Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of California, Davis received a $1.54M Project Grant award from the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science under the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049) beginning March 1, 2026 and concluding February 28, 2027. The award supports fundamental research focused on understanding and controlling electron-scale transport and density feedback control mechanisms to enhance plasma confinement and controllability on the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) facility. This research contributes to the DOE's mission as the nation's largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, specifically advancing fusion energy sciences through investigations into plasma physics phenomena.

The project leverages UC Davis's established research infrastructure and expertise in advanced scientific research to conduct hypothesis-driven investigations aligned with national energy research priorities. As a premier land-grant research institution with sustained federal contracting and grant-receiving status since 2001, UC Davis delivers the specialized technical capabilities and personnel required to conduct cutting-edge fusion energy science research. The research is conducted at the University of California, Davis campus in Davis, California, consistent with the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program's support for basic research conducted at universities and research institutions throughout the United States.