Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002953
Basic Energy Sciences - Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (BES-RENEW) is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE SC) grant program designed to broaden who participates in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) research and training. At its core, the opportunity is about building long-term research capacity and creating clear training pathways for students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty at institutions that have historically been underrepresented in the Office of Science research portfolio. The program emphasizes both workforce development and stronger institutional connections to DOE science, with the larger aim of strengthening the national pipeline of scientists, engineers, and technicians prepared to contribute across the full range of BES-supported research.
A defining feature of BES-RENEW is its reliance on DOE Office of Science assets that most universities cannot replicate on their own, especially national laboratories and world-unique user facilities. The program is structured to give participants hands-on, immersive experiences such as research internships and collaborative projects that take advantage of specialized instruments, facilities, and expertise found at DOE labs and user facilities. These experiences are intended to be practical and career-shaping, giving trainees exposure to real BES research environments and helping them build the technical skills, research habits, and professional networks that often determine whether someone continues into advanced study or a research career.
The program specifically targets participation from non-R1 minority serving institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), that are currently underrepresented in the BES portfolio. In other words, it is not just a general training program; it is designed to shift the composition of the BES research community by expanding access to funding, mentorship, and infrastructure for institutions and groups that have not historically been well represented in BES-supported work. DOE provides a list of eligible institution designations (referenced in the funding notice) to clarify which organizations qualify, reflecting an intent to focus resources where the gap in participation has been most persistent.
BES-RENEW also builds community and professional development into the award experience. Principal Investigators, students, and postdoctoral researchers supported through RENEW are expected to engage with the broader BES and Office of Science ecosystem through invitations to BES meetings for supported researchers and/or Office of Science-wide professional development and collaborator events. This matters because it connects participants to the norms of the field: presenting work, learning how large scientific collaborations function, meeting potential mentors and future employers, and developing the professional confidence that comes from being included in the main venues where research directions and partnerships form.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the DOE Office of Science under Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002953, with the activity category listed as science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 81.049). The opportunity had an original closing date of May 2, 2023, and an award ceiling of $2,250,000. While the specific number of expected awards is not provided in the text you shared, the ceiling indicates the program can support substantial, multi-component efforts that combine research, training, mentorship, and partnerships with national laboratories, user facilities, and potentially R1 partner MSIs.
Overall, BES-RENEW is best understood as a capacity-building and workforce pipeline initiative anchored in real BES research settings. It aims to expand who gets to do BES-relevant science, where that science can be done, and how students and early-career researchers from underrepresented institutions gain the credentials, experience, and connections needed to compete and thrive in the broader U.S. science and technology ecosystem.Apply for DE FOA 0002953
- The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Basic Energy Sciences - Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (BES-RENEW)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-01-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is BES-RENEW?
Basic Energy Sciences - Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (BES-RENEW) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC) grant program within the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) portfolio. It is designed to broaden participation in BES research and training by building long-term research capacity and clearer training pathways for students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty at institutions that have historically been underrepresented in the DOE Office of Science research portfolio.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is capacity-building and workforce pipeline development. BES-RENEW aims to strengthen the national pipeline of scientists, engineers, and technicians by expanding access to funding, mentorship, research infrastructure, and hands-on experiences tied to real BES research environments.
Who is this program trying to reach?
The program specifically targets participation from non-R1 minority serving institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), that are currently underrepresented in the BES portfolio. The goal is to shift the composition of the BES research community by supporting institutions and groups that have not historically been well represented in BES-supported work.
Are R1 universities the primary target for BES-RENEW?
No. Based on the description provided, BES-RENEW is aimed at non-R1 MSIs (including HBCUs) that are underrepresented in the BES portfolio, rather than being a general program for R1 institutions.
How does BES-RENEW differ from a typical university-based training program?
A defining feature is its reliance on DOE Office of Science assets that most universities cannot replicate, particularly national laboratories and world-unique user facilities. The program is structured to provide immersive, hands-on experiences (such as internships and collaborative projects) that leverage specialized instruments, facilities, and expertise available through DOE labs and user facilities.
What kinds of experiences does BES-RENEW emphasize for participants?
The program emphasizes practical, career-shaping experiences such as research internships and collaborative projects in BES-relevant research settings. These experiences are intended to build technical skills, research habits, and professional networks that help participants continue into advanced study or research careers.
Why are DOE national laboratories and user facilities important in this program?
They offer specialized instruments, facilities, and expert environments that many campuses cannot provide on their own. BES-RENEW is structured around giving participants direct exposure to these assets so they can train and conduct research in settings aligned with BES-supported work.
Does BES-RENEW focus only on research, or also on workforce development?
It explicitly emphasizes both. The opportunity is described as combining workforce development with stronger institutional connections to DOE science, with the broader aim of strengthening the long-term pipeline into BES-relevant careers.
Which career stages does BES-RENEW support?
Based on the information provided, the program is intended to create training pathways and opportunities for students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty.
What kinds of institutions are considered eligible?
The program targets non-R1 MSIs (including HBCUs) that are underrepresented in the BES portfolio. DOE provides a list of eligible institution designations referenced in the funding notice to clarify which organizations qualify.
Where can applicants confirm whether their institution qualifies as an eligible MSI designation?
The description indicates that DOE provides a list of eligible institution designations referenced in the funding notice. Eligibility confirmation is therefore tied to the designations listed in that notice.
Is this program intended to build long-term institutional capacity?
Yes. BES-RENEW is described as a long-term capacity-building initiative intended to expand where BES-relevant science can be done and to strengthen institutional connections to DOE science over time.
What professional development or community-building expectations are included?
Principal Investigators (PIs), students, and postdoctoral researchers supported through RENEW are expected to engage with the broader BES and Office of Science ecosystem. This includes invitations to BES meetings for supported researchers and/or Office of Science-wide professional development and collaborator events.
Why does the program emphasize participation in BES meetings and Office of Science events?
These activities connect participants to the norms and networks of the field, such as presenting work, learning how large scientific collaborations function, meeting potential mentors and future employers, and building professional confidence through inclusion in the main venues where research directions and partnerships form.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) for BES-RENEW?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is DE-FOA-0002953.
Which DOE office administers this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the DOE Office of Science (SC), aligned with the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program area.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The CFDA number provided is 81.049.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling stated in the information provided is $2,250,000.
Does the opportunity indicate how many awards will be made?
No. The text provided states that the specific number of expected awards is not given.
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is May 2, 2023.
What does the award ceiling suggest about the scale of projects supported?
The stated ceiling suggests the program can support substantial, multi-component efforts that combine research, training, mentorship, and partnerships with national laboratories and user facilities, and potentially with R1 partner MSIs.
Is collaboration part of the program design?
Yes. The program description emphasizes collaborative projects and stronger institutional connections to DOE science, including work connected to DOE labs and user facilities.
What is the broader national impact BES-RENEW is aiming for?
It aims to strengthen the national pipeline of scientists, engineers, and technicians prepared to contribute across the full range of BES-supported research, while expanding who participates in BES-relevant science and where that science can be conducted.
How should BES-RENEW be understood in simple terms?
It is a workforce and capacity-building initiative anchored in real BES research settings, designed to expand access to funding, mentorship, infrastructure, and DOE-connected research experiences for underrepresented institutions and communities in the BES portfolio.
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