In the United States, up to $85 million in federal stimulus funds is up for grabs by early-career researchers at academic institutions and Department of Energy national labs. US energy secretary Steven Chu announced the awards, to be made in early 2010, in mid-July. They will support at least 50 researchers for five years apiece.

Eligible researchers must be tenure-track assistant professors who have earned a PhD within the past 10 years. Each university award will be for at least $150,000 per year, and the national lab awards will be for at least $500,000 per year. Research topics are limited to scientific computing research; biological and environmental research; basic-energy sciences; fusion-energy sciences; high-energy physics; and nuclear physics.