U.S. Department of Energy Issues Fiscal Year 2011 Funding Opportunity Announcements to Enhance Nuclear Energy Education Infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced two new fiscal year (FY) 2011 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) to support university and college efforts to build or expand their school’s nuclear science and engineering basic research or education capabilities. Under the Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP), DOE will provide up to $13.5 million to upgrade university level research reactors and purchase general scientific equipment and instrumentation, although this funding estimate may be subject to reductions depending on the outcome of final Congressional appropriations for the NE program.

The goal of the NEUP Infrastructure program is to enable and support the education and training of nuclear scientists, engineers, and policy-makers in graduate and undergraduate study and two-year programs, as well as university-based research that is relevant to the Department and the nuclear energy industry in general. DOE will provide one-year awards totaling up to $7.5 million for university reactor upgrades and equipment and up to $6.0 million for general scientific equipment and instrumentation.

Two- or four-year U.S. universities and colleges, and trade schools are eligible to apply through www.grants.gov as described in the FOAs. Applications will be due by April 4, 2011, and must be submitted using the “Apply for Grants” function at www.grants.gov to be considered for award. Final awards are planned for summer 2011. To view the FY 2011 Reactor Upgrades and General Scientific Infrastructure Support FOAs, go to www.neup.gov.