Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§16532 Nuclear Science Talent Expansion Program for Institutions of Higher Education

Title 42 › Chapter 149— NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY AND PROGRAMS › Subchapter XVII— PROTECTING AMERICA’S COMPETITIVE EDGE THROUGH ENERGY › § 16532

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a program to grow and improve college and university nuclear science education. Its goals are to stop the drop in programs and resources and to increase the number of graduates in nuclear fields to help U.S. competitiveness and energy security. It covers five areas: nuclear science, nuclear engineering, nuclear chemistry, radiochemistry, and health physics. The Secretary must give up to 3 competitive grants each year for new degree programs and up to 5 competitive grants each year for existing programs. Grants for new programs can last up to 5 years and may provide up to $1,000,000 per year. Priority is given to proposals that partner with a National Laboratory or other eligible nuclear partner. New-program funds can be used to hire faculty, build courses, support research collaboration, and recruit students. Grants for existing programs can last up to 5 years and may provide up to $500,000 per year. Those funds must aim to increase the number and quality of graduates entering nuclear careers and can be used for advanced teaching, industry and lab partnerships, sustaining research or training reactors and labs, and student tuition assistance or stipends. Authorized funding for new-program grants: $3,500,000 (FY2008), $6,500,000 (FY2009), $9,500,000 (FY2010), $9,800,000 (FY2011), $10,100,000 (FY2012), $10,400,000 (FY2013). Authorized funding for existing-program grants: $3,000,000 (FY2008), $5,500,000 (FY2009), $8,000,000 (FY2010), $8,240,000 (FY2011), $8,500,000 (FY2012), $8,750,000 (FY2013).

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §16532

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The purposes of this section are—
(1)to address the decline in the number of and resources available to nuclear science programs at institutions of higher education; and
(2)to increase the number of graduates with degrees in nuclear science, an area of strategic importance to the economic competitiveness and energy security of the United States.
(b)In this section, the term “nuclear science” includes—
(1)nuclear science;
(2)nuclear engineering;
(3)nuclear chemistry;
(4)radio chemistry; and
(5)health physics.
(c)The Secretary shall establish, in accordance with this section, a program to expand and enhance institution of higher education nuclear science educational capabilities.
(d)(1)The Secretary shall award up to 3 competitive grants for each fiscal year to institutions of higher education that establish new academic degree programs in nuclear science.
(2)In evaluating grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to proposals that involve partnerships with a National Laboratory or other eligible nuclear-related entity, as determined by the Secretary.
(3)Criteria for a grant awarded under this subsection shall be based on—
(A)the potential to attract new students to the program;
(B)academic rigor; and
(C)the ability to offer hands-on learning opportunities.
(4)(A)A grant under this subsection may be up to 5 years in duration.
(B)An institution of higher education that receives a grant under this subsection shall be eligible for up to $1,000,000 for each year of the grant period.
(5)An institution of higher education that receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant to—
(A)recruit and retain new faculty;
(B)develop core and specialized course content;
(C)encourage collaboration between faculty and researchers in the nuclear science field; and
(D)support outreach efforts to recruit students.
(e)(1)The Secretary shall award up to 5 competitive grants for each fiscal year to institutions of higher education with existing academic degree programs that produce graduates in nuclear science.
(2)Criteria for a grant awarded under this subsection shall be based on the potential for increasing the number and academic quality of graduates in the nuclear sciences who enter into careers in nuclear-related fields.
(3)(A)A grant under this subsection may be up to 5 years in duration.
(B)An institution of higher education that receives a grant under this subsection shall be eligible for up to $500,000 for each year of the grant period.
(4)An institution of higher education that receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant to—
(A)increase the number of graduates in nuclear science that enter into careers in the nuclear science field;
(B)enhance the teaching of advanced nuclear technologies;
(C)aggressively pursue collaboration opportunities with industry and National Laboratories;
(D)bolster or sustain nuclear infrastructure and research facilities of the institution of higher education, such as research and training reactors or laboratories; and
(E)provide tuition assistance and stipends to undergraduate and graduate students.
(f)(1)There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (d)—
(A)$3,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(B)$6,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(C)$9,500,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(D)$9,800,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(E)$10,100,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
(F)$10,400,000 for fiscal year 2013.
(2)There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (e)—
(A)$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(B)$5,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(C)$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(D)$8,240,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(E)$8,500,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
(F)$8,750,000 for fiscal year 2013.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2011—Subsec. (f)(1)(D) to (F). Pub. L. 111–358, § 902(a)(1), added subpars. (D) to (F). Subsec. (f)(2)(D) to (F). Pub. L. 111–358, § 902(a)(2), added subpars. (D) to (F).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 16532

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60