Oak Ridge Associated Universities Funding

ORAU provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security and health. Through specialized teams of experts, unique laboratory capabilities and access to a consortium of more than 160 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to advance national priorities and serve the public interest. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

History and Purpose

In 1946, ORAU began as an outgrowth of the Manhattan Project. Over the years, through its university consortium, it has provided countless opportunities for the nation’s leading scientists. Since those early years both the mission and reach of ORAU have grown significantly. What began with fourteen universities in the southeast has grown to over 160 major PhD-granting institutions located all over the U.S. plus one international university.

ORAU provides innovative, scientific, and technical solutions to its customers, which include the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 20 state and federal agencies and especially Oak Ridge National Laboratory, by advancing national priorities in science, health, educations, and national security. We do this by integrating unique laboratory capabilities, specialized teams of experts, and the research prowess of our consortium members. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which supports government agencies who value an integrated solution incorporating state of the art science and technology in an era of consolidated government contracts requiring research informed delivery of critical services.

In addition to support for government agencies, ORAU provides many opportunities for teachers and students through a variety of fellowships, grants, scholarships, workshops, and joint-faculty appointments. Many of these programs are especially designed for underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science and engineering fields. The ORAU University Partnerships Office supports new faculty just beginning their careers through the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, individual faculty collaboration with other scientists at member universities and ORNL, and member schools with larger collaborative efforts.

All correspondence with ORAU is managed through one point-of-contact, the member institution’s ORAU Councilor. For USU faculty, initial contact should begin with Jeri Hansen.

Recurring ORAU funding opportunities are described below.

Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award

The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award provides seed money for research by junior faculty and is intended to enrich their research and professional growth and result in new funding opportunities.

The award amount provided by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is $5,000, with matching of at least $5,000 provided by the faculty member’s institution. The award is for one year (June 1 – May 31). The research project must be in one of the following five disciplines:

• Engineering and Applied Sciences
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics/Computer Science
• Physical Sciences
• Policy, Management, or Education

Full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions are eligible to apply if they are within two years of their initial tenure track appointment at the time of application.

A member institution can nominate only two faculty members per year. Nominees are selected via USU’s internal limited submission process each fall.

For more information about this program and how to apply, contact Jeri Hansen.

Innovation Partnerships Grant Program

Innovation Partnerships Grants are structured to build stronger relationships between university members and ORAU collaborators by focusing on research and education topics that align well with ORAU’s expertise and current priorities. Grant applications should focus on focused workshops/conferences that highlight a university’s strategic STEM research and education growth areas, and where collaborations with other member universities would add value. ORAU is specifically interested in events that can bring more thought leadership in building a national strategy for STEM education and workforce capacity building. Member universities are encouraged to collaborate around this topic in anticipation of federal funding initiatives. 

Important program details:

• Applications must be focused on one or more of the ORAU core focus areas
• An ORAU collaborator will be assigned to the university PI for each award, and
• Each event must be a minimum of four hours in length.

Each member university is limited to two awards per fiscal year. Those interested must coordinate with the Office of Research to determine eligibility to apply.

Up to $4,000 may be requested to support an in-person or virtual event that involves participants from more than one ORAU member institution, including students. ORAU accepts applications throughout ORAU's fiscal year depending on available funds, and support is available from date of award through September 30.

For more information about this program and how to apply, contact Jeri Hansen.

ORAU-Directed Research and Development (ODRD) Grants

The ORAU-Directed Research and Development (ODRD) Program provides a path for funding innovative research-based approaches/solutions that fall within the intersection of core capabilities of ORAU and member universities’ research interests. Successful ODRD-funded projects result in proposals that can generate new sponsored research jointly performed by ORAU and partner universities. ODRD funding, distributed through a competitive process, serves as seed money for exploratory research and collaboration opportunities among ORAU subject matter experts and university partners. This seed money and exploratory research provides greater potential for significant funding from external sources.

Led by ORAU subject matter experts and leveraging the talents and expertise of our member universities, ODRD projects strengthen and expand the scientific and technical capabilities of both parties. By leveraging the talents and strengths of member universities, ODRD supports university-engaged, applied research while increasing the potential for significant external research funding.

ODRD proposals are due in June, and must be submitted by an ORAU staff member. Awards are made in August. Projects run October 1 to September 30.

To learn more about what types of projects have been funded by the ODRD program, visit the ORAU-Directed Research and Development Project Summaries page and read a recent ORAU news release.

What kinds of projects will be considered?

The ODRD Program is comprised of core and cross-cutting initiatives focused on developing or advancing strategic capabilities at ORAU. Each year, three research areas are selected to ensure alignment with these strategic goals. The ODRD research areas are communicated to each ORAU member institution in early March. Please contact Jeri Hansen for more information.

The ODRD Program invests in research projects that will:

• advance the study of hypotheses, concepts, or innovative approaches to scientific or technical problems,
• produce research and analyses directed towards “proof of principle” or early determination of the utility of new ideas and concepts, and
• enhance ORAU and member university research capabilities.

Projects should be achievable in one year, and funding is shared between ORAU and the university partner.

How can I collaborate with ORAU on an ODRD project?