2026–27 SMART FIRES Two- and Four-Year Montana Colleges Seed Award Request for Proposals
Montana NSF EPSCoR's SMART FIRES seed award funds innovative fire science education and research projects at Montana's two- and four-year colleges.
Funder: Montana NSF EPSCoR
Due Dates: October 9, 2026: Full application deadline — email proposal PDF and budget Excel file by 5:00 pm MDT
Funding Amounts: Up to $10,000 per award (including indirect costs); 2–3 awards expected; project period: Jan 1, 2027–Aug 31, 2027
Summary: Supports innovative education and workforce development projects in prescribed fire science at Montana’s two- and four-year colleges.
Key Information: MSU and UM are not eligible; participants currently funded by SMART FIRES may not apply.
Description
This opportunity, provided by Montana NSF EPSCoR through the SMART FIRES initiative, supports seed projects that enhance undergraduate education and workforce development in prescribed fire science and related STEM fields at Montana’s two- and four-year colleges. The program encourages faculty and instructors to propose innovative projects—such as new courses, independent research, or professional development—that build capacity in fire science education and address Montana’s STEM workforce needs. Projects should clearly align with the goals of the broader SMART FIRES project, which focuses on advancing real-time fire science through technology, social science, and workforce development.
