Fund Your Nuclear Research Career: Up to $450K Grants

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created as an independent agency by Congress in 1974 to enable the nation to safely use radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while ensuring that people and the environment are protected. The NRC regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as in nuclear medicine, through licensing, inspection and enforcement of its requirements.Funding under this opportunity includes support for education in nuclear science, engineering, and related disciplines to develop a workforce capable of the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials. This announcement is for Faculty Development Grants.

Related announcements for undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, and trade school or community college scholarships are published separately. The Faculty Development Grants Program recognizes the need to attract, recruit or retain highly-qualified individuals in academic teaching careers. Funding under this announcement is intended to support faculty in the nuclear-related fields of Nuclear Engineering, Health Physics, Radiochemistry and related disciplines as determined by the NRC. The grants specifically target probationary, tenure-track faculty in these academic areas during the first 6 years of their career.

Grants may include support for developing applications for research and small amounts for initiating or continuing research projects in their areas of expertise. Other areas might include course development, equipment stipends, participation in professional society meetings, preparation of papers, travel, and support for graduate assistants, and associated expenses as related to research projects or an institution’s faculty development plan. Awards may be increased to the extent that a portion of the award is matched by the institution. The program intends to provide support to enable new faculty to enhance their careers as professors and researchers in the University department where employed.• Type of Award.

This funding opportunity will use grant awards.• Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. The total amount of funding available for undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, trade school scholarships, and faculty development grants scholarships, and faculty development grants together in FY09 totals $15 million. NRC expects to support a limited number of awards of up to approximately $450,000 total costs per institution through this solicitation. The number of awards for FY2009 will depend upon the number, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.

Future year amounts will depend on annual appropriations.• Budget and Project Period. Awards are for $100,000 total costs per year for each faculty recipient plus up to an additional $50,000 per year that is awarded to the extent matched by the institution for up to three years. The maximum amount of funding that NRC will award for an application may not exceed $150,000 total costs per year, provided that an additional $50,000 is fully matched by the institution (for a total of $200,000 per year given full match of $50,000 per year from the institution). Awards are for up to three years and may be renewed at the discretion of the NRC at the end of the project period subject to availability of funding • Eligible Institutions/Organizations.

Institutions/organizations listed in Section III, 1.A. are eligible to apply acting on behalf of their faculty members. Individuals are not eligible applicants.• Eligible Project Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs). Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed activities are invited to work with their institution/ organization to develop an application for support.

Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NRC support.• Number of PDs/PIs. More than one PD/PI (i.e., multiple PDs/PIs) may be designated on the application. • Number of Applications. An institution may submit only one application to support faculty recipients under this FOA.

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