ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Grants — Fall 2026 Round

ACS Petroleum Research Fund Doctoral New Investigator grants provide startup support for independent faculty research in chemistry and related physical sciences with fundamental petroleum or fossil-fuel relevance. The programme supports exploratory concepts and hypotheses rather than applied research or routine methods development. USD 110,000 over two years. At least 60% supports student education and training. PI summer salary is capped at USD 8,000 per grant year, including fringe benefits. Fall 2026 proposals close on 9 October 2026 at 17:00 US Eastern time for consideration in May 2027.

Regularly appointed faculty at US nonprofit academic institutions within three years of their first assistant-professor or equivalent appointment; documented tenure-clock extensions may apply. The institution must recognize PI status and graduate-student supervision eligibility. Research must be independent of the applicant’s graduate and postdoctoral work and relevant to fundamental petroleum science.