Early career grants available for energy-related research

Joy Ward, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology recently received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Ward is an example of the young talent conducting research at KU – and just the type of individual that Washington is betting will develop innovations in basic science that will revolutionize energy and environmental research.

In fact the Department of Energy is so confident that young researchers represent America’s technological future and competitive edge that the Department of Energy recently announced $85 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds aimed at Early Career Research.

“This funding highlights the Administration’s continued commitment to building the nation’s scientific workforce by attracting top emerging researchers to careers in vital areas of basic research,” said Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “By investing in scientific researchers in their formative years, we can provide scientists with the resources to do some of their most exciting and productive work.”

To be eligible for the funds, researchers must be an untenured or tenure-track assistant professor at a U.S. academic institution. In addition the candidates must also have received a doctorate within the past ten years.

This represents an opportunity for the KU Energy Council, which has been working on connecting young researchers with opportunities like the DOE Early Career Research Program for more than two years. Made up of 15 members from across the Lawrence campus, the KU Energy Council is working on advancing science in areas like vehicle technology, solar technology, building technology and bioenergy research.

KU Energy Council members include distinguished professors as well as associate professors like Joy Ward, ecology and evolutionary biology; Susan Williams, chemical and petroleum engineering; Stacey White, design and urban planning; and Mario Medina, civil engineering.

“There are a lot of opportunities right now in energy research and KU has a lot of talented scientists,” said KU Energy Council Chair Laurence Weatherley. “If we can help a young researcher link up with federal funding or even industry opportunities we not only advance the science at KU, we help our state and even our country maintain its competitive advantage as an energy research leader.”

The council meets regularly and provides a forum for researchers to collaborate on energy research and education. The council works to identify synergies among members and works to help researchers pursue federal funds from agencies like the Kansas Bioscience Authority, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.

The council is currently working on ways to connect its young researchers with these recently announced DOE funds. For more information visit www.kuenergycouncil.org.

More information about the Early Career Research Program can be found online.

Almanac