Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards

ORAU Invests in the Future of Science Through Faculty Awards Program

The Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards provide seed money for research by junior faculty at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) member institutions. These awards are intended to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty and result in new funding opportunities.

2009 Powe Award Winners

For the 2009-10 academic year, the Powe Award Committee received 118 applications and awarded 30 grants. Please see the complete list of winners for the 2009 Powe Awards program.

How to Apply

Junior faculty members will submit their completed applications to their institution’s ORAU Councilor. The ORAU Councilor will transmit the institutional submission to ORAU.

• Instructions for Applicants
  Detailed instructions for junior faculty who wish to apply for the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards.
• Instructions for ORAU Member Councilors
  Detailed instructions for councilors at member institutions.

Deadlines

All applications must be received electronically in the University Partnerships Office by close of business on February 6, 2009. Fax submittals will not be accepted. Applications will be reviewed in March/April, and awards will be announced in late May.

Eligibility 

Full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their initial tenure track appointment (2/6/2007 through 2/6/2009) at the time of application are eligible. If there is a question on eligibility, the ORAU Councilor makes the final decision.

Technical Areas

The research project must be in one of the following five disciplines:

• Engineering and Applied Science
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics/Computer Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Policy, Management, or Education

Number of Submissions

Each ORAU member councilor may submit up to two applications each year.

Funding

Funding is provided exclusively from non-federal monies by ORAU and as such is limited only by the terms of the agreement between ORAU and the recipient. The award amount provided by ORAU is $5,000. The applicant’s institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. This is a one-year grant (June 1 to May 31).

This award can include funds for faculty summer salary, graduate student salary, travel, equipment, or other assistance relevant to the faculty’s research. ORAU does not allow overhead charges or indirect costs on the award from ORAU or the university match.

Research Collaborations

Applicants are encouraged to develop research collaborations with government, private-sector, and other academic researchers. Such alliances enrich and extend not only the reach of your efforts, but the nation's research enterprise, overall.

Because of the close working relationship with ORAU, the Policy Committee particularly emphasizes interactions with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Thus, substantive interdisciplinary research and inter-institutional research partnerships will be considered as very positive factors in the review process, and will increase chances for success.

Diverse Participant Population

ORAU is committed to the promotion of underrepresented groups in science and engineering.

Selection Process

Application reviews will be coordinated by ORAU councilors and conducted by scholars with expertise in the discipline of the application. Each application will receive three independent reviews. Final selection of awardees will be made by the ORAU Policy Committee.

Reporting

A final one- to two-page report must be submitted within one year of receipt of the award.