Early Career Research Program (ECRP)
- Posted
- March 3, 2026
- Closed
- June 2, 2026
- Award ceiling
- $2,750,000
- Award floor
- $875,000
- Program funding
- $145,000,000
- Expected awards
- 100
- Cost sharing
- No
- Instrument
- Grant, Other
- Assistance listing
- 81.049
- Archives
- September 2, 2026
Program funding history
Awards made under Assistance Listing 81.049 across FY2024–FY2026, from public federal spending records.
- FY2024 obligated
- $1.7B
- FY2025 obligated
- $1.4B
- FY2026 (to date) obligated
- $994.7M
- Awards in window
- 6,130
Top recipients: Michigan State University, General Atomics, University of Wisconsin System, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Illinois
Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed September 2026 · Program page: awards, recipients and the opportunities under this listing →
Synopsis
DOE SC hereby invites applications for support under the ECRP in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR); Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); High Energy Physics (HEP); Nuclear Physics (NP); Isotope Research and Development and Production (DOE IP). The purpose of this program is to support the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and to stimulate research careers in the areas supported by SC.
Who can apply
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
In accordance with 2 CFR 910.126, Competition, eligibility for award is restricted to U.S. Institutions of Higher Education, DOE/NNSA National Laboratories (listed at https://www.energy.gov/national-laboratories), and institutions operating SC Scientific User Facilities (listed at https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities).
The official record
Grants.gov published the official terms and dates of this opportunity; this page keeps them as they were listed.
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