Funder: Office of Science
Due Dates: February 17, 2025 (Pre-application) | February 28, 2025 (Pre-app response) | April 17, 2025 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $750,000/year per award (2-year projects); total program funding up to $11M; 8–12 awards expected
Summary: Supports research, development, and training in isotope production, with a focus on AI/ML, advanced chemistry, separation science, and workforce development.
Key Information: Pre-application is required; eligibility limited to U.S. institutions of higher education, non-profits, and DOE/NNSA National Labs; for-profit entities may only participate as subrecipients.
Description
This opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funds research, development, and training projects in isotope production. The program is focused on advancing fundamental understanding and developing innovative, efficient technologies for enriching, producing, processing, recycling, and purifying radioactive and stable isotopes that are in short supply. The 2025 call is narrowly focused on:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) applications
- Enhanced processing chemistry, especially involving phase changes
- Separation science
A strong emphasis is placed on projects that incorporate effective training for the next generation of personnel in isotope production, processing, and purification. The program aims to support the U.S. scientific, technical, and economic strength by ensuring a robust domestic supply of critical isotopes for applications in medicine, national security, energy, advanced manufacturing, and more.
Due Dates
- Pre-application deadline: February 17, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)
- Pre-application response: February 28, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)
- Full application deadline: April 17, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)
A pre-application is required. Only applicants who receive an "encourage" response may submit a full application.
Funding Amount
- Total program funding: Up to $11,000,000 (current and future fiscal years)
- Expected number of awards: 8–12
- Award size: $100,000–$750,000 per year
- Project period: 2 years
- Award ceiling: $1,500,000; award floor: $200,000
No cost sharing is required.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants:
- DOE/NNSA National Laboratories
- U.S. domestic institutions of higher education
- U.S. non-profit research organizations (excluding 501(c)(4) organizations engaged in lobbying)
- Ineligible applicants:
- For-profit entities (may participate only as subrecipients)
- Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs
- Other federal agencies
Principal Investigators (PIs):
- Must be in a permanent or long-term position at the applicant institution (tenure not required)
- Individuals from underrepresented groups and those with disabilities are encouraged to apply
- No U.S. citizenship or permanent residency requirement, but all personnel must have the legal right to work in the U.S.
Submission limits: No more than 2 pre-applications or applications per PI per institution.
Application Process
1. Pre-application (Required)
- Submit via DOE PAMS system
- Must include a hypothesis, objectives, technical approach, and key personnel
- Maximum 2 pages (plus required listings)
- Only the lead institution submits the pre-application for collaborative projects
2. Full Application (By Invitation)
- Submit via Grants.gov
- Only applicants with an "encourage" response may apply
- Application components:
- SF-424 (R&R) and required forms
- Project narrative (max 10 pages; 15 for collaborative applications)
- Budget and justification
- Biographical sketches (NSF/SciENcv format)
- Current and pending support
- Data management plan
- Facilities, equipment, and other resources
- Letters of collaboration/access (up to 3)
- Transparency of foreign connections disclosure
- List of individuals who should not serve as reviewers
3. Review and Selection
- Initial eligibility and responsiveness review
- Scientific merit (peer) review based on:
- Scientific/technical merit
- Appropriateness of methods
- Competency of personnel and adequacy of resources
- Reasonableness of budget
- Program policy factors (e.g., relevance, breadth, training, new investigators)
Additional Information
- Research focus areas: AI/ML for isotope production, advanced chemistry for phase changes, novel separation techniques, recovery of critical radioisotopes, and new pathways for producing isotopes relevant to fusion energy.
- Training: Projects that include workforce development and training components are strongly encouraged.
- Collaborative projects: Multi-institutional teams may apply via collaborative applications or subawards.
- Restrictions: Projects related to the production of Mo-99 are excluded. R&D to produce commercially available isotopes is not supported unless the isotope is in short supply or only produced outside the U.S.
- Open science: Data management and sharing are required; see DOE guidelines.
External Links
Contact Information
For additional details, refer to the NOFO PDF and the Grants.gov listing.