Office of the Under Secretary for Science

Toya Beiswenger uses scanning electron microscopy to characterize radioactive and non-radioactive material in real-world samples, used in several contexts, including the assessment of nuclear security vulnerabilities. Credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

The Office of the Under Secretary for Science executes on the U.S. Department of Energy’s science and innovation mission and is the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences. It oversees the Office of Technology Commercialization, the Office of Strategy and Technology Roadmaps, the Office of Science, the Office of Fusion, the Office of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum, and 13 of the 17 DOE National Laboratories.

Genesis mission: A National Mission to Accelerate Science Through Artificial Intelligence against a blue background

The Under Secretary for Science also serves as DOE’s lead for the Genesis Mission, a national initiative to build the world's most powerful scientific platform to accelerate discovery science, strengthen national security, and drive energy innovation.

Accelerating Scientific Breakthroughs at Unparalleled Speed and Accuracy

Genesis Mission Sectors

The Genesis Mission will:

  • Unite DOE National Labs, industry, academia, and more to harness AI for breakthroughs in energy, discovery science, and national security.
  • Double the productivity and impact of American science and engineering within a decade.
  • Advance critical and emerging technologies—including quantum computing—to drive economic growth.
  • Build a complex integrated platform, connecting the world’s best supercomputers, experimental facilities, AI systems, and unique datasets.
     

Genesis Mission Pillars

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    Energy Dominance

    The Genesis Mission will accelerate the design and deployment of safe, advanced reactor technologies—including modular nuclear reactors—and fusion power sources to provide abundant, affordable, and resilient energy. The initiative will also modernize America’s electric grid.

  • Blue magnifying glass with exclamation point

    Discovery Science

    The Genesis Mission will use advanced, physics-aware AI to accelerate scientific discovery. Scientists will create new breakthroughs in materials and chemistry, deepen our understanding of the universe, and help develop new quantum algorithms.

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    National Security

    The Genesis Mission will allow the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to create and apply advanced AI technologies focused on all aspects of its national security mission. These systems will ensure the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile and accelerate the development of defense-ready materials.

National Science and Technology Challenges

DOE identified 26 national science and technology challenges to accelerate U.S. innovation and leadership in energy dominance, discovery science, and national security. These challenges will deliver tangible benefits for the American people through the Genesis Mission’s AI platforms, world-class facilities, and public-private partnerships.

Leadership

Program Offices