Stanford Doerr Discovery Grants
Stanford Doerr Discovery Grants fund high-risk, fundamental research in sustainability, Earth, life, and engineered systems at Stanford University, emphasizing curiosity-driven scientific exploration.
Funder: Stanford University
Due Dates: October 5, 2026 (Full proposal / application submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $150,000 total per project for a 2-year award; no-cost extension possible for up to 1 additional year.
Summary: Supports fundamental, high-risk, inquiry-driven research in sustainability, Earth, life, and engineered systems within the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
Key Information: Open only to Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability faculty and eligible scientific staff; solution-oriented projects are not prioritized.
Description
The Stanford Doerr Discovery Grants program funds pioneering, curiosity-driven research that advances fundamental understanding in Earth, life (including biological and societal systems), and engineered systems. The program emphasizes high-risk, innovative projects that are unlikely to receive support from traditional, solution-oriented funding sources. The goal is to foster "blue sky" research within the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS) community, encouraging creative exploration and expansion of scientific knowledge rather than direct solutions to specific problems.
