Our Mission

DOE’s Office of Science has a mission to deliver scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. We are the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences and are a major supporter of research in such key scientific fields as physics, materials science, computing, and chemistry. We are also the lead federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research related to energy.

To keep America in the forefront of discovery and innovation, we sponsor research at hundreds of universities, national laboratories, and other institutions across the country. We also build and maintain a vitally important array of large-scale scientific facilities at the DOE national laboratories, which are used by thousands of researchers every year.

About the Office of Science

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science is the nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, the steward of 10 DOE national laboratories, and the lead federal agency supporting fundamental research for energy production and security. Our job is to keep America at the forefront of discovery. This video is an overview of the Office of Science’s mission, people, and resources.
Video courtesy of DOE's Office of Science

Science Headlines

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A Community Approach to Fixing Biology’s Big Data Problems
The National Microbiome Data Collaborative is training ambassadors to spread best practices in data collection & processing for scientific discoveries
How Tiny Hinges Bend the Infection-Spreading Spikes of a Coronavirus
Disabling hinges could be a good strategy for designing vaccines and treatments against a broad range of coronavirus infections, including COVID-19.
Hix, Lajoie Elected Fellows of the American Physical Society
Physicists William Raphael “Raph” Hix of DOE's Oak Ridge National Lab and John Lajoie have been elected Fellows of the American Physical Society.
Researchers Aim to Make Cheaper Fuel Cells a Reality
Researchers reduced the amount of platinum group metals needed to make an effective cell and found a new way to test future fuel cell innovations.

University and Stakeholder News

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Physics Professor Wins $650,000 Grant for Quantum Computing Research
St. Olaf College Associate Professor of Physics Prabal Adhikari has been awarded a Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research grant by DOE.
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UGA's Dewey Selected as DOE Outstanding Graduate Student
University of Georgia student Nicholas Dewey is one of 60 graduate students selected for DOE's Office of Science Graduate Student Research program.
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Self-Correcting Quantum Computers Within Reach?
A new paper in Nature illustrates a Harvard quantum computing platform’s potential to solve the longstanding problem known as quantum error correction
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Surprising Discovery Shows Electron Beam Radiation Can Repair Nanostructures
The self-healing crystals could improve materials used in today’s electronics.
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Science Highlights

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Dept. of Energy Office of Science delivers scientific discoveries, tools for the nation via programs in Advanced Scientific Computing Research; Basic Energy Sciences; Biological & Environmental Research; Fusion Energy Sciences; High Energy Physics; Nuclear Physics. Also supports Accelerator Research; Isotope Research; Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer; 5 national quantum centers; 2 energy innovation hubs. Stewards 10 DOE national labs. 100-plus Nobel Prizes, $7.5 billion budget.

The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Image courtesy of the Department of Energy Office of Science