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National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program Nuclear Forensics Research Award ((NNFEDP NFRA)
97.130
The objectives of this program are: (1) to provide a stable foundation from which to develop and maintain the nuclear forensics workforce; (2) to provide an academic pathway from undergraduate to post-doctorate study in disciplines directly relevant to nuclear forensics, including but not limited to radiochemistry, geochemistry, nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, materials science, and analytical chemistry; and (3) to increase a diverse and highly talented cadre of new and emerging forensics experts who will fill specific expertise gaps in the area of nuclear forensics, an important homeland security mission. These objectives are aligned with the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act, P.L.111-140, reaffirmed in Sections 1923(a)(12) and 1926 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-296 (codified as amended at 6 U.S.C. §§ 592(a)(12), 596). The following goals have been established to meet these objectives: • Recruit and produce a new generation of leaders and technical experts in a wide range of fields relevant to nuclear forensics. • Enhance the ability for universities and the national and defense laboratories to work collaboratively on advanced research in the nuclear forensics field. • Implement nuclear forensics research awards to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to perform forensic-related research in collaboration with academic professors and researchers at the national laboratories. These awards promote research that advances nuclear forensics methods, such as detection, characterization of materials, and analysis of signatures, while encouraging universities to invest in these types of programs, and feed students into post-doctoral/permanent staff positions in nuclear forensics at the national laboratories or federal agencies.
This chart shows obligations for the program by fiscal year. All data for this chart was provided by the
administering agency and sourced from SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and Treasury.gov.
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• Facilitate collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories. • Manage day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program, Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program, Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Award Program, Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program, and Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution Collaboration Award Program. Specifically: o Award five new Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarships o Award 14 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships o Award four Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Awards o Award one Nuclear Forensics Education Award • Award one Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution Collaboration Award • Facilitate collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories. • Manage day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarship Program, Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program, Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Award Program, Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program, and Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution Collaboration Award Program. Specifically: o Award five new Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Scholarships o Award 18 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships o Award four Nuclear Forensics Junior Faculty Awards o Award four Nuclear Forensics Education Award o Award one Nuclear Forensics Minority Serving Institution Collaboration Award
Award 3 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships.
• Facilitate collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories. • Manage day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program and award four Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships.
• Facilitate collaboration and integration among academic programs, universities, and national laboratories. • Manage day-to-day administration of the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program. 0 Award 2 Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowships.
In 2008, DHS established the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program (NFGFP) to provide fellowships to graduate students pursuing graduate degrees in nuclear, geochemical, and other disciplines directly relevant to nuclear forensics. This program aimed to develop the next generation of qualified scientists to meet U.S. Government needs for nuclear forensics expertise and to build a student career path in nuclear forensics. Forty-five students participated in the NFGFP, with 40 receiving doctoral degrees. This program closed in Spring, 2021.
NNFEDP established the Nuclear Forensice Research Awards program in 2018. Two NFRAs remain active through FY 2021.
The National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program continued sponsorship of two Nuclear Forensics Research Awards (NFRAs). The firse NFRA developed sensitive mass spectrometry instrumentation for ultra-high-resolution elemental and isotopic analysis of nuclear materials. This NFRA supported 1 graduate student and 2 undergraduate students, in addition to one faculty memer.
The second NFRA continued to collect and analyze y-y coincidence spectra of fission and actinide products resulting from fission-spectrum neutron induced fission of 235U, 238U, and 239Pu. Two graduate students and one undergraduate were funded on the project and trained by university professors and laboratory scientists in the field of material analysis for nuclear forensics. Additionally, the academic partner hosted a summer research program for underrepresented students to get hand-on experience with the tools used in radiation detection for nuclear security.
Sponsorship of two Nuclear Forensics Research Awards that provide academic support to undergraduate and graduate students and sponsor research that furthers the body of knowledge in nuclear forensics.
The National Nuclear Forensics Expertise Development Program continued sponsorship of two Nuclear Forensics Research Awards (NFRAs). The first NFRA developed sensitive mass spectrometry instrumentation for ultra-high-resolution elemental and isotopic analysis of nuclear materials. This NFRA supported 1 graduate student and 2 undergraduate students, in addition to one faculty member.
The second NFRA continued to collect and analyze γ-γ coincidence spectra of fission and actinide products resulting from fission-spectrum neutron induced fission of 235U, 238U, and 239Pu. Two graduate students and one undergraduate were funded on the project and trained by university professors and laboratory scientists in the field of material analysis for nuclear forensics. Additionally, the academic partner hosted a summer research program for underrepresented students to get hands-on experience with the tools used in radiation detection for nuclear security.
Sponsorship of Three Nuclear Forensics Research Awards that provide academic support to undergraduate and graduate students and sponsor research that furthers the body of knowledge in nuclear forensics. Each NFRA sponsors two graduate fellows, two undergraduate students and provides funding for PI/Faculty members.
Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):
For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.
OMB is working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency offices of inspectors general to include links to relevant oversight reports. This section will be updated once this information is made available.
