Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards
Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards support junior faculty with seed funding to build research skills and launch projects across scientific and policy fields that may attract further funding.
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Funder: Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)
Due Dates: January 6, 2027, at noon EST (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $5,000 from ORAU, plus at least $5,000 institutional match, for one year
Summary: Seed funding helps junior faculty at ORAU member institutions develop research skills and launch work that can attract further funding.
Key Information: Only two nominations are allowed per institution, for full-time tenure-track assistant professors within two years of appointment.
Description
The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards are competitive research awards administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). The program provides seed support to junior faculty at ORAU member institutions, enriching their research skills and professional growth while helping launch projects that may attract additional funding.
Supported work spans engineering, life sciences, mathematics and computer sciences, physical sciences, and policy, management, or education. The program also includes priorities addressing critical mineral constraints on small modular reactor deployment in the United States and responsible AI in STEM education policy. Research collaborations with government, private-sector, and other academic researchers are encouraged. Past projects include liquid formulations of Parkinson’s medication, microengineered intestinal tissue platforms, and augmented reality for more precise breast biopsies.
