Department of Energy (DOE)

The Department of Energy (DOE) supports academic energy research.  Funding programs administered by the Office of Science (SC) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) support basic science and engineering energy research.

 

DOE Funding

The DOE primarily provides basic science support through the DOE Office of Science (SC) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).  Researchers who wish to secure funding from DOE must clearly describe how the proposed research will advance the mission of the DOE.  After reading through a Request for Proposals (RFP) if there seems to be synergy between the stated program goals and the proposed research, applicants should contact the relevant program officer at DOE to discuss their ideas and determine whether they should submit a proposal.

The DOE Office of Science (SC) supports fundamental energy research.  Information on funding opportunities, including program contacts and general program announcements can be found at https://science.energy.gov/funding-opportunities/find-funding/

ARPA-E funds technology-focused, applied research and development aimed at creating real-world solutions to important problems in energy creation, distribution, and use. Applicants interested in receiving basic research financial assistance or funding to improve existing technology platforms would likely be better served by other Energy Department programs.  Information about ARPA-E funding programs can be found at: https://arpa-e.energy.gov/?q=programs/apply-for-funding

The Early Career Research Program supports the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and stimulates research careers in the disciplines supported by the DOE Office of Science. Opportunities exist in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR); Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); High Energy Physics (HEP), and Nuclear Physics (NP).  More information can be found at: https://science.energy.gov/early-career/