$18 Million Department of Energy Grant Takes Nuclear Education Back to School
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that it has allocated $18.2 million for nuclear education and nuclear research and development at U.S. universities and colleges.
The sum is set aside to educate the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers. Through its Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), the DOE is allocating $5 million in scholarships and fellowships to 117 American nuclear science and engineering students. Eight-five of those scholarships will go to undergraduate students, and 32 fellowships will go to graduate students in relevant fields.
Each scholarship student can expect to receive $5,000 to cover the cost of education over the next year while fellowship students can expect to pocket $50,000 a year over a three year period to pay for graduate studies and research.
The remaining $13.2 million in grants will go to 39 universities and colleges, enabling the purchase of new equipment and upgrades to research reactors. To view the list of awardees, visit this link.
“Restarting the U.S. nuclear industry is a critical part of our efforts to build a clean energy economy and create new clean energy jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, according to a Department of Energy press release. “To ensure American leadership in the global nuclear energy industry, we need a skilled workforce for years to come. This investment will give our students the support and resources they need to advance nuclear energy and keep America at the forefront of the nuclear industry.”
According to the release, the Department has provided more than $80 million in funding to U.S. universities and students through NEUP since 2008.
