Earth Resources Grant Program (ERGP) Financial Assistance Awards

Facilitating research and data collection on critical mineral resources, research, education, and workforce development needs in the United States is essential for strengthening national security and accelerating continued economic and technological

The primary purpose of the Earth Resources Grant Program (ERGP) is to support undergraduate and graduate university students and new faculty in conducting integrated critical mineral education, research, innovation, training, and workforce development programs, supporting internship, scholarship, and fellowship pathways in programs related to critical minerals, and research of critical minerals and their applications, particularly concerning the manufacture of critical components for vital to national security. The EGRP will award 4-year competitive grants to advance innovative and interdisciplinary approaches and technologies for mineral resources research and workforce needs leveraging a multi-university partnership framework. Strategic investments in these research topics will help educate a new generation of geoscientists and engineers while also advancing the technical knowledge base to support the critical minerals economy in the United States, ensuring against domestic supply chain disruptions, and strengthen national security. These investments will benefit the Nation by expanding our understanding of critical minerals exploration, extraction, processing, and end-of-life recycling, as well as environmental reclamation.

Eligible applicant principal investigators can include any college or university faculty, professor, or dean within programs related to geology, economic geology, geologic engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, policy, environmental remediation, environmental science, geospatial applications, and minerals research capacity.

Research scientists, academic institutions, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the knowledge gained under the program. The academic community including PhD candidates, post-doctoral candidates, professors, and research faculty.

Pre-application coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov. All applications will be evaluated using criteria that give priority to a project's technical merit, the relevance to the USGS Earth Resources Grant Program goals and the Mineral Resources Program, and connections to other USGS activities.

Scientists within the USGS will review and evaluate all applications consistent with authorized USGS program purposes. Criteria for judging applications will include scientific excellence and relevance to the solution of important problems within the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area (GEMMA) of the USGS. Applications will be funded only to the extent permitted by available funds.

Notification of an award is by receipt of a cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer through GrantSolutions (https://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/)

Applications requested through the formal USGS Earth Resources Grant Program financial assistance solicitation for FY2026 will be accepted on a rolling basis from April 2026 through December 2026. For FY2027, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis from April 2027 through December 2027.