DOE Office of Science Early Career Research Program
A Department of Energy program providing substantial, stable support to outstanding early-career researchers.
Official program page- Sponsor
- Department of Energy
- Mechanism
- Early Career
- Typical award
- Five years; university awards are typically at least $150K per year in funding (national-lab awards are larger).
- Deadlines
- An annual cycle, usually with a pre-application required ahead of the full proposal.
What it funds
- Five years of research support in Office of Science priority areas
- Work at universities or DOE national laboratories
- Building an independent research program early in a faculty or staff career
Who can apply
Untenured, tenure-track faculty (or equivalent) and full-time national-lab staff, generally within about 10 years of receiving their PhD.
Best for
An early-career researcher whose work aligns with DOE Office of Science programs.
Figures and deadlines change year to year: always confirm current details on the official program page before applying.
Related programs
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The Department of Energy's small-business programs funding energy and science technology development.
A Department of Defense program supporting outstanding early-career faculty pursuing defense-relevant basic research.
Managing a DOE Early Career proposal?
GrantsManager tracks the deadline, budget, and submission from first draft to award.