Matching funds boost awards to over $1 million, supporting 30 projects at Jefferson Lab
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jefferson Science Associates, LLC, (JSA) has announced a $500,000 investment in the future of science through its JSA Initiatives Fund Program. This year's awards, totaling over $1 million when combined with matching funds, will support 30 projects proposed by staff and scientific users at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.
Jefferson Lab is a world-leading nuclear physics research facility in Newport News, Virginia. More than 1,850 scientists from around the world use the lab’s unique particle accelerator to conduct experiments to expand our understanding of the visible universe.
The JSA Initiatives Fund Program fosters a vibrant research environment through diverse initiatives that support the lab’s mission, including:
- Graduate and undergraduate fellowships: Providing hands-on research experience and mentorship for the next generation of scientists.
- Scientific meeting support: Facilitating the exchange of ideas and collaboration among researchers at conferences and workshops.
- Education and career development: Equipping students and early-career scientists with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the scientific workforce.
- STEM activities: Inspiring future generations of scientists through outreach programs and educational initiatives.
- Student prizes and awards: Recognizing and encouraging outstanding research achievements among young scientists.
JSA, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA), manages and operates Jefferson Lab for DOE’s Office of Science, primarily through its Office of Nuclear Physics. The JSA Initiatives Fund Program is a collaborative, annual funding, so that Jefferson Lab and its scientific users may engage more effectively in educational, scientific, technical and outreach activities.
JSA Board Chair and SURA President & CEO Sean Hearne said, “The JSA Initiatives Fund Program provides unique opportunities for Jefferson Lab and its user communities to participate in projects and activities that further the education, development, and training of the scientific leaders of the future. Over 260 graduate fellowships have been awarded to students doing their research at Jefferson Lab. Working alongside their advisors and lab mentors, these students gain the hands-on training and development needed as they enter the scientific workforce.”
Over two-thirds of the program’s awards directly support the Jefferson Lab Users Organization (JLUO), a community of scientific users who conduct their research at the lab. This includes funding for the annual JLUO meeting, where researchers showcase their work and compete for prestigious poster prizes, thesis awards and postdoc research grants.
"JSA's support fosters scientific collaboration and knowledge sharing, creating invaluable opportunities for our scientific community," said Jefferson Lab Director Stuart Henderson. "Students and young scientists participate in cutting-edge research, build professional networks, and contribute to the development of future scientific breakthroughs."
The program is managed and administered by SURA. Funding decisions are made by individuals from SURA, JSA, Jefferson Lab and the Jefferson Lab scientific user community.
Contact: Elizabeth Lawson, SURA, 202-408-2410, elawson@sura.org