This page provides Cotton Incorporated’s guidelines for submitting research proposals for Cooperative Research Agreements and Research Contracts. Cotton Incorporated sponsors research in the following areas:
- Agricultural & Environmental Research
Focuses on cotton breeding, production, harvesting, and ginning to address production challenges and improve crop performance.
Download Guidelines
Contact: Dr. Ryan Kurtz
Vice President, Agricultural & Environmental Research - Cotton in the Curriculum (CIC) Grant Program
Focuses on integrating cotton-focused content into textiles, apparel, and merchandising curricula at U.S. universities through coursework, projects, and experiential learning. Areas include cotton product development, supply chain education, and building student knowledge of cotton’s performance, sustainability, and role in the global textile industry.
Contact: Megan Peterson
Director, Marketing & Industry Programs - Fiber Competition
Focuses on fiber quality measurement and data that support breeding progress, improve cotton quality, and address processing challenges from ginning through spinning.
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Contact: Dr. Brooke Shumate
Associate Director, Quality Research - Product Development & Implementation
Focuses on cotton textile processing research, with areas spanning the development of improved fabric performance technologies, evaluation of low-impact processing methods, and exploration of new market opportunities beyond traditional home and apparel sectors- all aimed at strengthening cotton’s competitiveness against synthetic alternatives.
Submission guidelines will be available during the opening period, April 15- May 31.
Outside the above time frame, we encourage you to contact us below to join our mailing list.
Contact: Dr. Renuka Dhandapani
Manager, Textile Chemistry Research - Sustainability
Focuses on research and partnerships that improve cotton’s sustainability, expand market opportunities, and create value across the supply chain through science, data, standards, and innovation.
Contact: Dr. Jesse Daystar
Chief Sustainability Officer
Funding is based on a calendar year beginning January 1 through December 31.
Submission requirements and deadlines vary by division. Detailed instructions, including key research initiatives, are provided in the linked documents above.
If the appropriate department cannot be determined, or for proposal questions regarding submission please contact Heather Steele, Senior Coordinator, Legal at 919/678-2373 or Fax: 919/678-2233.