DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
OFFICE OF ENERGY RESEARCH

Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 96-15;
Plasma Physics Junior Faculty Development Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications

Summary: The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) of the Office of Energy Research (OER), U.S. Department of Energy hereby announces its interest in receiving grant applications for support under its Plasma Physics Junior Faculty Development Program. Applications should be from tenure-track faculty investigators who are currently involved in experimental or theoretical plasma physics research and should be submitted through a U.S. academic institution. The purpose of this program is to support the development of the individual research programs of exceptionally talented scientists and engineers early in their careers. Awards made under this program will help to maintain the vitality of university plasma physics research and assure continued excellence in the teaching of plasma physics and related disciplines. DOE will make up to five awards during FY 1997, depending on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds.

DATES: To permit timely consideration for awards in FY 1997, formal applications in response to this notice should be received on or before January 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Completed formal applications referencing Program Notice 96-15 should be forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research, Grants and Contracts Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290, ATTN: Program Notice 96-15. The above address must also be used when submitting applications by U. S. Postal Service Express, and commercial mail delivery service or when hand carried by the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ronald McKnight, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, Science Division, ER-55, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290. Telephone: (301) 903-3421.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Plasma Physics Junior Faculty Development Program is being started in FY 1997. A principal goal of this program is to identify exceptionally talented plasma faculty members early in their careers and assist and facilitate the development of their research programs. Eligibility for awards under this notice is, therefore, restricted to tenure-track regular academic faculty investigators who are conducting experimental or theoretical plasma physics research. Emphasis is to be placed on basic plasma science research. For applications considered for funding, certification of the status of the applicant as a tenure-track regular academic faculty member by the head of the applicant's academic department or other university/college certifying official will be required before the grant is awarded.

It is anticipated that annual funding levels up to $150,000 per award may be made available for grants under this notice during FY 1997, contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. Funding for equipment above this level will be considered on a case-to-case basis. The number of awards and range of funding will depend on the number of applications received and selected for award. Multiple year funding of grant awards is expected, with funding provided on an annual basis subject to availabiligy of funds. These grants will not normally be renewed after the project period is completed; grantees may, however, submit new grant applications to continue their research using the usual departmental grant application process. Applications will be subjected to formal merit review and will be evaluated against the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of importance as set forth in 10 CFR Part 605:
1. Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;
2. Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;
3. Competency of applicant's personnel and adequacy of proposed resources; and
4. Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.

General information about development and submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluations and selection processes, and other policies and procedures are contained in the Application Guide for the Office of Energy Research Financial Assistance Program and 10 CFR Part 605. The Application Guide is available from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, Office of Energy Research, ER-55, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290. Telephone requests may be made by calling (301) 903-3421. Electronic access to ER's Financial Assistance Guide is possible via the Internet using the following Web site address: http://www.er.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html

The catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR Part 605.

John Rodney Clark
Associate Director
for Resource Management
Office of Energy Research

Published in the Federal Register, September 23, 1996, Volume 61, Number 185,
pages 49754-49755