Physical Sciences & Engineering

Submit LOI to Internal Competition // Limit: 5* // Tickets Available: 5

Your LOI must be submitted to the Department of Energy before you submit it to the internal competition. Please use the correct legal name "Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona" when submitting your LOI. 

Limiting Language*
There is no limit to the number of Letters of Intent that can be submitted. (from Q&A spreadsheet). Please ensure all letters of intent from a single lead organization use the same lead organization name - please use "Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona".

The University of Arizona may submit five proposals. One in Topic Area 1 (all subtopics), one in Topic Area 2, and one for each of the Topic Area 3 Subtopics (3A, 3B, and 3C).

This limitation does not prohibit an applicant from collaborating on other applications (e.g., as a potential subrecipient or partner) so long as the entity is only listed as the applicant on one application for each topic area/subtopic area of this NOFO.

Program Description
Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

The Critical Minerals and Materials (CMM) Accelerator program is an initiative from the U.S. Department of Energy to strengthen domestic CMM supply chains. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), issued by the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) and the Office of Geothermal (OG), provides up to $69 million to directly address the national imperative to secure a reliable, predictable, and affordable domestic supply of CMMs which are foundational to U.S. energy dominance, national security, and industrial competitiveness.

The CMM Accelerator program targets innovative CMM production technologies that have demonstrated promising results at the bench scale (Technology Readiness Level 3-4) but require further development to achieve commercial viability. A significant challenge lies in advancing these laboratory-scale innovations beyond the "valley of death" to industrially relevant scales. This NOFO is designed to overcome this barrier by funding collaborative industry partnerships for prototyping and small-scale piloting of these critical processes and materials. Over a decade of DOE funding has laid the groundwork, and this program builds upon that to validate technologies and establish the confidence needed for substantial follow-on investment. 

The primary goals are to foster industry partnerships, validate technologies for material optimization and cost-competitive production, enable informed decisions through rigorous analysis, and accelerate domestic CMM manufacturing capabilities. The NOFO includes three key Topic Areas: (1) recovery and production of critical materials from secondary sources such as post-industrial scrap and e-waste; (2) processes to refine and alloy gallium, gallium nitride, germanium, and silicon carbide for semiconductor applications; and (3) technologies for cost competitive direct lithium extraction, separation, and processing. Projects are expected to mature technologies to Technology Readiness Levels 6 (TRL 6), demonstrating economic viability, material efficiency, and reduced reliance on external CMM sources. Projects must also significantly reduce adoption readiness risks, meaning they should address non-technical barriers such as market acceptance, resource availability, supply chain integration, cost effectiveness, and regulatory hurdles to ensure these technologies can be successfully integrated and utilized commercially. 

The target audience for this NOFO includes a broad range of domestic entities. Eligible applicants are defined below in section II.A. This NOFO intends to fund a collaborative approach to harness the full spectrum of innovation. Awarded Phase 1 projects will also be eligible to compete for a distinct Phase 2 pilot-scale project through a down-select process, furthering the program's commitment to delivering technologies ready for real-world deployment and impact.

Limiting Language 
A prime applicant entity may submit only one application to this NOFO. If an entity submits more than one full application the DOE will only review the last submission. This limitation does not prohibit an applicant from collaborating on other applications (e.g., as a potential subrecipient or partner) so long as the entity is listed as the prime applicant on only one application submitted under this NOFO.

Executive Summary
The intent of this NOFO is to award approximately one (1) grant, for up to four (4) years, to a consortium consisting of universities, national labs, industry partners and/or other stakeholders. The consortia must be university led. The consortia project shall establish and/or enhance nuclear research capabilities at U.S. universities and colleges, especially in support of:

1. nuclear cyber-physical protection;
2. new digital technologies in advanced nuclear reactors; and
3. the development and safety assessments of small modular reactors.

The proposed effort must strengthen and revitalize the academic community’s nuclear energy infrastructure, which could include enhancements of existing infrastructure or creation of new capabilities. In addition, the proposed effort must enhance regional or national impacts of the investment.

This NOFO does not provide any funds for the planning and construction of new university nuclear reactors.

Projects proposed under the University Nuclear Research Infrastructure Revitalization NOFO are intended to: 

• Revitalize the U.S. capacity for university-led nuclear R&D by establishing and/or improving infrastructure to align with the advanced reactor technologies being deployed by the U.S. nuclear industry;
• Support innovative combinations of facilities, equipment, and related capabilities to maximize the value of investments toward R&D; and
• Emphasize support for rapid, lower-cost approaches that can enable advanced-reactor-relevant R&D, education and workforce development prior to any universities establishing advanced research reactors; and involve consortia to maximize participation.

Requests should focus on a goal or capability that significantly adds to the current U.S. capacity to support advanced reactor R&D, education, and workforce development. Applicants must clearly demonstrate the connection among requested pieces of equipment or other project elements toward a key objective or outcome.

Request Ticket // 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 Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State is announcing an open competition for the FY 2027 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (Humphrey Fellowship). ECA is seeking proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the Humphrey Fellowship.

The Humphrey Fellowship, a Fulbright exchange, advances American interests by bringing influential professionals from priority countries to the United States to build strategic partnerships that advance shared interests and support U.S. foreign policy goals. Through graduate-level study and professional experiences at U.S. host universities and organizations, Humphrey Fellows gain practical insight into howAmerican policies are developed and implemented, working alongside U.S. experts in their fields. Fellows are placed in multi-national thematic cohorts at U.S. host universities, where they gain skills to promote stability and economic growth, foster long-term cooperation with the United States on shared global challenges, and advance U.S. foreign policy interests.

The program offers two components: a longer-term fellowship of up to one academic year and a shorter-term, thematic Distinguished Humphrey FellowshipProgram (DHFP). During the academic year program, Fellows participate in non-degree study in multi-national cohorts at approximately eight host campuses across the United States. They also complete at least six weeks of a professional affiliation at a U.S.-based private sector, governmental, non-governmental, or international organization. The shorter-term DHFP program places Fellows in thematic multinational cohorts at selected host institutions and includes approximately one-week of professional experiences at U.S.-based organizations.

Through their academic and professional experiences, Fellows deepen their understanding of the United States, strengthen their expertise in fields of strategic importance, and build networks with U.S. counterparts. Upon returning home, alumni apply their experience to shape national policy, promote stability and economic growth, and foster long-term cooperation with the United States on shared global challenges, such as border security, freedom of speech, and fair trade. Humphrey Fellows and alumni serve as critical interlocutors for U.S. Missions, helping to advance bilateral relationships and achieve foreign policy goals.

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 – Y. Song (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences)
Focus Area F: Connections for Isolation (BES) - OPEN 
Focus Area G: Biological Pathways to CMM (BER) - OPEN

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.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 (Topic Area 2) // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
An entity may submit only one concept paper and one associated application for each topic area of this NOFO. If an entity submits more than one, we will only review the last timely submission. Any other submissions listing the same entity as the applicant for the same topic area will not be eligible. This limitation does not prohibit an entity from collaborating on other applications (e.g., as a potential subrecipient or partner) so long as the entity is only listed as the applicant on one concept paper and one associated application for each topic area of this NOFO.

Topic Area 2 Overview
The Smart Grid Topic Area aims to support projects focused on deploying advanced grid technologies. This initiative is looking for innovative application of cutting-edge, marketready technologies, which may include new devices, materials, engineering designs, or software tools. These projects are intended to strengthen grid reliability and resilience through reconductoring and deploying other Advanced Transmission Technologies. Projects will expand the transfer capability of existing transmission and sub-transmission lines, improve system flexibility, and reduce the likelihood and consequences of disruptive events. This topic supports projects that enhance the efficiency, reliability, and operational flexibility of the electric grid through smart grid technologies that enable real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of grid assets. DOE will focus primarily on projects that combine Advanced Transmission Technologies and reconductoring to achieve measurable increases in transfer capability and operational intelligence. 

Projects must demonstrate how digitalization, automation, and data-driven technologies improve existing transmission and sub-transmission systems while delivering measurable affordability benefits to ratepayers through reduced congestion costs, deferred capital investment, and improved efficiency of existing assets. Projects should provide quantifiable improvements in grid performance, situational awareness, and resilience through modernization and smart control. DOE seeks applications for smart grids, specifically those designed to support new load integration, that: 

• Integrate ATTs or reconductoring in ways that enable dynamic operations and increase transfer capability on existing rights-of-way
• Deploy advanced conductors and smart grid technologies that improve operational flexibility, reliability, and affordability
• Enhance data visibility and control through communications, automation, and analytics that directly support improved reliability
• Provide replicable approaches for regional scale-up and commercialization of combined ATTs and reconductoring deployments
• Support integration of backup generation enabling solutions (e.g., controls, telemetry, coordination) tailored for large load integration with mechanisms for grid-support services

Internal Competition Undergoing Peer Review // Limit: 8 Concept Papers, 2 Phase I Proposals (1 Medical Research, 1 Science and Engineering)

 Program Description

Full sponsor guidelines: https://www.wmkeck.org/research-overview/

The mandate of the W.M. Keck Research Program is to support pioneering discoveries in Science, Engineering, and Medical Research.  The Foundation funds the high-risk and high-impact work of leading researchers to lay the groundwork for new paradigms, technologies, and discoveries that will save lives, provide innovative solutions and add to our understanding of the world.

Keck funded projects are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field.  We prioritize grants that pioneer biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation or methodologies.

Fit Self-Test: A Keck-ready idea can answer “yes” to most of the following questions:

• Does it discover how something works?
• Does it challenge an existing assumption?
• Is failure still scientifically valuable?
• Would federal agencies likely say, “too early”?

Keck Prioritizes:

• Work that is paradigm shifting, or challenges a prevailing hypothesis
• Work that creates a new field, or bridges disparate fields
• Work that departs from current approaches or challenges existing assumptions or frameworks
• Fundamental basic science questions focused on how systems work and the underlying mechanisms that govern them
• Discovery-driven logic
• Research where failure is informative

Keck Disfavors:

• Clinical or translational research (i.e., development of therapeutics)
• Outcome or patient impact framing
• Biomarkers as endpoints
• Engineering for its own sake
• Large mammal studies when they function as clinical or validation trials
• Already funded or derivative work

Important notes:

• Keck seeks to fund basic science that advances fundamental understanding
• Keck funds science, not engineering – unless engineering is essential to answer a scientific question
• Keck funds medical research, not clinical research
• Federal rejection is not required, but Keck fills gaps where federal agencies are too risk adverse.
• Keck does not consider tools, platforms, or methods as the primary idea. Tools, AI, and engineering may be supported only if required to answer a basic scientific question. 

The submission for this funding program is coordinated by the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing. Please contact Dan Moseke, Projects Director, for more information.

K. Muralidharan (Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing)

Limiting Language
Institutes should limit their submissions to no more than 2 proposals for each degree cohort.

Overview
Intel Corporation, in collaboration with Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), invites universities located in Ohio, Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico to submit proposals for participation in the Intel Scholarship & Fellowship Program. This program is designed to build a pipeline of highly skilled professionals with advanced degrees in semiconductor-related disciplines in regions where Intel has significant operations. The initiative will provide funding to support scholarships and fellowships for eligible MS and PhD students. A key desired outcome is to increase retention and degree attainment in advanced degrees in engineering and STEM disciplines of interest to the semiconductor industry.   Selected institutions will collaborate with SRC and Intel personnel to recruit, mentor, and support students in critical academic disciplines, preparing them for careers in semiconductor innovation 

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

Limiting Language
Yes, each lead organization can submit only one application.

Program Description
ENERGYWERX, through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) program, is looking to fund pilot tests of innovative interconnection solutions under the Interconnection Cost Reduction Solutions for Distribution (iCRS-D) program. This program will help address the National Energy Emergency by supporting innovations to streamline and expedite interconnection services by implementing cutting-edge technology solutions, such as grid enhancing technologies, grid-interactive loads, flexible interconnection, micro-grids, and many other innovations. The iCRS-D program aims to reduce interconnection costs related to grid upgrades by 70% for generators, large loads, and hybrid facilities connecting to the distribution grids.

To usher in a new era of American prosperity, we must ensure all Americans and domestic industries have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity. United States electricity demand is growing at an extraordinary pace due to the rapid rise of large commercial and industrial loads (e.g., data centers) and electrification. The challenge is compounded as Americans face rising electricity prices across the country.

The iCRS-D Program will provide $4 million to fund up to four organizations, each of which will lead a multi-stakeholder partnership at the local, state, or regional level. Each partnership will execute a Lighthouse Project - a pilot program that develops and demonstrates new technologies and effective solutions - to increase data access and transparency, streamline and expedite interconnection services, and maximize economic efficiency. Lead organizations, with their partners, will apply their distribution-level interconnection expertise to prioritize and adapt practical solutions for load and generation interconnection. These efforts will deliver tested approaches to scalable interconnection innovations that improve processes, reduce overall costs, and maintain a reliable grid.

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.