§16537 Distinguished Scientist Program

Summary

Creates a program to help colleges, universities, and National Laboratories hire joint "distinguished scientists" to boost science and academic excellence. The Secretary must run the program. Candidates must be people who bring international recognition to the hiring school or lab. People are picked by an open, competitive process. If a college or university hires one, the job must use the school’s tenure slot and be at least a professor. If a National Laboratory hires one, the job must be at the lab’s top distinguished scientist or technical staff level. Appointments last 6 years made up of two 3-year funding periods. Money can pay the scientist’s salary and support staff, student and post‑doc positions, research equipment, travel, and other needs the Secretary decides are necessary. After the first 3 years there must be an open peer review, and funding for the final 3 years depends on that review. The hiring school must pay at least 50 percent of the total cost. Authorized funding: $15,000,000 for FY2008; $20,000,000 for FY2009; $30,000,000 for FY2010; $31,000,000 for FY2011; $32,000,000 for FY2012; and $33,000,000 for FY2013.