DOE is inviting applications to the Office of Science Early Career Research Program (ECRP). For DOE national laboratories, up to $2.75 million over five years is available to eligible early-career researchers to pursue innovative research projects and demonstrate leadership. The applicant must have received a Ph.D. on or after January 1, 2011. Interested full-time, career, or career-track non-postdoctoral scientists and engineers at the Lab should check with their Areas to determine eligibility. Associated faculty must apply through their university. A DOE webinar will be held on January 10 at 10 a.m. PT. Register now.

Do you want to learn more about the Lab’s approach to this highly competitive early career opportunity? Please join Laboratory Director Mike Witherell, Deputy Laboratory Director for Research Carol Burns, Chief Culture Officer Aditi Chakravarty, previous ECRP awardees, and others on January 10 at 4:00 p.m. for a virtual roundtable on this topic. You can register at this link or on the ECRP website. 

The ECRP website is another crucial resource to help prospective applicants understand the opportunity, requirements and changes, and resources offered by the DOE, their Areas, and the Lab. Most importantly, the website is where prospective applicants register their intent to apply, a key Lab requirement.

Again this year, the DOE Office of Science will require PIER Plans with all full applications. The PIER program mandates activities to promote equity and inclusion as an intrinsic element to advancing scientific excellence in a proposed research project. DOE websites are resources for general information and FAQs. The Lab provides an IDEA FOA Handbook that includes specific guidance for developing PIER Plans and how to use the handbook to build a robust PIER Plan.