ACS Petroleum Research Fund
The ACS Petroleum Research Fund from the American Chemical Society supports innovative, fundamental research on petroleum, fossil fuels, and related materials in a wide range of scientific fields.
Funder: American Chemical Society
Due Dates: March 6, 2026 | October 9, 2026 | March 12, 2027
Funding Amounts: Typical awards: $70,000–$110,000 over 2 years (ND, DNI); $55,000–$70,000 over 2 years (UR, UNI).
Summary: Supports fundamental research in petroleum, fossil fuels, and related materials through seed funding for new research directions at nonprofit institutions.
Key Information: Proposals must represent a new research direction and not overlap with prior funded or published work.
Description
The ACS Petroleum Research Fund (PRF), administered by the American Chemical Society, provides seed funding to enable investigators to initiate innovative, fundamental research in areas directly related to petroleum, fossil fuels, and associated materials. The program emphasizes new research directions not previously supported or published, and supports a broad range of scientific disciplines, including chemistry, earth sciences, engineering, polymers, and materials science. PRF regularly updates its research focus to reflect evolving trends, including sustainability and green chemistry, while remaining committed to foundational studies of petroleum, natural gas, coal, shale, and tar sands. Funding is available through several grant tracks, including Doctoral New Investigator (DNI), New Directions (ND), Undergraduate Research (UR), and Undergraduate New Investigator (UNI) grants.
