The Office of Science of the Department of Energy announces the fiscal year 2013 Early Career Research Program. The funding opportunity for researchers in universities and DOE national laboratories was announced July 20, 2012. The Early Career Research Program, now in its fourth year, supports the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and stimulates research careers in the disciplines supported by the DOE Office of Science. Opportunities exist in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR); Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); High Energy Physics (HEP), and Nuclear Physics (NP). Mandatory pre-applications are due at 5 pm eastern time on September 6, 2012. Only those applicants that receive notification from DOE encouraging a formal application may submit full applications. Full applications from those encouraged to submit them are due by 5 pm eastern time November 26, 2012.

For more information:  http://science.energy.gov/early-career/

In a July 17 announcement, the U.S. Department of Energy committed to invest $10.9 million across 13 projects to improve nuclear industry and reactor safety, performance and cost competitiveness. From that, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will receive $979,978 to lead a Nuclear Energy Technologies (NEET) Reactor Materials project.

The UNL-led project aims to develop advanced metal and ceramic composites, partnering with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University. They will research advanced reactor materials for piping, wiring cladding and other related structures in nuclear reactors and along the nuclear fuel cycle.

Michael Nastasi, director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences  Research at UNL and Elmer Koch Professor of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, is the principal invest8igator for the project, Radiation Tolerance and Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured Ceramic/Metal. The work will explore the development of advanced metal/ceramic composites for improvements that could lead to more efficient production of electricity in advanced reactors. he U.S. Department of Energy has given Nastasi and his team a $980,000 grant to explore the development of advanced metal and ceramic composites. Those improvements could lead to more efficient production of electricity in advanced nuclear reactors. Continue reading →

April 11, 2012.  The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research released its Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking innovative energy sciences research and collaboration ideas from UNL faculty. This is the seventh annual cycle in which UNL faculty can compete in this internal competition for energy research grants.  These grants help UNL faculty to develop energy-related research capacity and improve their competitiveness for external funding.  New to the process for Cycle 7 is the request for pre-proposals.  The deadline for pre-proposals is May 11, 2011.  Full proposals will be by invitation only.  Funding for this opportunity is made possible through an investment in energy sciences research by the Nebraska Public Power District.  NCESR Cycle 7 – RFP

Energy Department Announces Up to $15 Million to Research Biomass-Based Supplements for Traditional Fuels

April 06, 2012

As part of President Obama’s blueprint for an economy fueled by homegrown and alternative energy sources, the Energy Department announced today up to $15 million available to demonstrate biomass-based oil supplements that can be blended with petroleum, helping the United States to reduce foreign oil use, diversify the nation’s energy portfolio, and create jobs for American workers. Known as “bio-oils,” these precursors for fully renewable transportation fuels could be integrated into the oil refining processes that make conventional gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels without requiring modifications to existing fuel distribution networks or engines. Continue reading →

The 2012 Graduate Student Poster Session, a celebration highlighting graduate student and undergraduate research activity, was held on April 4, 2012 as part of the campus-wide 2012  UNL Spring Research Fair. The purpose of this yearly event is to give  students the opportunity to showcase their research or creative activity; to communicate their results to other students, faculty and staff; and to learn about other areas of research and creative activity. The event is sponsored by the Office of Research an Economic Development and the Office of Graduate Studies. Continue reading →

During the Fall of 2011, Lilyan Fulginiti and Richard Perrin, Professors of Agricultural Economics, taught “Energy and the Environment Economics and Policy” (ENSC230), which is one of the four core classes required of the Energy Sciences Minor.  Students taking the course were asked to write the articles that now appear in the University of Nebraska’s Digital Commons.  To view these articles, please click here.

Now  Available:  A comprehensive textbook  which introduces and explains sustainable energy systems and can be used across engineering and scientific fields.  Written by Associate Professor Yasar Demirel, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, from  the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, this book provides the reader with a practical understanding of sustainable energy system. Continue reading →

March 01, 2012

As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil, the Energy Department today announced up to $6 million available this year to collect and analyze valuable performance and durability data for light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The projects selected for funding will collect data from next-generation FCEVs as they are operated in real-world conditions to identify ways to lower costs and improve fuel cell durability and overall vehicle performance. This funding is part of the Department’s commitment to U.S. leadership in advanced fuel cell research that aims to help industry bring more FCEVs into the mainstream market and provide American families with new choices for vehicles that do not rely on gasoline.  Continue reading →

Attached is a Department of Energy funding opportunity announcement, No.  DE-FOA-0000672.  DE-FOA-0000672