The U.S. Department of Energy announced this week that 91 early-career scientists in 26 states, including New Mexico, are receiving funding through the Early Career Research Program.

This program provided a total of $138 million to fund research on a wide array of topics including artificial intelligence and fusion energy.

“Investing in cutting edge research and science is a cornerstone of DOE’s mission and essential to maintaining America’s role as a global innovation leader,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in a press release announcing the funding. “The Biden-Harris Administration is funding scientists and researchers at our nation’s national labs and universities, early in their careers, ensuring they have the resources to expand scientific discovery and pursue solutions to some of the most complex questions.”

The ECRP began in 2010 and, since its inception, has awarded 961 scientists with funding to pursue research. Eligible recipients include untenured researchers, tenure-track assistant or associate professors at U.S. colleges and universities and full-time employees at DOE national laboratories or an Office of Science user facility who received a PhD within the last 12 years.

The researchers from New Mexico who received 2024 ECRP funding include:

• Gianluca Geraci, a principal member of the technical staff in the Optimization and Uncertainty Quantification Department at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque 
• Keegan Kelly, a research scientist in Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Physics Division in Los Alamos
• Daniel O’Malley, a scientist in Los Alamos’ Earth and Environmental Sciences Division
• Alex J. Rinehart, an associate professor in New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technologies’ Earth and Environmental Sciences Department In Socorro
• Mitchell A. Wood, a principal member of the technical staff in the Center for Computing Research at Sandia National Laboratories

The DOE used a peer-review process conducted by outside scientific experts to determine awardees. Details about the final grant, including how much money the researchers will receive, are subject to final grant and contract negotiations.