DOE will make up to $85 million available to support at least 50 early career researchers for five years at U.S. academic institutions and DOE national laboratories. The funding, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be awarded in early 2010.

“This funding highlights the Administration’s continued commitment to building the nation’s scientific workforce by attracting top emerging researchers to careers in vital areas of basic research,” said Secretary Chu.  “By investing in scientific researchers in their formative years, we can provide scientists with the resources to do some of their most exciting and productive work.” 

To be eligible for the competition, a researcher must be an untenured, tenure-track assistant professor at a U.S. academic institution or a full-time employee at a DOE national laboratory.  The applicant must also have received a Ph.D. within the past ten years.  Early career researchers may apply to one of six Office of Science program offices: Advanced Scientific Computing Research; Biological and Environmental Research; Basic Energy Sciences; Fusion Energy Sciences; High Energy Physics; or Nuclear Physics.  Proposed research topics must fall within the programmatic priorities of DOE’s Office of Science.

Letters of intent will be due on August 1st, 2009, and proposals will be due on September 1st, 2009.

For additional information, please visit http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7665.htm

Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME.  He can be reached at rainsr@asme.org.