The Office of High Energy Physics of the Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, hereby announces its interest in receiving grant applications for support under its Outstanding Junior Investigator (OJI) Program. Applications should be from tenure-track faculty investigators or junior scientists in equivalent positions in national laboratories who are currently involved in experimental or theoretical high energy physics or accelerator physics research, and should be submitted through a U.S. academic institution or national laboratory. The purpose of this program is to support the development of individual research programs by outstanding scientists early in their careers. Awards made under this program will help to maintain the vitality of high energy physics research and assure continued excellence in the teaching of physics.

APPLICATION DUE DATE: November 5, 2008, 8:00 pm, Eastern Time

Applications from Universities must be submitted using Grants.gov, the Funding Opportunity Announcement can be found using the CFDA Number, 81.049 or the Funding Opportunity Announcement number,
DE-PS02-08ER08-28. Applicants must follow the instructions and use the forms provided on Grants.gov.

Submissions from DOE/NNSA FFRDCs must complete a formal FWP consistent with policies of the investigator's laboratory and the local DOE Operations Office. (Field Work Proposal Format (Reference DOE O 412.1A)). Additional information is requested to allow for scientific/technical merit review. The FWP should be submitted via email as a single PDF file of the entire LAB proposal and FWP. The email should be addressed to
Ms. Donna Lang at: Donna.Lang@science.doe.gov. Please use "Program Announcement DE-PS02-08ER08-28" as the subject of the email.

GENERAL INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS FOA SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:

Technical/Scientific Contact:

PROGRAM MANAGER: Dr. Chung Ngoc Leung, Office of High Energy Physics
PHONE: (301) 903-3715
FAX: (301) 903-2597
E-MAIL: CN.Leung@science.doe.gov

The Outstanding Junior Investigator program was started in 1978 by the Department of Energy's Office of Science. A principal goal of this program is to identify exceptionally talented high energy physicists early in their careers and assist and facilitate the development of their research programs. Eligibility for awards under this notice is therefore restricted to non-tenured investigators who are conducting experimental or theoretical high energy physics or accelerator physics research and who have not yet applied three times to this program. Since its debut, the program has initiated support for between five and ten new OJIs each year. The program has been very successful and contributes importantly to the vigor of the U.S. High Energy Physics program. Applicants should request support under this notice for normal research project costs as required to conduct their proposed research activities. Research activities that closely align with the mission of the High Energy Physics program of the Office of Science are eligible for support under this program.

Program Funding

It is anticipated that approximately $750,000 will be available for new projects in Fiscal Year 2009. The number of awards will depend on the number of applications received and selected for award, the availability of appropriated funds and the size of the awards. Last year a total of $750,000 was distributed among ten awards. Awards are made for up to five years or until the award recipient receives tenure (or equivalent status at a national laboratory), whichever comes first, provided the research progress satisfies periodic peer reviews. Funding will be provided on an annual basis subject to the availability of funds. The Department of Energy is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of applications.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR Part 605.

Posted on the Office of Science Grants and Contracts Web Site
September 3, 2008.