RSI Explorer Grant

RSI Explorer Grant

Funds high-risk sustainability exploration by Caltech investigators to strengthen real-world implementation.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The RSI Explorer Grant is an internal Caltech research grant administered by the Resnick Sustainability Institute (RSI), which was founded with a $750 million gift from Stewart and Lynda Resnick and is directed by Jonas C. Peters, Bren Professor of Chemistry. The Spring 2026 cycle offered up to $150,000 in total direct costs over a two-year period for exploratory sustainability research. The proposal deadline was May 27, 2026; this cycle is now closed, and a Fall 2026 cycle is expected. Beginning Spring 2026, submissions are processed through Caltech's PAM internal proposal-management system rather than a prior direct submission workflow.

Eligibility is strictly limited to Caltech faculty with primary affiliation in one of Caltech's academic divisions and the ability to conduct research on campus in Pasadena, California. Only one application per lead PI is permitted per cycle. External researchers, other universities, for-profit organizations, and nonprofits are not eligible. Funded work must address RSI's four research initiatives: Climate Science, Ecology and Biosphere Engineering, Sunlight to Everything, and Water Resources. Eligible project types include exploratory research, proof-of-concept studies, process engineering, prototype development, and instrumentation.

Recent Explorer Grant-funded projects illustrate the scientific range the program supports: biodegradable plastics via engineered enzymes (Frances Arnold), next-generation solar cell semiconductors (Harry Atwater), invasive ant biological control (Sarah Reisman and Joseph Parker), and urban megafire heavy metal atmospheric transport (Francois Tissot and Christian Frankenberg). Caltech PIs targeting the Fall 2026 cycle should begin internal PAM pre-routing early, align their proposal to one or more of the four RSI themes, and confirm with RSI program staff whether any thematic priorities or proposal format updates apply to the upcoming round.