Office of High Energy Physics

OJI PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

Announcement the Department of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator Program in High Energy Physics

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.

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.

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.

Applications will be subjected to a formal competitive merit review and will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

  1. The scientific and/or technical merit and importance of the project;
  2. The quality and impact of the applicant's recent related work;
  3. The appropriateness of the approach and the adequacy of the proposed resources; and
  4. The reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.

In order to permit timely consideration for awards in the fiscal year 2008 competition, applications should be received before November 5, 2008, 8:00 pm, Eastern Time.

Further information can be found on the DOE Office of Science Grants and Contracts web site http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/FAPN08-28.html. The official funding opportunity announcement can be found on the Grants.gov web site.

For further information contact:

Dr. Chung Ngoc Leung
Department of Energy
Office of High Energy Physics
Germantown, Maryland 20874
(301) 903-3715
Fax: (301) 903-2597
E-Mail: CN.Leung@science.doe.gov