​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Innovations in Nuclear Energy Research & Development Student Competition ​​

​​​​The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) announced a new Request for Applications (RFAs) for the Innovations in Nuclear Energy Research and Development Student Competition in 2023, seeking to recognize and award published graduate and undergraduate students for innovative nuclear energy research. This program was formerly known as the Innovations in Nuclear Technology R&D.

There were four competitions. Each publication submitted was evaluated in all applicable categories. Applicants were eligible for multiple different categories and could compete in all of them but would only be eligible to be awarded one competition per year.

• Open Competition (Undergraduate and Graduate Students)
• NE expects to award up to six $3,500 first place and up to six $2,500 second place awards for the open competition.
• All submitted publication from eligible students at all universities are eligible for this competition

• Competition for Graduate Students Attending Minority Serving Institutions or Belonging to an Underserved Community
• Provides up to five $3,500 graduate awards for publications from eligible students who attend a Minority Serving Institution or who are members of an underserved community.
  

• Competition for Undergraduate Students Attending Minority Serving Institutions or Belonging to an Underserved Community
• Provides up to five first place $1,500 undergraduate awards for publications from eligible students who attend a Minority Serving Institution or are a member of an underserved community.
  

• Undergraduate Competition
• Provides up to five first place $1,500 awards for publications from eligible undergraduate students at all universities.
  

Travel and conference opportunities may accompany awards. First place award recipients in the open competition will have an opportunity to present their publication at the annual ANS Winter Meeting as well as other national meetings. Students could submit more than one publication, but no student could receive more than one award per year. 

Applications were due in March 2023. Awards were released in June 2023, and can be viewed below.

Students apply electronically. No hard copy applications will be accepted. Additional information and resources can be found on NEUP.gov under Student Resources​.    

​NE strives to ensure that it is fully committed to broadening the inclusion and contribution of those communities that have been historically underserved within its programs. Students attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), or institutions located in a disadvantaged community, are highly encouraged to apply to this RFA. Information on underserved institutions can be found at: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html#tips.

All information and instructions required to respond to this RFA are accessible at NEUP.gov.​