Research in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering | DE FOA 0003254

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003254

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through its Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program, is soliciting proposals for new or renewal awards that support frontier-level research in basic plasma science and engineering. This opportunity sits within the FES Discovery Plasma Science area, specifically the Plasma Science and Technology - General Plasma Science (GPS) program. The emphasis is on fundamental understanding and enabling science in both basic and low temperature plasma regimes, rather than near-term device development, and it is structured to support single-investigator projects as well as small-group efforts.

A central focus of the call is on the physics of dynamical plasma processes across laboratory, space, and astrophysical contexts. Topics of interest explicitly include magnetic reconnection, plasma dynamo activity, shocks, turbulent cascades, and the formation and evolution of structures, waves, and flows, including how these features interact with one another. Proposals that aim to advance core understanding of these processes, improve predictive capability, or reveal new regimes of plasma behavior align well with the stated intent.

The opportunity also highlights interest in less conventional or specialized plasma states and systems. This includes dusty plasmas, non-neutral plasmas, single-component matter or antimatter plasmas, and ultracold neutral plasmas. Research in these areas can span fundamental theory, computation, diagnostics, and experiments, as long as it advances basic plasma science and strengthens the broader knowledge base that underpins plasma applications and fusion-relevant science.

In addition, the FOA calls out plasma chemistry and low temperature plasma processes as a major component. This encompasses low temperature and interfacial plasmas, along with studies of plasma interactions with materials and biomaterials. Work in this scope can include the mechanisms governing plasma-generated reactive species, surface modification, energy and particle transport at interfaces, and the coupled plasma-material or plasma-biological response, with the expectation that the proposed research remains grounded in fundamental science and engineering questions.

Eligibility is limited to universities and non-profit organizations, consistent with a research-grant model intended to build academic and non-profit research capacity. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under the DOE Office of Science, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 81.049. The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0003254, and it was created on January 9, 2024, with an original closing date of March 29, 2024. The listed award ceiling is $770,000. Beyond the research outcomes, the program explicitly frames workforce development as a key objective, emphasizing training and development of the next generation of plasma scientists and engineers (with additional details referenced on page 9 of the FOA).

• The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $770,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DE FOA 0003254

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: