Joint IASD/DreamScienceTM foundation
Grant Partnership (updated 8/21/2025)
IASD/DSF AND DEI GRANT OPPORTUNITY
The International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD) is working in partnership with the DreamScience Foundation (DSF), to provide seed grants for dream research. The objective of this joint granting activity is to stimulate dream related research with students and professionals who might not otherwise be able to pursue that research project and to enhance the S mission of IASD in supporting research. The grants would be awarded to recipients through a process of rating and selection by the Research Grant Committee (as described below). If you identify as a member of an ethnic group that has been underrepresented in the field of dream research, you may also apply for IASD DEI Dream Research Grant funding support (follow the instructions in the SAMPLE or SUBMISSION FORM). The number of grants, and the amount for each, will be limited by the funds made available each year from DSF and other sponsoring groups or individuals who donate to dream research.
Submission Areas: High quality quantitative and qualitative research proposals are invited in areas related to dreams and dreaming, including but not limited to the biology or neuroscience of dreaming, phenomenological and psychological studies of dreaming, and such fields as anthropological and cultural studies. Targeted sponsorship for special disciplines (such as for PTSD, Lucidity and such) would be advertised in the Call for Grant Proposals in that funding cycle.
Grant Award Process: at least once per year, in conjunction with the IASD annual conference in June, IASD and DSF will announce a call for research proposals with deadlines of 15 October each year. Grants awards are limited by the funds received from public donations to dream research, the DreamScience Foundation (DSF), IASD matching, and donations to “IASD Diversity.” Qualification for grant awards is based first on a research quality rating by the Research Grant Committee (RGC) of professional researchers and then, for those qualifying for specially sponsored funding, a secondary review by the sponsors such as the IASD Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC). Research quality rating is based on: a) value to dream science and the population served; b) a solid methodology and design; and c) various risk elements including ethics review, funding required, reasonability of achieving the objectives and such. Grants are typically awarded in the December time frame and at that time announced on the DSF and IASD web sites as well as in IASD newsletters and the periodical DreamTime. The awardee(s) of the previous year’s grant(s) will also be announced at the annual IASD conference the following year and one researcher from the team will be provided with a waved fee scholarship opportunity to present preliminary or final results at that or a following conference.
For the complete set of instructions and application procedure, please visit the DreamScience website at: https://dreamscience.org/grant-opportunity/