[Idaho Field Office](https://www.id.energy.gov)

March 10, 2026: Full application deadline

Up to $800,000 per award (5-year period); ~4 awards; $3.2M total program funding

Supports early career, tenure-track nuclear energy faculty at U.S. universities to advance research, education, and leadership in DOE-NE mission areas.

No cost share required; only one application per PI; no co-PIs or collaborators allowed.

--- ## Description The Distinguished Early Career Program (DECP), administered by the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho Field Office, is the Office of Nuclear Energy’s most prestigious early career award. It is designed to provide stable, multi-year support for untenured, tenure-track assistant professors at U.S. academic institutions, enabling them to establish impactful research groups and innovative lines of inquiry in nuclear energy. The program emphasizes not only research excellence but also educational innovation and leadership, aiming to develop faculty who will drive the next generation of nuclear energy science, technology, and workforce development. Projects supported by this program must align with DOE-NE's mission, which includes advancing nuclear reactor operations, deploying advanced reactors, securing the nuclear fuel cycle, and expanding international nuclear energy cooperation. Applicants must propose integrated research and education plans that demonstrate excellence and leadership, with the intent to train future nuclear energy professionals. --- ## Due Dates - **Full Application Deadline:** March 10, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET) --- ## Funding Amount - **Total Estimated Program Funding:** $3,200,000 - **Expected Number of Awards:** 4 (subject to funding availability and application quality) - **Award Ceiling:** $800,000 per project (total for up to 5 years) - **Award Duration:** Up to 5 years - **Cost Sharing:** Not required, but may be voluntarily proposed --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible Institutions:** U.S. universities and colleges (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) - **Eligible Individuals:** - Untenured assistant professors at U.S. academic institutions - On a tenure track, no more than 4 years beyond initial appointment and no more than 10 years beyond Ph.D. conferral as of January 31, 2026 - Employed in an eligible position as of January 31, 2026 - Must not have received a similar federally funded early career award (e.g., DOE Office of Science Early Career, NSF CAREER) - **Application Restrictions:** - Only one application per PI - No co-PIs, peer collaborators, or mentors (funding cannot directly support them) - A PI may not submit to more than three NE DECP NOFOs in total - Only one NE DECP award per PI - **Other Restrictions:** - All work must be performed in the U.S. (waiver required for exceptions) - Entities of Concern (as defined by federal law) are prohibited - Foreign entities are not eligible as prime recipients; limited FFRDC involvement is allowed for facility access only --- ## Application Process - **Submission Portal:** [NEUP.gov](https://proposals.inl.gov) - **Required Registrations:** - SAM.gov (active registration and Unique Entity Identifier required) - NEUP.gov account creation - **Application Components:** - Conflict of Interest certification - SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance - Project summary/abstract (1 page) - Technical Volume (10 pages max) - Resume or biographical sketch (NSF/SciENcv format acceptable) - Career objective statement (2 pages) - Endorsement letter from department head (2 pages) - Budget and justification - Capabilities statement - Current and pending support disclosure (with ORCID iD) - Research security training certification - Impacted Indian Tribes documentation (if applicable) - Transparency of foreign connections certification - Lobbying disclosure - Any required FFRDC documentation (if applicable) - **Submission Deadline:** All materials must be submitted via NEUP.gov by the stated deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. --- ## Additional Information - **Review Criteria:** - Advancement of nuclear energy science and engineering - Integration of research, education, and service with broader societal impacts - Applicant’s qualifications and leadership potential in the nuclear energy community - **Restrictions:** - No support for applications focused on fusion energy, medical physics, nuclear forensics, environmental management, or duplicative capabilities - No construction of new university nuclear reactors - **Post-Award:** Standard DOE requirements on reporting, property, data rights, and compliance apply. See NOFO for details. --- ## External Links - [DOE Idaho Field Office](https://www.id.energy.gov) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361022) - [NEUP.gov Application Portal](https://proposals.inl.gov) - [NOFO Part 1 (PDF)](https://api.atomgrants.com/storage/v1/object/public/grants3-sources/FY-2026-DECP-NOFO-Part-1-Amend-001-FINAL-03-03-26.pdf) - [NOFO Part 2 (PDF)](https://api.atomgrants.com/storage/v1/object/public/grants3-sources/FY-2026-Distinguished-Early-Career-Program-NOFO-Part-2-FINAL-12DEC2025.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | |-------------------|---------------------------|---------------| | Jacob Lingard | lingarjn@id.doe.gov | 208-526-5820 | | Andrew Ford | fordaj@id.doe.gov | 208-526-3059 | | NEUP Helpdesk | NEUP@inl.gov | 208-526-4854 | For general questions regarding the application process, use the NEUP helpdesk contact above. For technical questions related to the funding opportunity, contact the program officers listed. ---

Fiscal Year 2026 Distinguished Early Career Program

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