U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Proposal Reviewers are needed for the NRC’s Fiscal Year 2024 Research Grants

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is looking for potential volunteers from academia who are willing to serve as technical reviewers to evaluate our FY 2024 research grant proposals.  Please submit the names of interested individuals and which subject areas (listed below) they can support the agency to Sarah.Shaffer@nrc.gov no later than March 20^th.

This year, the NRC is expected to award approximately $8-9M and anticipates there may be up to 20 grants awarded.  The NRC’s grant program provides funding to support research and development for nuclear science, engineering, technology, and related disciplines to develop a workforce capable of supporting the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials.  With your support we can ensure that grant proposals are properly evaluated and are relevant to the programmatic mission of the NRC.

At this time, we do not know how many reviewers will be needed.  We will not know until the Notice of Funding Opportunity closes (April 1^st), and the number of eligible proposals is determined (there were 77 proposals reviewed last year).  Once determined, the proposals will be binned by technical area and review panels will be organized.  For planning purposes, the estimated timeframe for the review process is approximately 3 weeks. We anticipate the reviews to start the week of April 22nd.  Reviewers will have approximately 2 weeks to review proposals (April 22 – May 3) and then another week to participate in a review panel teleconference (estimated May 6-15).  We estimate 8-10 proposals to be assigned to each review panel.

Subject Areas:

Reviewed in 2023

• Advanced Materials & Manufacturing for Nuclear Applications.
• Aging/Degradation of Nuclear Plant Systems, Structures, and Components.
• Digital Engineering/Analytics, Advanced Sensors, and Controls for Nuclear Applications (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and I&C).
• Risk Analysis, Probabilistic Risk Assessment, and External Hazards for nuclear applications.
• Fuels Analysis (Characterization of fresh and spent nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants).
• Source Term and Radiation Protection Analysis.
• Advanced technology approaches (e.g., Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning).
• Thermal Hydraulics and Neutronics Analysis.

New areas of interest for the FY24 NOFO (potential proposals could be submitted):

• Cybersecurity associated with digital instrumentation and controls, remote monitoring/control, wireless communications at high-consequence facilities.
• Application of innovative and advanced technologies for space nuclear launches.
• Additive (advanced) manufacturing for nuclear technologies.
• Activities in the areas of neutronics, thermal hydraulics, and severe accident analysis will help validate the NRC’s scientific computer codes.

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Foreign Service Fellowship for HBCU Students | Meridian International Center

The Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship for Emerging Leaders is a fully-paid enrichment and training program seeking to expand awareness and access to Foreign Service careers to students from underrepresented communities across the United States. A partnership among Meridian International Center, the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, and Community Colleges for International Development, the Foreign Service Fellowship provides undergraduate students with insight into American diplomacy while underscoring educational, internship, and career paths within the U.S. Foreign Service. The program will spotlight the vital work of Foreign Service Officers, while also teaching the critical soft skills necessary to succeed in a diplomatic career. Fellows will enhance their understanding of diplomacy and international affairs through site visits while developing their career development skills through workshops and networking opportunities.

The Fellowship draws upon the Cox Foundation’s commitment to strengthen the U.S. Foreign Service, advances CCID’s work building pathways to global careers at community colleges, and leverages Meridian’s experience developing leadership and diplomatic training for emerging leaders around the world.

The Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship for Emerging Leaders will take place in Washington, DC, from Sunday, June 23 to Saturday, June 29, 2024. Activities will include a full-day visit to the U.S. Department of State, an interactive two-day diplomatic skills training course, a diplomacy simulation, panel discussions with representatives from the broader U.S. Foreign Service apparatus, and site visits. A tour of Washington monuments and cultural activities will also be included. The fellowship will also include at least one virtual workshop prior to and following the Washington program.

For more information, view the flyer here: Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship_One-Pager