AscendR Research program

ASCEND^R Research

Advancing research impact through defense-aligned innovation and mentorship.

The ASCEND^R Research Program is a competitive, faculty-led program designed to advance research that is aligned with the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) 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 DOD-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 DoD Funding: A structured pathway toward future external DoD funding and expanded national security partnerships.

Research Focus Areas

Initial research topics are informed by the U.S. National Defense Science and Technology Strategy. Focus areas for the 2026-27 cycle include:

Advanced Materials: Explore innovative materials and novel manufacturing techniques that enhance strength, reduce weight, and improve performance in extreme conditions to support mission-critical defense capabilities.
Human-Machine Interfaces: Advance technologies that improve human-machine teaming, including augmented and virtual reality systems that enable immersive training, intuitive controls, and real-time decision support.
Space Technology: Develop resilient and adaptive technologies for space operations, including communication, situational awareness, and on-orbit processing to support defense missions in contested environments.

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 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 Citizen.
The Principal Investigator and Co-PIs must agree to jointly participate in the ASCEND^RLeadership Program.

How to Apply

The Request for Proposals (RFP) has been released to HSRU Alliance member institutions, and institutions may now 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

Full Proposals Due: 27 February 2026 11:59 PM EST
Anticipated Award Announcement: May 2026
Anticipated Cohort Start Date: 16 August 2026

Additional Support

ASCEND^R Research Office Hours for General and Application Inquiries:
Wednesday, February 18 at 1:00 PM MST

RSVP Here

ASCEND^R Research Office Hours for Technical Inquiries:
Wednesday, February 10 at 9:30 AM MST

ASCEND^R Research Information Session:
December 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST

Information Session SLIDES

Contact Us

Have questions about this program or want to explore collaboration opportunities? Contact us at hsru@utep.edu.