Environmental Sciences

Request Ticket // Limit: 2 (one per priority outcome area)// Tickets Available: 1

Priority Outcome Areas
Priority program outcomes are (1) Water for Energy Reliability and Reservoir Resilience and (2) Energy-Water Efficiency and Industrial Success

1. Water for Energy Reliability and Reservoir Resilience
2. Energy-Water Efficiency and Industrial Success
   A. Achilli (Chemical and Environmental Engineering)

Limiting Language
Offeror may submit multiple white papers in response to this BAA but may only submit one white paper under each priority outcome area.

Description
The primary objective of the National Science Foundation’s Energy Water Security Initiative (EWSI) is to secure American energy and national infrastructure resilience by producing measurable reductions in vulnerabilities where water scarcity threatens energy production, baseload stability, and industrial water extraction. This effort aims to accelerate deployment of technical solutions, with a priority focus on the systemic crisis within the Colorado River Basin. 

The NSF Energy Water Security Initiative seeks to develop the critical framework needed for research and development and accelerated, high-impact deployment. This initiative implements a two-phase program. Phase 1 awardees receive resources to develop consortia comprising multi-sector partnerships that can deliver on the goals of this initiative. Consortia should include regional partners and provide the collaborative infrastructure needed to accelerate development and deployment of technical capabilities. Phase 2 awardees will receive significant resources to expand the scale of projects leading to rapid completion and deployment of secure, public-domain technologies. The NAICS code for this BAA is 813920 (Professional Organization), which is a consortium focused on promoting professional research interests

 

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
An applicant organization may not submit more than one application for different projects or proposing different approaches.

Executive Summary
NRCS is announcing the availability of $3 million in WMBP grant funds for the development and establishment of mitigation banks and banking opportunities solely for agricultural producers with wetlands subject to the wetland conservation compliance provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as amended). WMBP is a competitive grants program accepting proposals from eligible entities as identified in Section B.1. Priority will be given to banks in states with significant numbers of individual wetlands, wetland acres, and conservation compliance requests. Based on NRCS data, these states are Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language 
Applicants may not submit multiple applications (i.e., submit applications for different projects) under this funding opportunity. Applicants that submit more than one application will have their last application submitted accepted. EPA will accept the most recent application submitted and deem the remaining application(s) ineligible.

Executive Summary 
This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities to deliver Brownfields Job Training programs that recruit, train, and place local, unemployed, and underemployed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field. 

Brownfields Job Training Grants fund training programs that strengthen local workforces by preparing program graduates for environmental jobs that support cleanup and revitalization efforts in their own communities. 

Training may include a range of brownfield-related environmental skills such as the assessment and cleanup of solid and hazardous waste; chemical risk management; stormwater management relating to site cleanup; planning and site preparation for low-impact development activities; site preparation for green infrastructure installation; and vulnerability assessment and contamination mitigation planning.

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language 
Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization.  If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

Executive Summary 
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OPA) announces an open competition for a U.S. institution, company, or organization (see eligibility information in B.1) interested in submitting an application to conduct ocean mapping, seabed exploration, habitat and resource characterization, and data management and analysis in Pacific Island Countries (PICs).  The funded activities will be done in cooperation and coordination with relevant PIC governments and stakeholders.  This funding opportunity is one component of a broader U.S. Government (USG) initiative, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI), aimed at advancing seabed mapping and exploration in the Pacific.  Together, these efforts will provide environmental baseline data, locate and characterize habitats and resources in PIC’s seabed within national jurisdiction, analyze impacts for ocean resource management, and build foreign national regulatory frameworks with high environmental and transparency standards favorable to competitive private sector investment.   

This opportunity advances President Trump’s Executive Orders on critical minerals, including EO 14285 on Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, which directs U.S. government agencies to move expeditiously to support investment in deep sea science, mapping, and technology, strengthen partnerships with allies and industry, and ensure U.S. companies are well-positioned to support allies and partners interested in developing seabed minerals responsibly in areas within their national jurisdictions.

Request Ticket // Limit: 4 (one per Priority Area) // Tickets Available: 3

Priority Area #2 - Co-PIs P. Beamer and N. Lothrop (Public Health)

Limiting Language
Under this competition, only one application may be submitted for each Priority Area per applicant. If an applicant submits more than one application for a single Priority Area, EPA will contact them before the review process begins to determine which application(s) will be withdrawn. If the applicant is unable to communicate a decision within two business days of being contacted by the EPA, the EPA will accept the application received by Grants.gov first. Additional information regarding the one application per applicant requirement may be found in the FAQ document.

Priority Areas

1. Priority Area 1 - Acquisition of Financing/Funding
   Technical assistance and training for rural, small, and Tribal municipalities for planning, developing and acquisition of financing/funding for eligible projects and activities.
2. Priority Area 2 - Protect Water Quality and Compliance Assistance Technical assistance and training for rural, small, and Tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater systems to help improve water quality and to achieve and maintain compliance.
3. Priority Area 3 - Tribal
   Technical assistance and training focused specifically on Tribes for planning, developing and acquisition of financing/funding, to help improve water quality and achieve and maintain compliance, and/or to support emerging contaminants project development.
4. Priority Area 4 - Decentralized Systems
   Information Dissemination, Technical Assistance and Training focused specifically on decentralized wastewater treatment systems to support planning, development and acquisition of financing.

Executive Summary 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications under the authority of the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 104(b)(8) to provide Technical Assistance and Training for Rural, Small and Tribal Municipalities and Wastewater Treatment Systems. The program supports small, rural, and Tribal communities’ efforts to identify water challenges, develop plans, build technical, financial, and managerial capacity, comply with CWA requirements, and access water infrastructure funding. 

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity under the Clean Water Act, EPA will achieve greater protection of public health and the environment through an increase in trained water sector personnel, access to funding and financing for wastewater treatment facilities, and Clean Water Act compliance. This action advances the Administration’s priorities, including to Make America Healthy Again, by improving water quality and reducing exposure risks, and enabling responsible economic growth for small, rural, and tribal communities through improved wastewater infrastructure. In partnership with States, Tribes, and local governments and grounded in sound science and the law, EPA will deliver cleaner water, stronger infrastructure, and long-term environmental stewardship for all Americans. 

The proposed activities support the Agency’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative’s Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American. Priority Areas identified in this opportunity are: 

1. Technical assistance and training for rural, small, and Tribal municipalities for planning, developing and acquisition of financing/funding for eligible projects and activities. 
   • Technical assistance and training for rural, small, and Tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater systems to help improve water quality and to achieve and maintain compliance.
2. Technical assistance and training focused specifically on Tribes for planning, developing and acquisition of financing/funding, to help improve water quality and achieve and maintain compliance, and/or to support emerging contaminants project development. 
3. Information dissemination, technical assistance and training focused specifically on decentralized wastewater treatment systems to support planning, development and acquisition of financing.

Eligible entities for this grant program include nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education that can provide technical assistance and training to rural, small, and Tribal municipalities, publicly owned wastewater treatment works, and decentralized wastewater treatment systems. Assisting systems with their technical, managerial, and financial capacity to achieve long-term compliance is a key priority for the Agency. Infrastructure construction projects such as repairing water or sewer lines, adding new equipment, or upgrading, retrofitting, or rehabilitating existing equipment are not eligible for funding under this announcement.

 

Request Ticket // Limit: 3 per department, see table for ticket availability

Astronomy
*Please note the Department of Astronomy will manage its own internal selection process for this funding opportunity. If you are a faculty member in the Department of Astronomy, please contact Dr. Buell Jannuzi for more information. 
 

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2
H. Rastgoftar

Cellular and Molecular Medicine // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2
S. Hamilton

Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2
L. Zhang

College of Information Science // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
S. Bratt
D. Alharthi

Electrical and Computer Engineering // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 0
C. Gagatsos
N. Rengaswamy
E. Azimi

Environmental Sciences // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
J. Green
L. Ikner

Neuroscience // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
M. Corty 
L. Halladay

Physics // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
P. Siwach 
N. Golubev

Physiology // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2
M.M. Kaelberer

Wyant College of Optical Sciences // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
C. Panda 
Y. Bai 

Limiting Language 
No more than three candidates may be nominated from any one department per fellowship field.   

Program Overview
The Sloan Research Fellowship Program recognizes and rewards outstanding early-career faculty. The two-year $75,000 fellowships are awarded annually to early-career researchers whose creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments make them stand out as the next generation of leaders.

Additional information can be found on the Sloan Foundation's website.

Eligibility 

• Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in chemistry, computer science, Earth system science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, or a related field.
• Candidates must be members of the faculty of a college, university, or other degree-granting institution in the U.S. or Canada.
• Candidates must be tenure-track, though untenured, as of September 15 of the nomination year.
• Candidate’s faculty position must carry a regular teaching obligation.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language 
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Executive Summary
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Global Leaders Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposal submissions for the FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Program. TechLeaders will strengthen America’s technological edge and industry dominance by promoting U.S. leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Space Technology, Biotechnology/Health Technology, Supply Chain/Cold Chain Technology, and Agricultural Technology (AgriTech). This initiative engages approximately 60 foreign participants, ages 25-40, from Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and the Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere through a five-week intensive placement in the United States. Participants will collaborate with U.S.- based mentors and companies to develop actionable solutions in critical technology sectors, showcasing American expertise and innovation. The program will also feature overseas components including reciprocal exchanges and an accelerator following the second U.S.-based cohort to expand U.S. influence, inspire future STEM professionals, and foster collaboration with American businesses. TechLeaders supports U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives byexporting American expertise and technological innovations abroad, promoting U.S.- preferred technology standards globally, bolstering economic ties, and countering the proliferation of malign competitors’ technology in the global market.

Organizations applying for this federal award must demonstrate the capacity to recruit, select, and place participants, manage all program logistics, and implement overseas programming, which includes annual reciprocal exchanges and a Critical Emerging Technologies Accelerator program after the second cohort of participants. The recipient will be awarded $ 1,500,000 for the overall FY 2026 TechLeaders: Critical Emerging Technologies Program, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently to advance U.S. national interests and global leadership in criticaltechnology sectors.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 (Lead Institution) // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language 
EPA encourages eligible applicants to form a consortium to operate this program. Eligible applicants may be a member of a consortium in more than one application. However, such applicants may not apply as the sole applicant or as the applicant for a consortium in more than one application.

Executive Summary
The National Environmental Education and Training Program is authorized under Section 5 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-619). The purpose of this program is to deliver environmental education (EE) training and long-term support to formal and non-formal education professionals across the U.S. in the development and delivery of environmental education and training programs and studies, bolstering their ability to effectively teach about environmental issues. Eligibility for funding is open to U.S. institutions of higher education, not-for-profit institutions as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which are exempt from taxation pursuant to provisions of section 501(a) of such Code, or a consortium of such institutions may apply to operate this program.
 

Ticket Request Deadline -  The deadline to request a ticket for this funding opportunity was 5:00PM Monday, April 6. No additional tickets will be issued. 

Limit: 1 Phase I or Phase II Application per Focus Area (99 total) - Each PI may only submit one proposal but can be senior/key personel on an unlimited number of proposals

Topic Area 1: Reenvisioning Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Productivity // Limit: 6 // Tickets Available: 3
Focus Area A - Agentic AI-Driven Chemical Manufacturing (BES) - OPEN
Focus Area B - AI-Driven Materials Processing (BES) - H. Kim (Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics)
Focus Area C - AI-Enabled Manufacturing for Extreme Energy Systems (FES) - OPEN 
Focus Area D: Digitalization of Industrial Processes (ITO) – M. Shafae (Systems and Industrial Engineering)
Focus Area E: AI-Enabled Smart Manufacturing (AMMTO) - P. Satam (Systems and Industrial Engineering) 
Focus Area F: Energy Material Manufacturing (AFFO) - OPEN

Topic Area 2: Scaling the Biotechnology Revolution // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: Biomolecular Science (BER) – T. Wheeler (Pharmacy Practice and Science)
Focus Area B: Genotype to Phenotype (BER) L. Meredith (School of Natural Resources and the Environment
Focus Area C: Predictive Engineering of Microbial Communities (BER) – M. Tfaily (Environmental Sciences) 
Focus Area D: Bio Design (BER) - OPEN
Focus Area E: AI-Enabled Biological Reaction Engineering, Bioreactor Design, Process Scale-up
and Integration (AFFO) - OPEN

Topic Area 3: Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply // Limit: 7 // Tickets Available: 3
Focus Area A: Resource Mapping and Development (AMMPTO) – J.G. Duan (Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics)
Focus Area B: AI-Enabled Materials Discovery and Engineering (AMMTO) – J.L. Bredas (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Focus Area C: Economic Modeling and Market Analysis (ASO) - OPEN
Focus Area D: Extraction and Processing Technologies (AMMPTO, AMMTO) - N. Risso (Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources)
Focus Area E: Geological Finder/Keepers – OPEN
Focus Area F: Connections for Isolation (BES) - OPEN 
Focus Area G: Biological Pathways to CMM (BER) - Y. Song (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences)

Topic Area 4: Delivering Nuclear Energy that is Faster, Safer, Cheaper // Limit: 8 // Tickets Available: 8
Focus Area A - Accelerated Nuclear Power Plant Design and Licensing: Create an automated
process to enable rapid design, including safe and secure autonomous monitoring
and control of plant operations, licensing considerations, and rapid deployment of
advanced nuclear technologies using AI - OPEN
Focus Area B - Autonomous Power Plant Operations: Develop AI digital twin systems that
interpret plant operational data in real time, detect anomalies, and recommend
preemptive actions to maintain safety and operational performance - OPEN
Focus Area C: AI-Assisted Manufacturing and Construction: Support site selection, born certified
manufacturing, construction, supply chain reliability, and factory modular
production methods with AI technologies - OPEN 
Focus Area D: Autonomous Research and Development: Condense nuclear material research and
qualification timeframes using AI-driven pipelines for modeling, characterization,
evaluation, and qualification, while integrating decades of global historical
irradiation data - OPEN
Focus Area E: Accelerated Fuel Cycle Facility Design and Licensing to Secure the Domestic Fuel
Supply: Create automated processes to enable rapid design, licensing
considerations, and accelerated deployment of advanced fuel cycle technologies
using AI - OPEN
Focus Area F: AI-Assisted Site Characterization: Accelerate waste disposition site characterization
through AI Modeling - OPEN
Focus Area G: AI-Assisted End Disposition Design: Concept Design for Disposal of Used Nuclear
Fuel and Reprocessed Fuel Waste Streams - OPEN
Focus Area H: Development, Utilization and/or Adoption of AI and ML Tools to Support the
Efficient Review, Classification and Release of Legacy Documents to the Nuclear
Industry - OPEN

Topic Area 5: Accelerating Delivery of Fusion Energy // Limit: 7 // Tickets Available: 5
Focus Area A: Structural Materials (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Plasma-Facing Materials (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Advancing Confinement Approaches – C. Chan (Steward Observatory and Department of Astronomy)
Focus Area C: Advancing Confinement Approaches (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area D: Fuel Cycle and Tritium Processing (FES, NE) - OPEN
Focus Area E: Tritium Breeding Blankets (FES, NE) - OPEN
Focus Area F: Fusion Plant Engineering and System Integration – D. Ebert (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area G: Plasma Science and Technology (FES) - OPEN

Topic Area 6: Transforming Nuclear Restoration and Revitalization // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 3
Focus Area A: EM AI R&D Roadmap Implementation (EM-3.2, ASCR, LM) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Scale-Bridging AI Foundation Model (EM-3.2, ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Treatment Process Optimization (EM-3.2, ASCR) - OPEN

Topic Area 7: Discovering Quantum Algorithms with AI // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 3
Focus Area A: Application-aware Error Correction (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Computational Tools for Fault Tolerant Quantum Computational Science (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Hybrid Quantum-Classical Optimization Algorithms (BES) - J. Chen (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area D: Quantum Algorithms for Nonlinear Plasma Physics (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area E: Quantum Advantage for Nuclear and Hadronic Systems (NP, HEP) – P. Siwach (Physics)

Topic Area 8: Realizing Quantum Systems for Discovery // Limit: 4 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: AI for Quantum Systems Design - OPEN
Focus Area B: AI for Control of Quantum System (HEP, NP) - OPEN
Focus Area C: AI for Quantum Imaging and Sensing (HEP, NP) – D. Soh (Wyant College of Optical Sciences) 
Focus Area D: AI for Quantum Computing and Networking (ASCR) – N. Rengaswamy (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Topic Area 9: Recentering Microelectronics in America // Limit: 10 // Tickets Available 4
Focus Area A: Angstrom (sub-1-nm) Scale Microelectronics Manufacturing (AMMTO) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Materials and Architectures for Non-von Neuman Computing Devices (BES) – X. Yan (Materials Science and Engineering)
Focus Area C: AI-Driven Architecture Design (ASCR) – J. Dass (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area D: 3D Non-Volatile Compute-In-Memory Technology (ASCR) – S. Salehi (Electrical and Computer Engineering) 
Focus Area E: Physics-Based Circuit Design, Simulation, and Emulation (ASCR) – H. Yang (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area F: Microelectronics in Harsh Environments (HEP) - J. Roveda (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area G: Plasma-Enabled Microelectronics Manufacturing (FES) -OPEN
Focus Area H: Power Electronics and Communication Networks (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area I: Low-temperature Electronics for Sensors and Computation (ASCR, HEP) – M. Hassan (Physics)
Focus Area J: Transform Neuromorphic Computing Connectivity, Communication, and System
Hardware Integration (ASCR) - OPEN

Topic Area 10: Securing U.S. Leadership in Data Centers // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: Data Center Load Flexibility (ITO) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Data Center Thermal Management (ITO) - OPEN

Topic Area 11: Achieving AI-Driven Autonomous Laboratories // Limit: 5 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: Advanced Robotics for Dynamic Laboratory Environments (ASCR) - S. He (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area B: AIOps - AI for Network Operations (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: AI-Accelerated Science: Correlation to Understanding (BES) - A. Black (Information Science)
Focus Area D: AI-Enabled Diagnostics and Remote Handling (FES) - B. Liu (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area E: Accelerate the design and prototyping of neuromorphic computing circuit primitives for robotic embodied physical artificial intelligence (ASCR) - OPEN

Topic Area 12: Designing Materials with Predictable Functionality // Limit: 7 // Tickets Available: 4
Focus Area A: Functional to Quantum Materials (BES) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Structural Materials (BES, FES, AMMTO) - M. Latypov (Materials Science and Engineering) 
Focus Area C: Biomolecular Materials (BES) - OPEN
Focus Area D: Plasma-Facing Materials (FES) - OPEN
Focus Area E: Targetry by Design (IRP) - The RFA was updated to remove this topic/focus area on 4/10/2026/.
Focus Area F: AI-Enabled Materials Discovery, Development, and Qualification (AMMTO) - M. Beidaghi (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)
Focus Area G: Electrochemical Energy Conversion Catalyst Discovery and Scale up (AFFO) - Z. Yan (Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Topic Area 13: Enhancing Particle Accelerators for Discovery // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: AI-driven Accelerator Facilities (BES, HEP, IRP, NP) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Integration of Digital Twins for Fusion Systems and Actuators (FES) - OPEN

Topic Area 14: Unifying Physics from Quarks to the Cosmos // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
Focus Area A: Foundation Models of Particle Interactions and Cosmic Physics – S. Pandey (Astronomy and Steward Observatory)
Focus Area B: AI Accelerated DUNE Science (HEP) - OPEN 
Focus Area C: Expedited Discovery from High Complexity and Petabyte-Scale Datasets (HEP, NP) - T. Eifler (Astronomy and Steward Observatory) 

Topic Area 15: Predicting U.S. Water for Energy // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1 
Focus Area A: Cloud Microphysics and Atmospheric Turbulence – X. Dong (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences)
Focus Area B: Water and Energy (BER) - A. Bennett (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences)
Focus Area C: Weeks to Years Prediction (BER) - OPEN

Topic Area 16: Scaling the Grid to Power the American Economy // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1 
Focus Area A: Grid Modeling and Analysis (OE, CMEI-IESO, SC-ASCR) – M. Chertkov (Mathematics)
Focus Area B: Grid Operations Optimization (OE, CMEI-IESO, SC-ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Uncertainty Quantification (SC-BER, SC-ASCR, OE, CMEI-IESO) – R. Tandon (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Topic Area 17: Unleashing Subsurface Strategic Energy Assets // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 2
Focus Area A: Chemical and Hydrologic Transport in Subsurface – S. Saleska (Biosphere 2)
Focus Area B: Evolution of Fractures in the Upper Crust (BES) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Control of Subsurface Fractures (HGEO) - OPEN

Topic Area 18: HPC Code Curation, Translation, and Development for Accelerated Scientific Discoveries  // Limit: 7 // Tickets Available: 7
Focus Area A: AI-Driven Code Porting and Optimization (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area B: Automated Scientific Problem-to-Code Generation (ASCR) - OPEN 
Focus Area C: Neuro-Symbolic Agents for Code Development (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area D: Performance Prediction and Feedback Loops (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area E: Trustworthy AI for Scientific Software (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area F: Multi-Modal Data Integration for Code Intelligence (ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area G: Partnerships for HPC AI Advancement (ASCR, AMMTO) - OPEN

Topic Area 19: AI for Scientific Reasoning // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
Focus Area A: Trustworthy Mathematical and Symbolic Reasoning (ASCR) – E. Blanco (Computer Science)
Focus Area B: Hypothesis Generation from Multi-Modal Data (ASCR) - A. Zabludoff (Astronomy and Steward Observatory)
Focus Area C: Composable and Modular Foundation Models (ASCR) - OPEN

Topic Area 20: Cybersecurity for AI-Driven Science Workflows // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 0
Focus Area A: AI for Adversarial Robustness and Resilience– M. Krunz (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Focus Area B: Data Provenance and Integrity Verification (ASCR) – D. Alharthi (College of Information Science) 
Focus Area C: Real-Time Attack Detection and Mitigation for AI Models (ASCR) – M. Li (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Topic Area 21: Artificial Intelligence in Fluid Flow for Energy Components and Technologies // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 1
Focus Area A: Physics-Informed AI for Complex Flow Modeling – K. Kratter (Astronomy and Steward Observatory)
Focus Area B: AI-Driven Design and Control for Performance and Durability (IESO, ASCR) - OPEN
Focus Area C: Data-Driven Operational Intelligence and System Resilience (IESO) – L. Zhang (Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics)

Limiting Language
Applicant institutions are limited to no more than one application as the lead institution per focus area for Phase I and Phase II applications combined. Phase II applications must list a primary focus area but will have the option to list secondary focus areas. The primary focus area will be used for determining limitations on institutional submissions.

There is no limitation to the number of applications for which the institution is not the lead in a multi-institution team using collaborative applications.

The PI on an application may also be listed as a senior or key personnel on an unlimited number of separate submissions but can be the lead PI on only one application.  However, the PI on an awarded Phase I award may submit a Phase II proposal as part of the FY27 go/no-go decision process.  

The full RFA is linked here. 

Executive Summary 
The DOE Office of Science (SC), Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), Office of Environmental Management (EM), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Electricity (OE), and Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Office (HGEO) hereby announce interest in receiving applications from interdisciplinary teams addressing the Genesis Mission National Science and Technology Challenges to accelerate scientific discovery and research and development (R&D) workflows using novel artificial intelligence (AI) models and frameworks. By achieving AI advantage, these teams will advance the DOE's mission and ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through science and technology. Teams are encouraged to leverage the extensive scientific and data resources of the DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the National Laboratories, U.S. industry, and academia. The resulting AI models and workflows, if successful, may be integrated into the American Science Cloud. 

DOE is soliciting new FY26 Phase I small team and Phase II large team applications in the following topic areas: advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, quantum information science, semiconductors and microelectronics, discovery science, and energy (see specific focus areas in Section III Program Descriptions). 

In addition, this RFA will remain available to allow the recipients of FY26 Phase I awards to apply for larger team Phase II awards. In a few weeks, DOE plans to amend the RFA to clarify the LOI and application guidelines for FY26 Phase II awards. In FY27, DOE plans to amend the RFA or to issue an alternative funding opportunity to update the topic and focus areas to allow a second competition of Phase I small team applications and Phase II large team applications. 

Additional applications for Phase I and Phase II may be submitted after the corresponding deadline listed on the cover of this RFA, however, DOE reserves the right to decline such applications without review.

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 0

J. Schaibley (Physics)
D. Soh (Optical Sciences)
S. Ndlovu (Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources)

Limiting Language
Applicant institutions are limited to no more than three pre-applications or applications as the lead institution.

An individual may not be named as the PI (EFRC Director) on more than one pre-application or application. Directors of existing EFRC awards that do not have project end dates in 2026 cannot be named as the EFRC Director on any pre-application or application in response to this NOFO.

There is no limitation to the number of applications on which an institution appears as a subrecipient. 

Should DOE receive submissions in excess of the applicable limits, DOE reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to request additional or clarifying information to ascertain the institution’s intended submissions. Otherwise, DOE will consider the latest received submissions to be the institution’s intended submissions.
• Pre-applications in excess of the limited number of submissions may be discouraged.
• Applications in excess of the limited number of submissions may be declined without review.

Program Description
The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces a re-competition of the Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) program. The purpose of this program is to bring together world-class teams of scientists from universities, DOE national laboratories, and other institutions to perform energy-relevant basic research with a scope and complexity beyond what is possible in single-investigator or small-group awards. These multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary centers accelerate transformative scientific advances for the most challenging topics in materials sciences, chemical sciences, geosciences, and biosciences. EFRCs integrate experiments, theory, computation, and AI/ML; develop innovative experimental and theoretical tools that illuminate fundamental processes in unprecedented detail; and create an enthusiastic, interdisciplinary, workforce of energy-focused scientists.