[American Chemical Society](https://www.acs.org)

March 6, 2026 (Spring 2026 window) | October 9, 2026 (Fall 2026 window)

Typical awards: $55,000–$110,000 over 2 years (most programs); see program for specifics.

Supports fundamental, innovative research on petroleum, fossil fuels, and related materials at nonprofit institutions worldwide.

Proposals must represent a new research direction for the PI; eligibility varies by grant type and career stage.

--- ## Description The American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS PRF) provides seed funding for fundamental research directly related to petroleum, natural gas, coal, shale, tar sands, and similar materials. The fund’s mission is to stimulate new research directions—especially for investigators who have not previously published or received funding in the proposed area. Supported topics span traditional fossil fuel chemistry as well as emerging areas in sustainability and green chemistry, such as methane utilization and carbon dioxide upgrading. PRF grants are intended for researchers at nonprofit institutions globally, with distinct programs tailored to career stage and department type (doctoral or non-doctoral). The fund emphasizes fundamental research over applied or industry-driven projects. --- ## Due Dates - March 6, 2026: Full proposal submission deadline (Spring 2026 window, for consideration at October 2026 ACS PRF Committee Meeting) - October 9, 2026: Final submission deadline for Fall 2026 window (for consideration at May 2027 ACS PRF Committee Meeting) All proposals are due by 5:00 PM ET on the listed date. --- ## Funding Amount - **Typical award size:** $55,000–$110,000 over 2 years, depending on the grant program. - Doctoral New Investigator (DNI): $110,000 over 2 years - New Directions (ND): $110,000 over 2 years - Undergraduate New Investigator (UNI): $55,000 over 2 years - Undergraduate Research (UR): $70,000 over 2 years - **Departmental Supplements:** Starting with 2024 awards, departments of successful UR and UNI applicants may apply for a competitive $25,000 supplement to enhance research activities. --- ## Eligibility - **General:** Open to principal investigators at nonprofit institutions worldwide. - **New Direction Requirement:** The proposed research must represent a new direction for the PI—projects that are logical extensions of prior work or already funded/published are not eligible. - **By Grant Type:** - **ND:** Faculty at Ph.D.-granting institutions; must propose a new direction. - **DNI:** New faculty at Ph.D.-granting institutions within 3 years of first academic appointment. - **UR:** Faculty at non-doctoral departments. - **UNI:** New faculty at non-doctoral departments within 5 years of first academic appointment. - **Departmental Requirements:** See program details for department eligibility (doctoral vs. non-doctoral). - **Self-Check:** Use the [PI Eligibility Self-Check](https://prfgrant.acs.org/s/prf-pi-eligibility-self-check) for personalized eligibility guidance. --- ## Application Process 1. **Pre-Registration:** All applicants must register for the PRF portal. [Registration help](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/applicants/salesforce-registration-help.html). 2. **Eligibility Quiz:** Complete the online eligibility quiz for your intended grant type. 3. **Proposal Preparation:** Prepare required documents, including: - Abstract (≤250 words) - Petroleum relevance statement - Technical proposal (≤4,000 words, double-spaced) - Budget and justification - PI/Co-PI biosketch and publication list - Current and pending support - Additional program-specific documents (e.g., new direction statement for ND grants) 4. **Submission:** Upload all materials and obtain necessary institutional signatures via DocuSign before the deadline. 5. **Review:** Proposals are peer-reviewed and considered at the relevant ACS PRF Committee Meeting. Detailed instructions: [Proposal Submission Overview](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/applicants/salesforce-proposal-submission-help.html) --- ## Additional Information - **Research Scope:** Only fundamental research is supported; applied research is not eligible. - **Research Areas:** Supported disciplines are updated annually. [See current research areas](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/about/research-areas.html). - **No ACS Membership Required:** Membership in ACS is not required to apply. - **Reporting:** Annual progress and financial reports are required for funded projects. --- ## External Links - [ACS Petroleum Research Fund Main Page](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund.html) - [Grant Programs Overview](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/programs.html) - [Eligibility Self-Check Tool](https://prfgrant.acs.org/s/prf-pi-eligibility-self-check) - [Applicant Information & Instructions](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/applicants.html) - [Proposal Submission Help](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/applicants/salesforce-proposal-submission-help.html) - [Research Areas Supported](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/about/research-areas.html) - [Contact PRF Staff](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/contact.html) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact Info | |------------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | PRFsupport@acs.org; Phone: (202) 872-4481 | | Program Officers | See [PRF Staff Contacts](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/petroleum-research-fund/contact.html) for panel-specific contacts | | PRF Portal/Technical | help@services.acs.org | | Mailing Address | American Chemical Society, 1155 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA | ---

ACS Petroleum Research Fund

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