Welcome ECE Faculty!
The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department
ECE is committed to support its faculty members’ career-long development in research, teaching, and service.
We value your contribution to the
- Growth of the institution’s research enterprise
- Quality of education students receive
- Vital functioning and strategic decision-making of campus and departmental committees
Announcements
Check Out the Events Webpage for Upcoming Meetings, Seminars, and Workshops!
Check Out Featured Federal and Non-Federal Funding Opportunities on Funding Webpage
Informational and Partnering Webinar: 2026 Joint Research Projects University Academic Alliance in Taiwan (UAAT) - University of Illinois (UofI)
June 24, 8-9PM CT (RSVP by June 19)
Proposal Deadline: August 14
UAAT and U of I have launched the Joint Research Project for institutional research scientists with priority focus areas: Semiconductor + Quantum, and AI & Data across all fields. Applications should be jointly submitted by both UAAT and U of I faculty.
Introductory Webinar: NSF Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (NSF PESOSE)
June 23, 12-1PM CT
REGISTER
Full Proposal Due September 1, 2026
The PESOSE program helps translate open-source research products, including software, hardware, machine learning models, languages and data platforms, into safe and sustainable ecosystems that address national and societal challenges.
UIDP Webinar: Siemens for Startups| Innovation Partnerships in Practice
June 23, 12-1PM CT
REGISTER*
This webinar is designed for startup founders, university researchers, technology transfer professionals, and others working to advance academia-industry collaboration and technology commercialization. Siemens representatives will provide an overview of the program, highlight examples of successful engagement, and discuss ways organizations can connect with Siemens to advance shared innovation goals.
*The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a UIDP member organization.
Request for Information: AI Forge Program - University Research Capabilities for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategic Thrusts
Responses Due June 22
View AI Forge RFI
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced AI Forge, a joint research and development program designed to catalyze breakthroughs in AI for national security, working in close collaboration with the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Call for Proposals: NVIDIA Academic Grant Program
Proposals Due June 30
The NVIDIA Academic Grant Program is seeking proposals from full-time faculty members at accredited academic institutions who are using NVIDIA technology to advance work in the following areas of interest: Simulation and Modeling, AI Training and Model Development, and AI Inference, Agents, and Systems Software.
AI Efficiency Challenge
Applications Due July 13
REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING WEBINAR
STRIDE Ventures, a joint effort between the U.S. NSF Directorate TIP and the Start2 Group, launched the AI Efficiency Challenge. The AI Efficiency Challenge will prioritize translation-ready solutions that deliver efficiency improvements across the AI/ML pipeline. Funding will be offered at two levels: up to $3.5 million and up to $1.75 million per project. Awards will emphasize rapid team mobilization and close collaboration with deployment partners, and progress will be evaluated through a go/no-go framework directing continued resources to projects demonstrating measurable impact.
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site Award
Full Proposals Due August 19
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. Typical funding amount for an REU site is $100K - $155K per year for 3 years (up to 5 years in some cases).
U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Releases Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
Proposals Accepted Anytime (Some topics may have target deadlines)
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) released a new Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit proposals for basic research in support of future U.S. Air Force and Space Force capabilities.
If proposals were submitted to the previous BAA between March 18 and March 23, 2026, applicants will need to resubmit proposals to the new solicitation. The updated BAA expects to only fund fundamental research in areas that benefit “national warfighting and peacekeeping capabilities”, includes programmatic changes, and requires adherence to “Gold Standard Science”.
Funding Amount: $100K-$300K per year with most awards spanning a three-year period
Simons Foundation Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) Program
LOI Deadline: Rolling
The program is intended to support high-risk theoretical mathematics, physics, and computer science projects of exceptional promise and scientific importance on a case-by-case basis. It provides funding for up to five years and there is no recommended or assumed funding level.
Coefficient Giving
Applications open and will be assessed on a rolling basis