DE-FOA-0003602: Early Career Research Program (ECRP)
Closed
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 2026.
Office of Science offered grants of up to $2.8 million (at least $875,000) to colleges and universities. It expected to make about 100 awards worth $145 million in total. Applications closed on June 2, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed March 3, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$2.8 million
- Award floor$875,000
- Total funding$145 million
- Expected awards100
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant, Other
Key dates
| Posted | March 3, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | June 2, 2026 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | September 2, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to colleges and universities.
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- 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. Institutions of Higher Education, DOE/NNSA 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).
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Office of Science Financial Assistance Program awards averaged $1.2 million; this notice allows up to $2.8 million 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 and Production (DOE IP). 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.
Who has won Office of Science Financial Assistance Program grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (81.049) awarded $7.7 billion across 6,205 grant awards, an average of $1.2 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University Foundation | Michigan | 84 | $573 million |
| General Atomics | California | 30 | $495 million |
| University of Wisconsin System | Wisconsin | 101 | $275 million |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts | 118 | $238 million |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 61 | $201 million |
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.
Questions people ask
Is DE-FOA-0003602 still open?
No. It closed on June 2, 2026. A newer notice is open: DE-FOA-0003673, closes January 12, 2027 (66 days left).
Who can apply for Early Career Research Program (ECRP)?
Office of Science accepted applications from colleges and universities. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Early Career Research Program (ECRP)?
Closed June 2, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $2.8 million each. About $145 million in total across about 100 awards.
Who has won Office of Science Financial Assistance Program grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Michigan State University Foundation, General Atomics, University of Wisconsin System. The program made 6,205 awards worth $7.7 billion in that time.