Mission & Functions

Mission

The Office of Science (SC) mission is to deliver the scientific discoveries and major scientific tools that transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. The SC accomplishes its mission and advances national goals by supporting:

• The frontiers of science – discovering nature’s mysteries from the study of subatomic particles, atoms, and molecules that are the building blocks of the materials of our everyday world to the DNA, proteins, and cells that are the building blocks of entire biological systems; each of the programs in the SC supports research to probe the most fundamental questions of its disciplines.
• The 21st Century tools of science – providing the Nation’s researchers with 27 state-of-the-art national scientific user facilities, the most advanced tools of modern science, enabling the U.S. to remain at the forefront of science, technology, and innovation.
• Science for energy and the environment – advancing a clean energy agenda through fundamental research on energy production, conversion, storage, transmission, and use and through advancing our understanding of the earth and its climate; targeted investments include the three DOE Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs), the Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), two Energy Innovation Hubs, and atmospheric process and climate modeling research.

The Deputy Director for Science Programs is responsible for:

• providing scientific and management oversight of, independent project evaluation and assessment of existing and proposed new projects and facilities, and related guidance to the SC Program Offices;
• setting SC-specific policy related to the management of SC science programs; and
• ensuring the SC research portfolio is integrated across the SC Program Offices, with other DOE Program Offices, and with other Federal agencies.

Organizational Structure

1. Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR)
2. Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) 
3. Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) 
4. Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
5. Office of High Energy Physics (HEP)  
6. Office of Nuclear Physics (NP) 
7. Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS)
8. Office of Project Assessment (PA)
9. Office of Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR/STTR)

Functions

The Deputy Director for Science Programs

1. Serves as the principal advisor to the SC Director regarding scientific issues and issues related to the management of the offices reporting to the Deputy Director for Science Programs. Examples include determining the strategic direction, scientific program content, and budget priorities for the SC Program Offices and establishing SC-specific science and scientific program management policies. Also serves as the principal advisor regarding matters relating to the research and development (R&D) programs and scientific/technical manpower of the SC laboratories.
2. Assists the SC Director in carrying out all aspects of their scientific duties and responsibilities, including formulating SC Program Office budget requests. Also assists in the defense of Program Office budgets through DOE, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and Congressional committees.
3. Provides scientific and line-management oversight of, and related direction to, the SC Program Offices (ASCR, BES, BER, FES, HEP, NP, and WDTS), the Office of Project Assessment, and the Office of SBIR/STTR Programs. Recruits and appraises the performance of their Directors.
4. Provides management oversight of SC international program activities. Ensures they are strategically conceived and executed to maximize the benefit to SC, the Department, and the United States.
5. Manages the following programs, awards, and fellowships:
   1. The Office of Science’s Early Career Research Program, which is budgeted and awarded in the six Science Program Offices;
   2. The Department of Energy’s participation in the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), bestowed by the U.S. Government;
   3. The Enrico Fermi Presidential Award, bestowed by the U.S. Government;
   4. The Department of Energy’s Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award, bestowed by the Secretary of Energy;
   5. The AAAS Fellows Program for the Office of Science
6. Establishes SC-specific policies, plans, and procedures for cross-cutting issues related to the SC Program Offices. Examples include: execution and utilization of peer reviews; the management and employment of Advisory Committees and Committees of Visitors; review and management of the program activities and the scientific user facilities; dissemination of research results, including digital data; and the use of performance measures. Establishes consistent policies and procedures and establishes and chairs working groups when appropriate. Sets expectations for performance in these areas.
7. Establishes the SC position regarding the impact of proposed or revised legislation, Executive Orders, and DOE policies affecting the research programs funded by the Office of Science. Resolves disputes within SC when necessary.
8. Establishes priorities for the Program Direction budgets for the offices reporting to the Deputy Director for Science Programs.
9. Champions SC interests regarding the development of policies, requirements, or initiatives by the Department, other Executive Branch agencies, or the Congress affecting the research programs funded by the Office of Science. Works to resolve disputes at the highest levels of the Department whenever necessary.
10. Manages activities common to multiple SC program offices and champions research initiatives that affect more than one SC Program Office reporting to the Deputy Director for Science Programs. Examples of common activities affecting the Program Offices include: coordination of responses to IG and GAO inquires, reviews, and investigations; coordination of responses to DOE, other-agency, OSTP, and Congressional inquiries; cross-program governance and uniformity of the SC website; strategic interactions with the scientific community; establishment of consistent policies for IPAs and detailees; review of Laboratory news releases; creation and maintenance of an archive of key reference documents such as governing legislation, MOU/MOAs, and strategic planning documents. Establishes consistent policies and procedures and establishes and chairs working groups when appropriate. Sets expectations for performance in these areas.
11. Monitors and assesses the effectiveness of the performance measures used to evaluate the execution of the research programs funded by the Office of Science.
12. Ensures integration of SC Program Office efforts. Also ensures that SC research programs are integrated with the Department’s applied energy, environmental, and defense R&D programs as well as those of other Federal agencies.
13. Works with the Deputy Director for Field Operations to integrate research program activities with operations-related activities. Ensures SC Associate Directors maintain working relationships with DOE Field Managers sufficient to effectively integrate SC science programs with laboratory operations at national laboratories performing SC-sponsored research.
14. Represents SC and makes commitments for the Department in discussions and meetings with high-level government and private sector officials. Meetings are typically with members of Congress and representatives of other science funding and policy agencies, including OMB, OSTP, the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council, and the National Science and Technology Council.
15. Manages the Forrestal and Germantown offices of SC-1 and SC-2, including activities such as: scheduling for SC-2; support for personnel recruiting and evaluation of SC-2 staff; travel for SC-2 and SC-2 staff; calls and visitors; mail and correspondence; time and attendance for SC-2 staff; equipment maintenance; office supplies; and office moves.