New FAIR initiative will support research at minority serving institutions and emerging research institutions

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $35 million to build research capacity, infrastructure, and expertise at institutions historically underrepresented in science, including minority serving institutions (MSIs) and emerging research institutions (ERIs). This funding spans all of the DOE Office of Science programs. 

The Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR) initiative will enhance research at these institutions on clean energy, climate, and additional topics spanning the Office of Science portfolio. This investment will help develop a diverse, vibrant, and excellent scientific workforce and contribute to the science innovation ecosystem.

“FAIR is one piece of our larger plan to broaden the Office of Science’s reach. The long-term impact of these capacity-building initiatives on DOE and scientific research can’t be overstated,” said Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Director of the DOE Office of Science. “To reach our scientific goals, we need all voices represented. FAIR will help bring those who have been historically excluded and minoritized in the portfolio of activities we support into critical scientific conversations.”

The FAIR initiative supports mutually beneficial relationships between MSIs or ERIs and partnering institutions, including DOE national laboratories, Office of Science scientific user facilities, and other MSIs. FAIR will support basic research in all fields supported by the Office of Science, including applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geoscience, isotope research, materials science, and physics. This funding will expand the talent pool that will further DOE’s missions, transform our understanding of nature, and catalyze scientific discoveries that can lead to technical breakthroughs.

The lead institution must be a non-R1 MSI or an emerging research institution and must partner with a team member in one of the following categories: a DOE national laboratory, an Office of Science scientific user facility, or an R1 MSI. The lead institution should show clear scientific leadership. Learn more about institution designations/classifications. Please see the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for agency contacts and more details.

Schedule and FOA Download

• An optional informational webinar will be held Friday, January 6, 2023 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Register for the webinar.
• The deadline for required pre-applications is Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 5 p.m. Eastern.
• Download DE-FOA-0002931 – Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR) (PDF).
• See all DOE funding announcements.

The principal investigator (PI) and institution representative submitting on behalf of the PI must register for an account in the Portfolio Analysis And Management System (PAMS) before it will be possible to submit a pre-application. All PIs and those submitting pre-applications on behalf of PIs are encouraged to establish PAMS accounts as soon as possible to avoid submission delays. In addition, all PIs are encouraged to read the FOA carefully for new requirements related to Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) plans, current/pending support, and biographical sketches. Please reach out to the BER Program Managers with any questions: Boris Wawrik and Dawn Adin, Biological Systems Sciences Division; or Brian Benscoter and Shaima Nasiri, Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences Division.