The Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $100 million in funding to support efforts to expand the skilled science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce through the Early Career Research Program.
Eighty-three scientists representing 11 DOE National Laboratories and 41 universities will receive grants that will cover salary and research expenses over a five-year period, the department said Thursday.
Some of the awardees' research topics are advanced scientific computing research, basic and fusion energy sciences, biological and environmental research as well as nuclear and high energy physics. Grants also provide for accelerator and isotope research, development and production.
“Maintaining our nation’s braintrust of world-class scientists and researchers is one of DOE’s top priorities—and that means we need to give them the resources they need to succeed early on in their careers,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
National Labs researchers are entitled to annual grants of $500,000 while university-based researchers are set to receive $150,000 funding per year.