The National Center for Sustainable Transportation awards research funding for applied research projects, white paper grants, seed grants, translational grants, graduate-led research projects, and dissertation grants through competitive Calls or Requests for Proposals (CFPs or RFPs). Find out more information about each of these funding opportunities below:
Faculty Funding Opportunities Student Funding Opportunities
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FACULTY & PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS
USDOT-Funded Research Grants
The NCST issues its RFP for USDOT-funded research projects, white papers, translational projects, and seed grants typically in February of each year, and the RFP is generally open for approximately one month. Awards are usually announced in July, with awarded projects expected to start with the Fall quarter/semester, generally with one-year project terms. Individual awards range from $30,000 to $140,000 in total costs, and vary by campus and grant type. Priority is given to proposals with a national scope within the NCST research areas of Vehicle Technology, Infrastructure Provision, and Travel Demand.
Requests for Proposals
The NCST is not currently accepting proposals for USDOT-funded projects.
Caltrans-Funded Research Grants
The NCST issues its RFP for Caltrans-funded research projects, white papers, translational projects, and seed grants typically in February of each year, and the RFP is generally open for approximately one month. Awards are typically announced in July, with awarded projects expected to start no earlier than the Fall quarter/semester, generally with one-year terms. Individual awards range from $30,000 to $140,000 in total costs. Priority is given to proposals with a California scope and that inform or help implement Caltrans' goals and activities, within the NCST research areas of Vehicle Technology, Infrastructure Provision, and Travel Demand.
Requests for Proposals
The NCST is not currently accepting proposals for Caltrans-funded projects.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
Dissertation Research Grants
The NCST offers dissertation research grants for current doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy. Dissertation proposals must relate to the NCST's mission of moving the nation towards a more sustainable transportation system from the standpoint of infrastructure and systems operation, vehicles and fuels, travel demand, and institutional change. Doctoral research may be in any discipline, and multidisciplinary topics are encouraged when appropriate.
Call for Proposals
CFPs are released each spring and fall. As stated above, students in any program are eligible, so long as their dissertation is in the area of sustainable transportation. The application requires a letter of recommendation from the student’s dissertation chair, and applicants must have passed their qualifying exam prior to the application deadline.
UC Davis is not currently accepting applications for dissertation grants. For reference, the Fall 2024 UC Davis Dissertation Grant Call for Proposals is linked below. The next call will be released in March 2025.
View the Fall 2024 Dissertation Grant CFP
Graduate Student Exchange
The NCST offers a graduate student exchange program in which graduate students work with faculty at the consortium universities to nominate students to travel to one of our partner universities to work with colleagues and collaborators.
[Exchange policy currently in development]
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships
The NCST offers summer research fellowships to undergraduate students who are interested in working with UC Davis faculty, professional researchers, and graduate students on research projects related to sustainable transportation.
The program is currently available to undergraduates at CSU Long Beach, Sacramento City College, Texas Southern University, and UC Davis. The program runs for six weeks and follows a cohort model: Students begin and end the fellowship at the same time, meeting regularly to discuss their research projects, attend seminars, and at the conclusion of the fellowship, present their research findings.
2025 program dates: July 7 through August 15.
Learn about the work of previous NCST fellowship recipients
Calls for Applications
The call for applications for the 2025 program year is currently open. Click the link below to view the application, additional program details, eligibility requirements, etc. Applications are due on April 25, 2025.
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship Call for Applications