CONSORTIUM FOR NUCLEAR FORENSICS
This grant funds university research in nuclear forensics and related fields to support DOE National Labs and train future experts for roles in national security, energy, and government agencies.
Funder: NNSA
Due Dates: June 10, 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to $25,000,000 total for one 5-year cooperative agreement (approx. $5M/year); 1 award anticipated.
Summary: Supports a university-led consortium for basic research in nuclear forensics and workforce development, in collaboration with DOE National Laboratories.
Key Information: Only accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs) offering professional doctorate degrees are eligible to lead; consortium must include at least three IHEs and one or more DOE National Laboratories as partners.
Description
This opportunity funds a single cooperative agreement to a consortium of accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs) to conduct basic research in nuclear forensics, directly supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) mission in nonproliferation and nuclear security. The program aims to foster innovative, foundational research in fields such as radiochemistry, geochemistry, shock physics, nuclear physics and engineering, radiation detector science, nuclear materials science, chemical engineering, modeling and simulation, and seismology/infrasound methods for yield determination.
A key component is workforce development: the consortium will provide research, fellowships, and scholarships for students and faculty, helping to train the next generation of technical leaders in nuclear forensics and related nuclear security missions. Collaboration with DOE National Laboratories is mandatory, and the research should be integrated with applied efforts at these labs.
