Overview

In fiscal year 2009, the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), consolidated its university support to what is now called the Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP). Through a competitive solicitation process, NE has designated 20 percent of funds appropriated to its R&D programs for work to be performed at university and research institutions. These funds support investigator-initiated basic research and mission-specific applied R&D activities; human capital development activities such as fellowships and scholarships; and infrastructure and equipment upgrades for university-based research reactors and laboratories. NEUP plans to issue three new solicitations in support of these areas in early FY 2010.

R&D

NE continues to support research and development (R&D) activities at universities and research institutions through competitive awards focused on advancing nuclear energy technologies.  In FY 2009, 71 projects will receive approximately $44 million over three years to advance new nuclear technologies in support of the nation’s energy goals. NE continues to support on-going Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) activities that support highly needed applied engineering research efforts.  In FY 2010, NEUP intends to issue a new R&D solicitation.

Infrastructure

In FY 2009, NE provided $6.3 million in grants to 30 U.S. universities and colleges in 23 states for new equipment and instrumentation for research reactors, specialized nuclear energy facilities, and classrooms and laboratories.  The infrastructure grants are designed to enhance colleges’ nuclear energy research and development (R&D) capacity.  Additionally, NE supports universities’ infrastructure through the Research Reactor Infrastructure (RRI) Program which fabricates fresh fuel for and ships spent fuel from university reactors. In FY 2010, NEUP intends to issue a new infrastructure solicitation.

Scholarship and Fellowships

The scholarships and fellowships granted under the NEUP program will help to recruit and train the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers – a critical need as the nation moves toward greater use of nuclear energy to meet our energy needs and address the global climate crisis. In FY 2009, NE provided about $2.9 million in 76 scholarships and 18 fellowships to U.S. nuclear science and engineering students. In FY 2010, NEUP intends to continue to provide scholarships and fellowships and possibly expand into faculty grants/community college/trade schools.

Workshops

The August 13-14, 2009 NEUP Workshop provided U.S. university researchers the opportunity to become familiar with the anticipated research and development priorities of the NE research programs. This workshop included discussions on the scholarship, fellowship and infrastructure solicitations.  In addition, the workshop communicated the goals of the NEUP for FY 2010, and reviewed lessons learned from the FY 2009 solicitation process. The proceedings for the workshop are available at the Web site:
http://events.energetics.com/univworkshop10

Information

For further information, please contact the
Office of Nuclear Energy, NE-31
19901 Germantown Road Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290
E-Mail: NE Webmaster