The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards Program is now accepting proposals. This award program provides seed money for junior faculty research at Oak Ridge Associated Universities member institutions. These awards are intended to enrich young faculty research and professional growth and lead to new funding opportunities.
Research must fall within one of these seven disciplines:
- Engineering and Applied Science
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics/Computer Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Policy, Management, or Education
- Critical Mineral Constraints on SMR Deployment Capacity in the U.S.
- Responsible AI in STEM Education Policy
Amount per Award: $5,000 (with required match of at least an additional $5,000)
Duration of Award: 1 Year (July 1 to June 30)
Number of Awards: 36 Awards in 2026
Eligibility: Full-time assistant professors within two years of their initial tenure-track appointment (Jan. 1, 2025 to Jan. 6, 2027) at the time of application at an ORAU member institution are eligible.
Sponsor Deadlines: Applications are due to Oak Ridge Associated Universities by Jan. 6, 2027.
UW–Madison may submit two nominations.
Learn more on the award program’s website.
Applications for Internal Review
To submit your application, please email a single PDF to grants@research.wisc.edu no later than Oct. 30, 2026. As a reminder, each department may submit materials for one faculty member for this internal competition.
Please include the following:
- A cover page including the PI name, contact information, and project title. Please also include a statement indicating that your department chair has reviewed and approved your application and has selected you as the department’s sole nominee for this internal competition, and that your department chair or dean is aware that a letter of nomination will be required if selected as the UW nominee.
- One-page abbreviated resume
- One-page listing of publications and/or presentations
- Two-page research proposal that should address the following:
- Research goals and objectives and relevant background
- Expected research outcomes and relevance
- Research design and methodology
- Competence of the applicant to perform the proposed research
- Available research facilities and resources
- Budget justification
- Additional single page of references relating to the proposal (optional)