2026–27 SMART FIRES UM Research Seed Award
Montana NSF EPSCoR’s 2026–27 SMART FIRES UM Research Seed Award funds innovative, interdisciplinary fire science research at the University of Montana, emphasizing technology, collaboration, and student engagement.
Funder: Montana NSF EPSCoR
Due Dates: October 16, 2026 (Full application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $25,000 per award; award period is January 1, 2027 to August 31, 2027
Summary: Funds innovative fire science research at the University of Montana, supporting capacity building and student engagement aligned with SMART FIRES goals.
Key Information: Only UM faculty not currently funded by SMART FIRES are eligible; proposal and budget must be emailed by the deadline.
Description
This program supports transformative research and capacity building projects that align with the SMART FIRES initiative, which advances prescribed-fire science and its impact on Montana communities. The award encourages innovative proposals from University of Montana faculty that integrate fire and smoke science, smart optical sensors, artificial intelligence, and social sciences. The goal is to foster research productivity, attract new external funding, and expand graduate and undergraduate student opportunities. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary collaboration, impactful research outcomes, and strengthening Montana’s research infrastructure in fire science.
