Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002734
The Fiscal Year 2023 Distinguished Early Career Program (DECP) is a competitive federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE). It is positioned as DOE-NE's most prestigious early-career award for university faculty who are just beginning their independent academic careers. The central goal is to give selected investigators stable, meaningful support over a long enough period and at a high enough funding level to help them launch and sustain a strong research trajectory while also building a track record as committed educators. In other words, the program is not framed as research-only funding; it explicitly expects awardees to show excellence in research and a serious commitment to teaching, learning, and sharing knowledge beyond their own labs.
From an eligibility standpoint, applicants must be affiliated with institutions of higher education. Both public and state-controlled universities and private universities are eligible to apply, which makes this broadly accessible across the U.S. higher education landscape. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity area is classified under Energy. The listing is associated with CFDA number 81.121, which is commonly used to identify and track federal domestic assistance programs.
The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Announcement number DE-FOA-0002734, and it was created on September 30, 2022, with an original application deadline of November 3, 2022. DOE-NE anticipated making around four awards under this call, indicating a highly selective process. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is listed as $625,000, which signals a substantial level of support for an early-career faculty member, especially given the program's intent to provide stability and adequate duration to build an independent program.
A notable feature of the announcement is its explicit encouragement of applications from groups that have historically been underrepresented in related fields. DOE-NE specifically urges all eligible candidates to apply, and it calls out women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities in particular. This language reflects an intent to broaden participation and strengthen the pipeline of diverse early-career leaders in nuclear energy-related research and education.
In practical terms, DECP functions as a career-building award: it is designed to help early-career faculty establish themselves as leading researchers in areas aligned with DOE-NE's mission while also developing and demonstrating educational impact. The program emphasizes not only generating new knowledge, but also teaching, mentoring, and disseminating results in ways that contribute to the broader scientific and engineering community.Apply for DE FOA 0002734
- The Department of Energy in the energy, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2023 Distinguished Early Career Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.121.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 30, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 03, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $625,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Fiscal Year 2023 Distinguished Early Career Program (DECP) - FAQs
What is the Fiscal Year 2023 Distinguished Early Career Program (DECP)?
The Distinguished Early Career Program (DECP) is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE). It is positioned as DOE-NE's most prestigious early-career award for university faculty who are beginning their independent academic careers.
Which federal office runs this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is run by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE).
What is the main purpose of DECP?
The central goal of DECP is to provide selected investigators stable, meaningful support over a sufficient period and at a high enough funding level to help them launch and sustain a strong research trajectory while also building a track record as committed educators.
Is DECP strictly a research grant, or does it also require education activities?
DECP is not framed as research-only funding. It explicitly expects awardees to demonstrate excellence in research and a serious commitment to teaching, learning, and sharing knowledge beyond their own labs, including mentoring and dissemination of results to the broader scientific and engineering community.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be affiliated with institutions of higher education. Both public and state-controlled universities and private universities are eligible to apply.
Are both public and private universities eligible institutions?
Yes. The opportunity states that both public (including state-controlled) universities and private universities are eligible to apply.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument for this opportunity is a grant.
What is the activity area or topic classification for this opportunity?
The activity area is classified under Energy.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The listing is associated with CFDA number 81.121.
What is the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number?
The FOA number is DE-FOA-0002734.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The announcement was created on September 30, 2022.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was November 3, 2022.
How many awards did DOE-NE anticipate making?
DOE-NE anticipated making around four awards under this call, indicating a highly selective process.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is listed as $625,000.
How is DECP described in terms of selectivity and prestige?
DECP is described as DOE-NE's most prestigious early-career award for university faculty and is expected to make only about four awards, which signals a highly competitive and selective opportunity.
Does DOE-NE encourage applications from underrepresented groups?
Yes. The announcement explicitly encourages applications from groups that have historically been underrepresented in related fields and specifically urges women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.
What kinds of outcomes or impacts does DECP emphasize?
DECP emphasizes career-building outcomes: establishing early-career faculty as leading researchers in areas aligned with DOE-NE's mission while also developing and demonstrating educational impact through teaching, mentoring, and dissemination of results.
How should applicants think about aligning their work with DOE-NE?
The opportunity is designed to support early-career faculty in areas aligned with DOE-NE's mission, with an expectation that the work contributes both to nuclear energy-related research and to education and knowledge-sharing efforts.
What does DECP provide to help an early-career faculty member succeed?
The program is intended to provide stable and meaningful support at a substantial funding level, designed to help awardees launch and sustain an independent research program while also building a track record as educators.
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