportunities specifically for the regional network.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF has many programs designed to support researchers at MSIs and broaden participation of outstanding researchers from across a diverse group of regions, institutions and demographic groups. Review the opportunities available to minority-serving institutions using NSF's Funding Search tool. MSI-focused opportunities can be identified by typing a keyword in the search bar or by using the filters. The "Limited Submissions" filter can narrow search results by opportunities that have limits on organizational eligibility, including MSI-focused programs. The "Advancing Diversity" filter will show programs designed to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in science and engineering research.

Review the NSF webpage about funding for minority-serving institutions.

U.S. Department of Education (ED)

The Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program under the U.S. Department of Education provides grants and related assistance to AANAPISIs to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

The Office of Energy Justice and Equity (EJE) Office of Minority Programs, Minority STEM Pipeline Division in the U.S. Department of Energy serves the community of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Their goal is to advocate for students and faculty of MSIs to have access to opportunities in careers, funding and other resources within the Department of Energy and its National Laboratories.

Bookmark the EJE webpage, and subscribe to their mailing list to stay updated on their programs and opportunities.