The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is now accepting applications for its prestigious Early Career Research Program for 2025, offering a significant boost to outstanding scientists at the beginning of their professional journey. This initiative, spearheaded by the DOE Office of Science, aims to support over 80 early career researchers across U.S. academic institutions, DOE national laboratories, and Office of Science user facilities for a five-year period.
Harriet Kung, DOE’s Deputy Director of Science Programs for the Office of Science, highlighted the pivotal role of these researchers, stating, “The vision, creativity, and effort of early career faculty drive innovation in the basic science enterprise. The Department of Energy’s Office of Science is dedicated to supporting these promising investigators, and the Early Career Research Program provides an incredible opportunity.” She further emphasized that these awards are designed to empower researchers to “pursue new ideas and harness the resources of the user facilities to increase the potential for breakthrough new discoveries.”
To be eligible for this transformative Early Career Research Program, applicants must be untenured, tenure-track assistant or associate professors at a U.S. academic institution, or full-time employees at a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility. Crucially, candidates must be within 10 years of receiving their doctorate degree. Successful academic institutions can expect approximately $875,000 in funding over five years, while DOE national laboratories or Office of Science user facilities will receive approximately $2,750,000 over the same period.
As the nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, DOE’s Office of Science channels this Early Career Research Program through eight of its program offices. These encompass: Advanced Scientific Computing Research; Biological and Environmental Research; Basic Energy Sciences; Fusion Energy Sciences; High Energy Physics; Nuclear Physics; Accelerator R&D and Production; and Isotope R&D and Production. It is essential to note that proposed research topics must align with the programmatic priorities of the DOE Office of Science, detailed within the program announcement. Funding decisions will be made through a competitive peer review process.
Prospective applicants must submit pre-applications by February 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. For those encouraged to proceed, full applications are due by April 22, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To provide further guidance, the DOE will host a webinar on January 31, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. ET. Interested individuals can register for the webinar to learn more about the Early Career Research Program and the application process.
For comprehensive details about this funding opportunity, please visit the Office of Science funding opportunities page. This Early Career Research Program represents a vital investment in the future of scientific discovery and offers a unique platform for early career researchers to make significant contributions.
