Workforce Development in Emerging Fields

Description

The purposes of this modification are to: 1. Update Section III. Eligibility Information on Page 10, to include a definition of elements that must be present in qualifying existing joint graduate education program; and, 2. Update Section IV.B.iii. DOE National Laboratory Commitment Letter, on Page 24. All other sections of the FOA remain unchanged. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is issuing Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002283 entitled “Workforce Development in Emerging Fields.” Workforce development in emerging technical fields is a critical issue for the United States. The Federal government has a key role to play in helping develop models and frameworks to provide interdisciplinary depth and to speed the training in important fields. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) roadmap, “Charting a Course for Success: American’s Strategy for STEM Education,” points to four pathways representing a cross-cutting set of approaches to accomplish science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education goals, among which is the preparation of the STEM workforce for the future: • Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships • Engage Students where Disciplines Converge • Build Computations Literacy • Operate with Transparency and Accountability The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in particular is interested in these issues as they pertain to relevant training for emerging technologies in the renewable power, sustainable transportation, and energy efficiency sectors, along with the fundamental science and engineering that feed into them. Many students and recent graduates lack accurate knowledge about careers relevant to these technology sectors, how to gain relevant skills for employment, or the positive impacts these jobs have on quality of life. A cutting-edge joint program can help fill this gap. This FOA seeks to fund a land-grant university to pursue leading-edge interdisciplinary research that promotes workforce development in emerging fields within EERE-related disciplines and technologies, by supporting a coordinated expansion of existing joint graduate education programs with DOE National Laboratories to prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers. The full Funding Opportunity Announcement is posted on the EERE Exchange website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Applications must be submitted through the EERE Exchange website to be considered for award. The applicant must first register and create an account on the EERE Exchange website. The Users' guide for applying to Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Funding Opportunity Announcements through the Exchange website can be found at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Manuals.aspx. For questions and answers pertaining to this FOA, please reference the DE-FOA-0002283 Workforce Development 2020 FAQ Log at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. EERE Exchange is designed to enforce the deadlines specified in this FOA. The “Apply” and “Submit” buttons will automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. Should applicants experience problems with EERE Exchange, the following information may be helpful. Applicants that experience issues with submission PRIOR to the FOA deadline: In the event that an applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the applicant should contact the EERE Exchange helpdesk for assistance (EERE- ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov). The EERE Exchange helpdesk and/or the EERE Exchange system administrators will assist applicants in resolving issues. Applicants that experience issues with submissions that result in late submissions: In the event that an applicant experiences technical difficulties so severe that they are unable to submit their application by the deadline, the applicant should contact the EERE Exchange helpdesk for assistance (EERE-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov). The EERE Exchange helpdesk and/or the EERE Exchange system administrators will assist the applicant in resolving all issues (including finalizing submission on behalf of and with the applicant’s concurrence). Please note, network traffic is at its heaviest during the final hours and minutes prior to submittal deadline. Applicants who experience this during the final hours or minutes and are unsuccessful in uploading documents will not be able to use this process.

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