Early Career Research Program

This funding opportunity is for researchers early in their careers and with research topics that support the mission of the Office of Science in the following areas:

• Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR)
• Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
• High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Nuclear Physics (NP)
• Isotope Research and Development (R&D) and Production (DOE IP)
• Accelerator R&D and Production (ARDAP)

ECRP Candidate Eligibility

To be qualified to apply for the ECRP, early career candidates must meet these requirements:

• Full-time SLAC Ph.D. staff
   - Cannot be a fixed-term appointment
  - Postdoctoral Scholars, Research Associates, and Project Scientists are not eligible.
  - Associate staff scientists are eligible through a DOE exception.  
• Candidates are limited to a total of 3 final full proposal package submissions.

Applying as a SLAC Researcher

At SLAC, the application must receive endorsement from the management chain and must identify a SLAC senior scientist to work with as a mentor.

Ph.D. Requirements

2023 & 2024 Award Cycles

• Received a Ph.D. within the last 12 years from the year of the funding opportunity announcement.
   - Ph.D. Years: No earlier than 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Award Cycles After 2024

• For cycles after 2024, candidates must have received a Ph.D. within the last ten years from the year the award cycle is announced.  For example, the announcement for award cycle 2025 will be in fall of 2024. Eligible candidates must have PhD years not earlier than Jan 1, 2014.

Funding Through the ECRP

ECRP Award for five years for a total of about $2.75 million and is limited to one award per awardee.

ECRP Application Deadlines

The deadlines fluctuate every year.  The application process typically takes up to four months from the date of the announcement.  

The funding opportunity announcement typically comes out in the fall every year.   At a very high level, the application timeline follows this pattern:

• Month September- ECA Workshop by the Office of CRO
  SLAC Office of Chief Research Officer (OCRO) kicks off the annual application process with a two-hour workshop.  All eligible PhDs will receive an email invitation to the workshop.   
  
  The workshop provides an overview of the Early Research program and the SLAC internal processes and deadlines.  Past awardees are at the workshop to share their ECA experiences with a focus on tips, strategies, challenges and lessons learned.  
• Month X in the fall- Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by DOE
• Due in four weeks - close-to-final pre-applications due to SLAC OCRO
• Due in ~1 & 1/2 Month After FOA: Pre-Application Submitted to DOE
• Due in ~Four Months After FOA: Submit Final Application to DOE

SLAC ECRP Resources

     SLAC Log-In Required

• SLAC Internal Due Dates and Templates - Provided by SLAC Proposal Advancement Office (PAO)
• SLAC Internal Resources for PIER Plans - Provided by SLAC DEI+ Office
• Early Career Network Grant Writing Webinar Links
  DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences

• Previous OCRO Early Career Award Kick-Off Meetings

  2023 SLAC OCRO Early Career Award Kick-Off  2022 

  Stanford Log-In Required

• 2024 SLAC OCRO Early Career Award Kick-Off 2023