StellarGrant™ Scientific Instrumentation Grant Program

Supporting the Next Generation of Scientific Discovery and Hands-On STEM Education.

Great science starts with the ability to measure, explore, and ask better questions.

The StellarGrant™ Scientific Instrumentation Grant Program was created by StellarNet to help researchers, educators, and students gain access to modern spectroscopy and optical measurement instrumentation.

Each year, StellarNet awards up to $50,000 in scientific instrumentation grants to qualifying universities, colleges, research institutions, teaching laboratories, and other eligible organizations.

Awards may include StellarNet spectrometers, complete spectroscopy systems, accessories, software, calibration services, and other instrumentation appropriate for the selected project.

Applications are accepted in two primary categories.

StellarGrant awards are primarily instrumentation grants rather than cash awards.

Depending on the project, an award may include individual spectrometers or complete measurement systems for UV-Vis, NIR, Raman, fluorescence, radiometry, thin films, or other optical spectroscopy applications, as well as accessories, software, calibration, and technical support.

Applicants do not need to know the exact StellarNet instrument or configuration required. Tell us what you want to measure and what you hope to accomplish. Our scientists and engineers can help determine an appropriate system.

Individual award values will vary according to project requirements. StellarNet may award multiple grants throughout the year, with up to $50,000 in total instrumentation grants available annually.

We aren’t simply looking for the project that needs the most expensive instrument.

We’re looking for ideas where spectroscopy can make a meaningful difference.

Strong Research Award applications demonstrate scientific merit, an interesting or innovative use of spectroscopy, potential real-world impact, a feasible experimental approach, and the potential to generate knowledge that can be shared with the broader scientific community.

Strong Teaching & Education Award applications demonstrate meaningful student impact, hands-on use of instrumentation, a compelling educational experience, and an approach that could inspire or benefit science education beyond a single laboratory.

Above all, tell us:

What would you do with new spectroscopy instrumentation that you cannot do today — and why does it matter?

StellarGrant applications are welcomed from faculty members, researchers, laboratory managers, instructional-support professionals, educators, and other qualified representatives of:

• Universities and colleges
• Academic teaching laboratories
• Research institutions
• Government laboratories
• Nonprofit scientific and educational organizations

Collaborative and interdisciplinary projects are encouraged.
Applications may be submitted for new projects or to expand, modernize, or improve an existing research or teaching program.

Applications are reviewed by StellarNet based on factors including:

Scientific or Educational Merit — Is the proposed work meaningful and well conceived?
Impact — Could the project meaningfully benefit research, students, science, industry, or society?
Use of Spectroscopy — Is optical spectroscopy an important part of accomplishing the project’s goals?
Innovation — Does the project explore an interesting question, application, experiment, or approach?
Reach & Broader Impact — Could the work benefit additional researchers, students, educators, or communities?
Feasibility — Can the proposed project realistically be accomplished with the instrumentation and resources available?

StellarNet may consider additional factors when selecting recipients and may recognize exceptional applications through special StellarGrant awards.

Science becomes more valuable when knowledge is shared.
StellarGrant recipients may be invited to share a short project update, photographs, spectra, laboratory experiment, application note, research results, or educational outcomes resulting from their award.

With the recipient’s permission, StellarNet may feature selected projects through StellarNet educational resources, Learning Centers, newsletters, social media, news announcements, and other scientific communications.

Recipients are also encouraged to share their StellarGrant award and project through their institution’s news, department, laboratory, faculty, or educational channels.
Our goal is simple: help good ideas get the instrumentation they need — and help the resulting science and education reach a wider audience.

Applications are accepted throughout the year and may be reviewed on a rolling basis.

StellarNet may make multiple Research, Teaching & Education, or Special Recognition awards during each annual program cycle.

There is no application fee.

Have an idea? Tell us what you would do with the instruments.