DOE Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot

DOE Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot

Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. 

Strategic Proposal

RIO has designated this funding opportunity as a Strategic Proposal, based on its potential for significant institutional impact. RIO’s research development team (RIO-RD) partners with PIs to provide enhanced support, coordination, and/or resources for strategic proposal efforts.

PIs selected for this limited submission opportunity will be contacted by RIO-RD to develop a proposal management plan that includes a timeline, team assignments, review(s) schedule, and submission process, and organize a proposal kickoff meeting with all participants. 

For questions regarding Strategic Proposals, please contact Mike Mitchell. 

Program Summary 

American scientists and engineers will power the super intelligence (SI) revolution in science and innovation through the Genesis Mission. DOE hereby invites applications to develop and demonstrate the effectiveness of novel four-year doctoral training pilots with dual competency in SI and another scientific discipline. Two high-impact research experiences are required as part of the pilot, one at a DOE National Laboratory or SC user facility and one in industry. The purpose of this pilot is to lay the foundation for the first cohort of Genesis Mission Graduate Fellows, representing a new generation of Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers with exceptional training in SI and scientific disciplines along with practical research experiences. 

Successful Pilots must incorporate the following elements:  

• Accelerated Four-Year Pathways: Recipient institutions and the host DOE National Laboratories/SC user facilities and industries should clearly demonstrate the ability to deliver individualized, structured coursework and research plans to ensure Fellows complete their doctoral degrees within four years without compromising scientific rigor.  The research experiences at DOE National Laboratories/SC user facilities and industries should be well integrated with the Fellow’s thesis project. 
• Dual-Competency Framework: Dual-competency frameworks include advancing SI through science discovery and advancing science discovery through AI.  In both cases, academic coursework must seamlessly integrate advanced methodologies with the student’s primary scientific or engineering discipline. Thesis work must have a recognized impact on the SC-relevant Genesis Mission National Science and Technology Challenges. Coursework and research experiences must also address the ethical implications, safety guardrails, and limitations of SI applications in science and industry. 
• Structured Research Experiences: Research plans for each Fellow must integrate two high-impact research experiences, one at a DOE National Laboratory or SC user facility and one in industry. Experiences should typically be at least ten weeks and directly relate to the Fellow’s thesis project. On-site mentors should be included in the Fellow’s four-year research plan. 
• Student Financial Support: Budget requests should include comprehensive student expenses: highly competitive stipends, full tuition, and health insurance.
• Domestic Talent Pipeline: Pilots must ensure that all Fellows are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. No such restrictions apply to PIs, mentors, collaborators, or the classmates of Fellows.

See the solicitation for complete details. 

Deadlines 

• CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MT October 25, 2026
• Sponsor Letter of Intent Deadline: 3:00pm MT November 9, 2026
• Sponsor Application Deadline: 9:59pm MT January 12, 2027

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

• Letter of Intent (3 pages maximumstandard letter-size (8.5-inch x 11-inch) paper with 1-inch margins): Please include: 1) a concise description of the objectives and technical approach of the proposed project including both curriculum development and Genesis Mission research; 2) the four-year doctoral pathway, dual-competency framework, and integration of DOE National Laboratory/SC user-facility and industry research experiences with Fellows’ thesis research; 3) the institutional capabilities, programs, resources, and partnerships that position CU to implement the pilot; 4) a description of the costs, schedule and major milestones; and 5) the primary (and optional secondary) challenge area(s) as identified in Section III of The Genesis Mission:Transforming Science and Energy with AI Notice of Request for Application (RFA).
• Curriculum Vitae of the Lead PI 
• List of Team Members (1-page maximum): Please include a list of all senior/key personnel at the applicant and subaward (if applicable) institutions.

To access the online application, visit: https://cuboulderovcr.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/7212/home 

Eligibility

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. Institutions of Higher Education and domestic doctoral-granting institutions as lead applicants. Pilots must ensure that all Fellows are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.  No such restrictions apply to PIs, mentors, collaborators, or the classmates of Fellows.

Limited Submission Guidelines

Applicant institutions are limited to one letter of intent or application as the lead institution. 

Award Information 

• Award Size: $12M – $25M per award
• Anticipated Number of Awards: 4-8 
• Project Period: 5 years 

Internal Review Criteria

For the internal competition, reviewers will consider the alignment and significance of the proposed Genesis Mission research; strength of the four-year doctoral training model and dual-competency framework; integration of DOE National Laboratory/SC user-facility and industry experiences; institutional capacity and resources; and potential for successful implementation at CU Boulder.