Building EPSCoR-State/National Laboratory Partnerships

Sponsor: Department of Energy
Internal Deadline: 03/02/2026
Institutional Submission Limit: 2 per area
Sponsor Deadline: 03/18/2026
Program Website

This program seeks applications for Building EPSCoR-State/DOE-National Laboratory Partnerships. These partnerships advance understanding of the physical world by supporting fundamental, early-stage energy research collaborations with the DOE National Laboratories. (Information on the DOE National Laboratories including links to websites can be found at https://www.energy.gov/about-national-labs.) The collaborative research must address early-stage scientific research in the physical, biological, computational, or engineering sciences. The research must be of public benefit and relevant to DOE’s Congressionally-authorized mission.

Please note:

• Participation by undergraduate students, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows is required.


• Early career faculty are encouraged to apply.


• Utilization of DOE user facilities is encouraged. (Information on the SC User Facilities can be found at https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance;  information on the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy user facilities can be found at https://nsuf.inl.gov.)

The Office of Science plans to hold an informational webinar about this NOFO on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 2:00 ET. Registration instructions and other details will be posted at https://science.osti.gov/grants/FOAs/Open.

 

USC may submit no more than two (2) pre-applications and applications as the lead organization within each of the program areas listed in Section III.B of the solicitation. A PI may lead only one application to the FOA.

Program Areas

a. Advanced Scientific Computing Research: William Consagra, Christian O'Reilly

b. Basic Energy Sciences: Juliano Pinto, Natalia Shustova

c. Biological and Environmental Research

d. Fusion Energy Sciences: Jim Ritter

e. High Energy Physics: Alexey Petrov

f. Isotope R&D and Production: Ben Meekins

g. Nuclear Physics: Matthias Schindler

h. Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation: Sai Mu, Ming Hu

i. Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response: Adel Nasiri

j. Office of Electricity: Joe Johnson

k. Office of Environmental Management: Nikos Vitzilaios

l. Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office: Zhenmeng Peng, Lang Yuan

m. Office of Nuclear Energy

 

DOE/EPSCoR TIMELINE:

Submission Deadline for Pre-Applications (required): March 18, 2026,at 5:00 PM ET

Pre-Application Response Date: April 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET

Submission Deadline for Applications: May 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

Submission Process

Limited submissions MUST be coordinated with the Office of the Vice President for Research.

If interested in applying for this opportunity, please combine the following items into a single PDF and email to resdev@mailbox.sc.edu by 5pm on the INTERNAL DEADLINE above:

• one-page project abstract (include at top the DOE program area, project title, PI, and list of key collaborators

• 2-3 page CV/biosketch for the PI (SCiENcv preferred)