The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards provide seed money for research by junior faculty at ORAU member institutions (Penn State is an ORAU member). These awards are intended to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty and result in new funding opportunities.
Eligibility
Full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their initial tenure track appointment at the time of application are eligible. If there is a question on eligibility, the ORAU Councilor makes the final decision.
Technical Areas
The research project must be in one of the following five disciplines:
Engineering and Applied Science
Life Sciences
Mathematics/Computer Sciences
Physical Sciences
Policy, Management, or Education
Number of Submissions
Each ORAU member councilor may submit up to two applications each year.
Funding Source and Duration
Funding is provided exclusively from non-federal monies by ORAU. The award amount provided by ORAU is $5,000. The applicant’s institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. This is a one-year grant (June 1 to May 31).
Funding Restrictions
This award can include funds for faculty summer salary, graduate student salary, travel, equipment, or other assistance relevant to the faculty member’s research. ORAU does not allow overhead charges or indirect costs on the award from ORAU or the university match.
Research Collaborations
Applicants are encouraged to develop research collaborations with government, private-sector, and other academic researchers. Such alliances enrich and extend not only the reach of your efforts, but the nation’s research enterprise, overall.
Because of the close working relationship between ORAU and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Award Committee particularly encourages collaborative interaction with ORNL. Thus, substantive interdisciplinary research and inter-institutional research partnerships will be considered as very positive factors in the review process, and will increase chances for success.
Diverse Participant Population
ORAU is committed to the promotion of underrepresented groups in science and engineering.