Scientific Leadership Awards
Active
- Assistance listing
- 97.062
- Agency
-
Science and Technology Directorate
Department of Homeland Security
- Grant awards
- 74 $34,397,323 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 70-0800-0-1-999
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate canceled the Scientific Leadership Awards program (CFDA 97.062) in April 2025, making this program no longer available for new applications.
Program activity extended from 2008 through July 2023, when the most recent awards were disbursed. The portfolio consists of 74 awards totaling $34.4 million in combined federal dollars obligated over roughly fifteen years. Recent award cadence averaged six awards annually from 2014 to 2023, with nine awards made in 2023 before the program's closure. The assistance-type mix was predominantly Cooperative Agreements, representing 24 awards at 24 percent of the portfolio, with Project Grants comprising the remaining 56 awards at 76 percent. All awards were funded exclusively by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate.
The program funded homeland security-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research and education at minority-serving institutions. Representative recent awards demonstrate the scope: a $1 million Cooperative Agreement to Johnson C. Smith University and Stanly Community College to develop computer science education and research in disaster resilience and natural hazards; a $999.8 thousand Cooperative Agreement to California State University, Northridge on AI-based swarm control and graph theory for border security applications; and a $997.8 thousand Cooperative Agreement to Florida International University on forensic chemistry research and education for threat detection in border security, supply chain security, and transportation security. Earlier awards funded cybersecurity workforce development, maritime security education, biosecurity research, and emergency management technology programs at eligible institutions.
Applicants were required to be accredited U.S. colleges and universities defined as minority institutions under Section 365(3) of the Higher Education Act. Student applicants had to be U.S. citizens studying STEM fields relevant to the Department of Homeland Security's mission, including computer science, engineering, life sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, psychology, and social sciences, with career goals aligned to homeland security objectives.
The most recent grant opportunity, DHS-23-ST-062-001, closed on January 18, 2023. No new opportunities will be posted given the program's cancellation.
Objective and description
- Objective
DHS canceled this program in April 2025. In support of the Science and Technology Directorate's mission to build a pipeline of diverse talent knowledgeable in the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of University Programs administers the Sc
- Description
SLAs fund homeland security-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research at MSIs and supplement existing academic institution curricula with homeland security challenges to prepare MSI students for successful careers within the homeland security enterprise.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Applicants must be from accredited U.S. colleges and universities defined as "minority institutions" by subsection 365 (3) of the Higher Education Act (HEA)(20 U.S.C. subsection 1067K (3)). Student applicants must be U.S. citizens studying in a STEM field relevant to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's mission and objectives. US accredited MSIs are eligible to apply. Student recipients must be U.S. citizens studying in one of the following areas including: computer science, engineering, life sciences, math, physical sciences, psychology, social sciences. Students must have career and employment goals aligned with the mission and objectives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student, and Minority Serving Institution Faculty.
- Uses of assistance
Support is provided to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to develop capacity in HS-STEM and provide financial support and career guidance to students. This support is provided in the form of cooperative agreements.
- Use restrictions
Specific Restrictions Determined at NOFO Level.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Refer to program guidance.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Refer to the program guidance for information on criteria for selecting proposals.
- Award procedure
Applications are reviewed by subject matter experts (SMEs). Awards are made based on agency priorities and available funding.
- Deadlines
11/4/2022
- Time to approval or disapproval
Refer to program guidance document.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 74 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida International University | $3,585,141 | 10% |
| 2 | Texas A & M University Kingsville | $2,737,600 | 8% |
| 3 | Jackson State University | $2,304,532 | 7% |
| 4 | North Carolina Central University | $2,171,436 | 6% |
| 5 | Tennessee State University | $2,080,848 | 6% |
| 6 | Morgan State University | $1,878,694 | 5% |
| 7 | Howard University | $1,613,052 | 5% |
| 8 | Elizabeth City State University | $1,499,634 | 4% |
| 9 | University Of The District Of Columbia | $1,414,451 | 4% |
| 10 | Research Foundation Of The City University Of New York | $1,306,616 | 4% |
10 of 44 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | -$262,797 |
| FY2023 | $8,765,091 |
| FY2022 | -$14,794 |
| FY2021 | $2,810,178 |
| FY2020 | -$149,944 |
| FY2019 | -$14,107 |
| FY2018 | -$31,917 |
| FY2017 | $9,048,850 |
| FY2016 | -$50,803 |
| FY2015 | $2,786,382 |
| FY2014 | $2,727,881 |
| FY2013 | $2,732,812 |
| FY2012 | $3,048,591 |
| FY2011 | $5,123,299 |
| FY2010 | $1,399,878 |
| FY2008 | $378,723 |
Show all 16
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 97.062?
Assistance Listing 97.062 is Scientific Leadership Awards, a federal grant program run by Science and Technology Directorate (Department of Homeland Security).
What is the CFDA number for Scientific Leadership Awards?
Its CFDA number is 97.062: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 97.062 awarded?
74 grant awards under 97.062 have obligated $34,397,323 in federal funds to 44 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 97.062?
The recipients obligated the most under Scientific Leadership Awards are Florida International University ($3,585,141), Texas A & M University Kingsville ($2,737,600) and Jackson State University ($2,304,532).
Are there open grant opportunities under 97.062?
No opportunity listed under 97.062 is open now. The latest, 2023 DHS SLA for Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), was posted on November 4, 2022.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
- Funding by recipient, agency and assistance type
- Alerts for new opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this program