The University Training and Research (UTR) Program has the following primary mission objectives:

• educate and train the next generation of engineers and scientists;
• support novel, early-stage research at U.S. colleges and universities;
• increase research and development opportunities for underrepresented and structurally marginalized communities; and
• ensure that students are being equipped with cutting-edge, translatable skillsets that will allow them to contribute to the U.S. workforce and greater economy over the course of a longstanding and enduring career.

The UTR Program consists of two sub-programs: University Carbon Research (UCR) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU-MSI).

University Carbon Research (UCR) Program

This sub-program provides funding to colleges and universities to support early-stage research and education into societal and human impacts of new technology development and deployment consistent with the program’s goals including Advancing Carbon Dioxide Removal, Accelerating Clean Hydrogen, Demonstrating and Deploying Point-Source Carbon Capture, and Advancing Critical Minerals (CM), Rare Earth Elements (REEs), Coal and Coal Waste to Products, and Mine Remediation. This sub-program provides a threefold benefit:

• conducting directed energy research in an innovative environment;
• expanding the research capabilities and education of students in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) and humanities disciplines; and
• developing research-based solutions to support Administration research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) and equity goals.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Serving Institutions (HBCU-MSI) Program

This sub-program supports early-stage mission-focused research and investigations and education into the societal and human impacts of new technology deployment related to the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) mission. Awards under this program are intended to maintain and upgrade the educational, training, and research capabilities of HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other MSIs in the fields of STEM and humanities with project results being used to further DOE and the Administration's commitment to equity and to advancing carbon management, critical minerals, and environmental remediation priorities.

Anticipated Areas of Interest (AOI)

If released, the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is expected to focus on the following research and development activities:

• Curriculum to Grow Carbon Management Education Capacity
• Critical Mineral Supply Chain Career Awareness Outreach Program
• Soil carbon sequestration: Establishing technical and social baselines to enable broader adoption
• Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to Advance Point Source Capture (PSC) and Train the Next Generation of Engineers (HBCU-MSI only)