Grants / Department of Energy / Office of Science

DE-FOA-0002821: Early Career Research Program

Closed Closed March 23, 2023 Opportunity DE-FOA-0002821 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot (DE-FOA-0003673). Status: Closes January 12, 2027 (66 days left). It is in our archive of Office of Science notices from 2022.

• Award ceiling$875,000
• Award floor$875,000
• Total funding$110 million
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126, Competition, eligibility for award is restricted to U.S. Institution of Higher Education, DOE National Laboratories (listed at https://www.energy.gov/national-laboratories), and institutions operating SC Scientific User Facilities (listed at https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities). 1. Institution of Higher Education U.S. academic institutions are eligible to submit applications under this FOA. An employee with a joint appointment between a university and a DOE national laboratory must apply through the institution that pays his or her salary and provides his or her benefits. 2. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories DOE/NNSA National Laboratories are eligible to submit applications under this FOA. If recommended for funding as a lead applicant, funding will be provided through the DOE Field-Work Proposal System. If recommended for funding as a proposed subawardee, the value of the proposed subaward will be removed from the prime applicant’s award and will be provided to the laboratory through the DOE Field-Work Proposal System. Additional instructions for securing authorization from the cognizant Contracting Officer are found in Section VIII of this FOA. Submission of a pre-application (in PAMS) or an application (in Grants.gov) by an authorized institutional representative is a confirmation that the proposed research idea fits within the scope of SC-funded programs at the national laboratory. Proposing research that falls within this category ensures that investigators have the opportunity to belong to or join, at the laboratory’s discretion, funded research groups. Investigators funded under this program must charge at least 50% of their time to the award, allowing time to develop or maintain funded collaborations within the lab over the course of the award. Making sure that investigators have potential connections with SC funded programs encourages the laboratory to actively plan to address funding transition issues that may arise when an award ends. Applications from DOE National Laboratories should not (a) attempt to revive previously terminated research areas within the laboratory or (b) topically isolate investigators. Eligibility exemptions will not be granted. 3. SC Scientific User Facilities not at a DOE/NNSA National Laboratory Institutions operating SC Scientific User Facilities are eligible to submit applications under this FOA. If recommended for funding as a lead applicant, funding will be provided as a financial assistance award to the non-Governmental entity operating the User Facility. Eligibility is restricted to the above entities due to the requirement for an applicant institution to have already made a career commitment to individuals as exemplified by putting them on the tenure track or in a permanent position at a national laboratory or an SC Scientific User Facility. Non-tenure-track positions and fellowships lack the expected permanence required by the Early Career Research Program. Outside of DOE/NNSA National Laboratories and SC Scientific User Facilities, the most prestigious positions in the field are tenure track faculty positions at academic institutions, and tenure is a uniquely academic pursuit: No equivalent positions exist in industry or non-profit organizations. Submission of a pre-application (in PAMS) or an application (in Grants.gov) by an authorized institutional representative is a confirmation that the proposed research idea fits within the scope of SC-funded programs at the national laboratory. Proposing research that falls within this category ensures that investigators have the opportunity to belong to or join, at the laboratory’s discretion, at the facility’s discretion, funded research groups. Investigators funded under this program must charge at least 50% of their time to the award, allowing time to develop or maintain funded collaborations within the facility over the course of the award. Making sure that investigators have potential connections with SC funded programs encourages the facility to actively plan to address funding transition issues that may arise when an award ends. Applications from SC Scientific User Facilities should not (a) attempt to revive previously terminated research areas within the facility or (b) topically isolate investigators. Eligibility exemptions will not be granted.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Office of Science Financial Assistance Program awards averaged $1.2 million; this notice allows up to $875,000 per award.
• Most of the program's money (69% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

DOE SC hereby invites applications for support under the ECRP in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR); Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); High Energy Physics (HEP); Nuclear Physics (NP); Isotope Research and Development (R&D) and Production (DOE IP); and Accelerator R&D and Production (ARDAP). The purpose of this program is to support the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and to stimulate research careers in the areas supported by SC. SC’s mission is to deliver the scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. SC is the Nation’s largest Federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences and the lead Federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research for our Nation’s energy future. SC accomplishes its mission and advances national goals by supporting: · The frontiers of science—exploring nature’s mysteries from the study of fundamental subatomic particles, atoms, and molecules that are the building blocks of the materials of our universe and everything in it to the DNA, proteins, and cells that are the building blocks of life. Each of the programs in SC supports research probing the most fundamental disciplinary questions. · The 21st Century tools of science—providing the nation’s researchers with 28 state-of- the-art national scientific user facilities - the most advanced tools of modern science - propelling the U.S. to the forefront of science, technology development, and deployment through innovation. · Science for energy and the environment―paving the knowledge foundation to spur discoveries and innovations for advancing the Department’s mission in energy and environment. SC supports a wide range of funding modalities from single principal investigators to large team-based activities to engage in fundamental research on energy production, conversion, storage, transmission, and use, and on our understanding of the earth systems.

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DE-FOA-0003673, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.