The U.S. Department of Energy revealed 93 early-career scientists nationwide have been chosen to receive a total of $135 million in funding for their research. The fields of research are diverse and include areas such as artificial intelligence and astrophysics, according to an Aug. 4 news release.
“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 in the release. “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.”
These awardees, from 47 universities and 12 DOE National Laboratories throughout the U.S., were announced under the 2023 Early Career Research Program, the release reported. These awards are a component of the DOE's ongoing, dedicated endeavors to foster the forthcoming cohort of STEM leaders, reinforcing America's position as the global vanguard propelling scientific discovery and innovation.
The 93 grants revealed are dispersed across 27 states, according to the release. 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 house five.
Moreover, Arizona and Massachusetts count four awardees apiece, while three recipients hail from New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Virginia, the release reported. Additionally, two awardees are from Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, while Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Wyoming are each represented by one recipient.
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, according to the release.
The research topics should align with the Office of Science's major program areas such as accelerator research and development and production, advanced scientific computing research, basic energy sciences, biological and environmental research, fusion energy sciences, high energy physics, isotope research and development and production and nuclear physics, the release said.
