On Aug. 4, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) revealed that 93 early-career scientists nationwide had been chosen to receive a total of $135 million in funding for their research encompassing diverse fields like artificial intelligence and astrophysics, according to a press release. These awardees, from 47 universities and 12 DOE National Laboratories throughout the United States, were introduced under the 2023 Early Career Research Program.
"Supporting America’s scientists and researchers early in their careers will ensure the United States remains at the forefront of scientific discovery," U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said.
These awards are a component of the DOE's endeavors to foster STEM leaders, reinforcing America's scientific discovery and innovation. The 93 grants revealed are dispersed across 27 states. California has 14 awardees, followed by Illinois with 10 and New York with eight. Tennessee claims seven recipients, while Colorado, New Mexico and Washington each have five. Arizona and Massachusetts count four awardees, and three recipients come from New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. Two awardees are from Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Wyoming are each represented by one recipient, the release stated.
“The funding announced today gives the recipients the resources to find the answers to some of the most complex questions as they establish themselves as experts in their fields,” Granholm said.
To qualify for Early Career Research Program awards, researchers must hold positions as untenured, tenure-track assistants or associate professors at U.S. academic institutions or full-time employees at DOE National Laboratories, having received a Ph.D. within the past 12 years. The research topics should align with the Office of Science's major program areas, such as Accelerator R&D and Production, Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Isotope R&D and Production and Nuclear Physics, according to the release.
