OtherPostedDiscretionary

Early Career Research Program (ECRP)

Office of Science
DE-FOA-0003602
Application Deadline
Jun 2, 2026
7 days left
Days Remaining
7
Until deadline
Award Ceiling
$2,750,000
Total Program Funding
$145,000,000

Grant Opportunity Analysis

The Department of Energy's Office of Science is inviting applications for the Early Career Research Program (ECRP), aimed at supporting outstanding early-career scientists in various research areas, including Advanced Scientific Computing Research and Nuclear Physics. Eligible applicants must be U.S. Institutions of Higher Education, DOE/NNSA National Laboratories, or institutions operating SC Scientific User Facilities, with principal investigators required to hold a permanent position and have received their Ph.D. on or after January 1, 2015. This program, with a total funding of $145 million and an anticipated 100 awards over five years, encourages hypothesis-driven basic research aligned with the mission of the Office of Science. Pre-applications are due by March 24, 2026, and full applications must be submitted by June 2, 2026; for further information, interested parties can contact the program at SC.Early@science.doe.gov or visit the program's website at https://science.osti.gov/early-career.

Eligible Applicants

Others
Additional Eligibility Information

In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126, Competition, eligibility for award is restricted to U.S. Institutions of Higher Education, DOE/NNSA National Laboratories (listed at https://www.energy.gov/national-laboratories), and institutions operating SC Scientific User Facilities (listed at https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities).

Grant Documents

1 Files
DE-FOA-0003602.pdf
PDF1208 KBMar 6, 2026
AI Summary
The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science (SC) announced the Early Career Research Program (ECRP) (NOFO DE-FOA-0003602) to support outstanding early-career scientists in program areas like Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR), Basic Energy Sciences (BES), and Nuclear Physics (NP). With $145 million in total funding, including $79 million in FY 2026, the program anticipates 100 awards over five years. Eligible applicants include U.S. Institutions of Higher Education, DOE/NNSA National Laboratories, and SC Scientific User Facilities. Principal Investigators must be early in their careers (Ph.D. awarded on or after January 1, 2015), hold a permanent position, and lead an individual research program. Pre-applications are due March 24, 2026, and full applications by June 2, 2026. The NOFO details specific research topics within each program area, encouraging hypothesis-driven basic research to advance scientific understanding aligned with SC's mission.

Related Grant Opportunities

Project Timeline

postedOriginal Opportunity PostedMar 3, 2026
deadlineApplication DeadlineJun 2, 2026
expiryArchive DateSep 2, 2026

Funding Details

Award Ceiling
$2,750,000
Award Floor
$875,000
Est. Total Program Funding
$145,000,000
Expected Awards
100
No cost sharing required

Agency & Classification

Agency
Office of Science(PAMS-SC)
Funding Category
Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Funding Instrument
Other

Grantor Contact

CFDA Numbers

81.049

Official Sources