The office of nuclear energy (NE) mission is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet the united states (U.S.) energy, environmental, and economic needs

The Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy awarded The Pennsylvania State University $400,000 on August 1, 2026, under the Nuclear Energy Research, Development and Demonstration program (CFDA 81.121) to support a Phase II Continuation research project through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP).

The award funds university-based research and development activities relevant to the Office of Nuclear Energy's mission, which includes keeping existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating, deploying new nuclear reactors, securing and sustaining the nuclear fuel cycle, and expanding international nuclear energy cooperation. This Phase II Continuation award follows prior high-quality work by the team through NEUP and complements ongoing research through a competitive application and review process.

Work is performed at University Park, Pennsylvania, with a period of performance extending through July 31, 2028. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

NE has identified the following goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, and leverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation: • keep existing U.S. Nuclear reactors operating, • deploy new nuclear reactors, • secure and sustain our nuclear fuel cycle, and • expand international nuclear energy cooperation. NE conducts crosscutting nuclear energy research and development (r & d) and associated infrastructure support activities to develop innovative technologies that offer the promise of dramatically improved performance for its mission needs as stated above, while maximizing the impact of NE resources. This phase II continuation cinr FOA provides opportunities for teams that have performed high quality work through the nuclear energy university program (neup) to propose new projects that complement and enhance ongoing neup research through a competitive application and review process. This phase II continuation cinr process is executed through neup. Neup supports university-based infrastructure and r & d (including integrated research projects (IRP)) in areas relevant to the NE mission.