Petroleum Research Fund - Undergraduate Research Grants

Petroleum Research Fund - Undergraduate Research Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Chemical Society
Amount: Up to US $210,000
Last Updated: January 27, 2026

Summary

The Petroleum Research Fund offers Undergraduate Research Grants aimed at supporting fundamental research in the petroleum field while fostering the next generation of engineers and scientists. This program is designed for established scientists at non-doctoral departments, providing financial support for undergraduates to engage in advanced research activities. The grants serve as seed funding to generate preliminary results for future funding applications, ensuring high-quality educational experiences and publishable research outcomes.

Overview

The goals of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund are: To support fundamental research in the petroleum field, andTo develop the next generation of engineers and scientists through support of advanced scientific education. The Undergraduate Research (UR) grants program supports the research programs of established scientists and engineers at non-doctoral departments and provides financial support for students at those institutions to become involved in advanced research activities, in preparation for continued study in graduate school or employment. Undergraduate Research Grants The Undergraduate Research (UR) grants program provides funding for scientists and engineers with established programs of research at non-doctoral departments. UR grants are used to illustrate proof of principle, i.e., feasibility, and accordingly, are to be viewed as seed money for generating preliminary results that can be used to apply for continuation funding from other agencies. Applicants may have limited or no preliminary results for a research project they wish to pursue. Eligibility for a UR grant requires that a PI is in a department without a doctoral program, and that the students receiving stipends for the work to be done are undergraduates (M.S.-level students can also be supported only if one or more undergraduates are also supported from this grant). Accordingly, the research being proposed need not be high risk but it should be of publishable quality. The research opportunities afforded must be of the highest caliber, and provide a compelling educational experience for the student.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Regularly-appointed faculty members in a college or university department that does not offer a doctoral degree in countries where ACS PRF can administer grants are eligible. In addition, applicants must meet the following criteria: The non-profit institution submitting the Type UR proposal must certify that each individual listed as a principal investigator on the cover page qualifies as a principal investigator under the institution’s policies.In view of the long-standing goal of The ACS Petroleum Research Fund to give priority to support of students, the principal investigator must be eligible to serve as the formal, official supervisor of undergraduate students.The terms of appointment of each principal investigator must promise reasonable continuity of service. The appointment should continue at least through the period of funding requested in the UR proposal.Generally the above criteria are automatically met by tenure-track principal investigators. If you are not tenure-track, attach a brief statement to your application describing your appointment and include a Department Chair’s letter affirming that you meet all three of the above criteria. Read more about Eligibility, Terms, and Conditions for UR grants. One co-principal investigator (co-PI) is permitted on a UR grant proposal. The co-PI must meet the same eligibility criteria as the lead PI, and provide the same information requested of the lead PI in the application. The lead PI (who should be denoted as such) and his/her institution (designated as the grantee institution) would subcontract the co-PI through the co-PI’s institution. Any number of collaborators may participate on the project. However, no funds from the UR grant may be used to support the collaborators or their respective students.

Ineligibility

A principal investigator (lead PI or co-PI) may have only one research proposal active or under consideration per meeting.Principal investigators (lead PI or co-PI) may not hold more than one active PRF research grant at a time.Principal investigators (lead PI or co-PI) with an active PRF research grant, including a grant on time extension, may not submit an application for a new grant.Principal investigators (lead PI or co-PI) may have only one UR grant application considered in a 12-month period. Thus, a principal investigator (lead PI or co-PI) who has an UR proposal denied may not submit another UR proposal until the PRF Committee meeting one year later.