Projects to Accelerate Nuclear R&D and Support Early Career Faculty
March 3, 2026
minute read time
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy today announced the selection of 46 projects across the country to receive a total of $52.8 million in funding that will help the United States stay on the cutting edge of advanced nuclear technology research and development. Awards support nuclear technology development and early career faculty research activities that will accelerate President Trump’s nuclear energy renaissance.
"Supporting these projects is an important investment in the nation’s nuclear technologies, universities, and future workforce,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Crosscuts, Michelle Scott. "DOE is committed to helping supply researchers and educators with the resources and funding they need to keep driving innovative nuclear energy research and scientific breakthroughs."
Today’s awards advance the President’s Executive Order, Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base. Projects will increase access to research infrastructure and grow the nation’s nuclear workforce.
The funding is divided into two focus areas that support early-stage nuclear energy research efforts at U.S. universities, national laboratories, and industry across 19 states.
Nuclear Research and Development – 43 projects will receive awards through both the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) for R&D and Integrated Research Projects and the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) program for facility access.
Distinguished Early Career Program – Invests in three outstanding early career university faculty developing innovative research and education programs that pave new lines of inquiry and advance mission critical research in nuclear energy.
The awards are funded through DOE’s Nuclear Energy University Program and the Nuclear Science User Facilities program. Since 2009, DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy has eclipsed more than $1 billion in funding to advance nuclear energy research and support the education and training of future nuclear energy visionaries and leaders.
To learn more about today’s awards, visit the Nuclear Energy University Program website.