Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Michigan's Office of Research and Sponsored Projects received a $200,000 Project Grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Basic and Applied Scientific Research program (CFDA 12.300) for the period August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2029. The award supports research on high-speed underwater communications using acoustic iso-propagation vortices in turbulent environments, with performance conducted in Michigan. This three-year initiative addresses naval communications challenges by developing advanced acoustic propagation techniques designed to maintain signal integrity in complex underwater conditions, with potential applications to improve Navy and Marine Corps operational capabilities.

The research aligns with ONR's core mission to discover, develop, and deliver technologies advancing naval operations. The project represents the competitive, peer-reviewed selection process through which ONR evaluates proposals based on scientific merit, naval relevance, institutional capabilities, principal investigator qualifications, and cost realism. As a leading federal research recipient with annual research expenditures exceeding $1.77 billion, the University of Michigan brings substantial infrastructure and research capacity to execute this basic and applied research initiative within the three-year performance period.