AscendR Research program

The ASCEND^R Research Program is a competitive, faculty-led program designed to advance research aligned with the U.S. Department of War’s (DoW) science and technology priorities. Through targeted research funding, faculty across HSRU Alliance institutions will lead projects that address real-world defense challenges while engaging graduate students in meaningful research experiences. The program supports the development of innovative solutions in key technical areas and fosters deeper collaboration between academic researchers and the defense enterprise.

Program Features

Funding for Defense-Aligned Research: Up to $200,000 per award to support one-year research projects.
Graduate Student Integration: Required inclusion of at least one Graduate Research Assistant, reinforcing the DoW-aligned STEM talent pipeline.
Participation in ASCEND^R Leadership: A dual research and leadership development model, with all PIs and Co-PIs participating in the ASCENDᴿ Leadership Program.
Pathway to Future DoW Funding: A structured pathway toward future external DoW funding and expanded national security partnerships.

Research Focus Areas

Research topics are informed by the U.S. National Defense Science and Technology Strategy and should align with at least one of the six DoW Critical Technology Areas.

Eligibility

The proposal must originate from an HSRU member institution in good standing.

Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator(s) must be a Research Faculty member or Tenure/Tenure Track Faculty member that is early to mid-career, defined as within the first 8 years of their professional research career.
The Principal Investigator must hire and integrate at least one Graduate Research Assistant for this project. The graduate assistant must be enrolled at the start of the project and maintain enrollment eligibility throughout the proposed project.
All PIs, Co-PIs, and the graduate assistant working on this project must be U.S. Persons, defined as U.S. born or U.S. Naturalized Citizens.
The Principal Investigator and Co-PIs must agree to jointly participate in the ASCEND^RLeadership Program.

How to Apply

The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2027-28 cycle has been released to HSRU Alliance member institutions, and institutions can then begin their internal nomination process. Each institution is limited to two submissions. Applications must be submitted through the HSRU InfoReady portal by the designated individual authorized by the member institution after the internal competition is complete.

‍For Interested Faculty:

Contact your institution’s research office for details on internal timelines, eligibility requirements, and submission procedures.

ASCEND^R Research awardees are required to participate in the ASCEND^R Leadership Program.

Key Dates 2027-28 Cycle

Anticipated Proposals Due Date: February 2027
Anticipated Award Announcement: May 2027
Anticipated Cohort Start Date: August 2027

2027-28 Cohort Participating Institutions*

Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
San Diego State University (SDSU)
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
University of California, Davis (UC Davis)
University of California, Merced (UC Merced)
University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside)
University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz)
University of Central Florida (UCF)
University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver)

*last updated: October 19, 2026