The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science invites nominations for the 2020 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Awards, which recognizes mid-career U.S. scientists and engineers for exceptional contributions and achievements in research and development supporting the broad missions of the U.S. Department of Energy and its programs to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.

Awards will be considered in each of the following nine categories: Atomic, Molecular, and Chemical Sciences; Biological and Environmental Sciences; Computer, Information, and Knowledge Sciences; Condensed Matter and Materials Sciences; Energy Science and Innovation; Fusion and Plasma Sciences; High Energy Physics; National Security and Nonproliferation; and Nuclear Physics.

The Ernest Orlando Lawrence Awards are among the longest running and prestigious science and technology awards given by the U.S. Government and are named in honor of the 1939 Nobel Laureate in physics who helped establish the DOE laboratory system and ushered in a new era of big science and multidisciplinary research. Since the award was first conferred in 1960, more than 200 Laureates have been recognized for their promising leadership and ground-breaking scientific achievements principally funded by DOE.

Laureates receive a citation signed by the Secretary of Energy, a gold-plated medal bearing the likeness of Ernest O. Lawrence, and a $20,000 honorarium. For additional information on nomination guidelines, award category descriptions, and review process, visit the Lawrence Award website: https://science.osti.gov/lawrence 

All nomination materials and support letters for the 2020 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award must be received by Thursday, October 1, 2020, 5:00 PM ET. No materials will be accepted after the nomination deadline has passed.

Calling all applicants proposing research with vertebrate animals – check out the latest online learning module on the Vertebrate Animals Section in grant applications. This interactive module will assist applicants and offerors in preparing this section of the application, and will serve as a valuable resource for reviewers in evaluating the Vertebrate Animal Section of applications and proposals.

This engaging module takes 30 minutes or less to complete and includes:

• an overview of the requirements, 
• a checklist for applicants and reviewers,
• detailed instructions, and 
• responsibilities of applicants, reviewers, and NIH staff.

See additional resources on the humane care and use of animals in PHS supported research on NIH’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) website.

We continue to add new resources to our COVID-19: Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding webpage. We hope they are helpful in navigating this unprecedented situation. Here is a summary of what’s new since the last Nexus:

• Updated infographic describing the peer review process during COVID-19 highlights policies in effect for the upcoming round of due dates
• Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Fall 2020 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Link to new dedicated page for funding opportunities specific to COVID-19 provides visibility into expiration dates and separates active vs expired FOAs
• New section on Funded Grants provides the ability to view COVID-19 related grant funding. Explore funding further using the COVID-19 Response search filters in RePORTER (under “Additional Filters”)
• All FAQs revised to align with NIH implementation of OMB memo M-20-26
• Updated animal welfare FAQs
• Updated overview presentation and talking points, for quick summaries of flexibilities

We know it can be a challenge to track new information as it becomes available. We are noting changes to the website in the page update history, tweeting from @NIHgrants as things get posted, and we will continue to highlight new resources in the Nexus.

Hazel Barton, Biology    

Breaking Resistance: Isolating Antibiotic Adjuvants from Hyper-Competitive Cave Environments

David Bastidas, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering    

New Lean-Duplex Stainless Steel Rebars Performance under Stress Corrosion Cracking in Off-Shore Structures

Toni Bisconti, Psychology            

Identifying the Meaning of Social Support in Sexual Minority Adults

Siamak Farhad, Mechanical Engineering

Fundamental Study on Regeneration and Reusing Recycled Cathode Energy Storage Materials of Lithium-ion Batteries

David Giffels, English    

The Heart of it All: Barnstorming the Question of Ohio in a Time of Change

Janet Klein, History        

Making Minorities in the Ottoman Empire

Jin Kocsis, Electrical & Computer Engineering     

Blockchain-Powered Cooperative and Assured Learning-Enabled Situational-Awareness System for Securing Critical Infrastructures

Matthew Kolodziej, Art

Elements and Intervals: Painting Across the Digital Divide in Japan

Erin Makarius, Management     

Reputational Crisis and Collective Human Capital Flow

Rikki Patton, Counseling              

Developing a Relational Recovery Framework for Couples with a Member in Addiction Recovery using a Dyadic Qualitative Design

Zhenmeng Peng, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 

Carbon Dioxide Reduction to Dimethyl Ether as Diesel Alternative

Angela Reif, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology    

Self-regulatory Depletion in Parkinson Disease

Kwek-Tze Tan, Mechanical Engineering 

Unique Control and Manipulation of Acoustic Wave using Phononic Lieb Lattice

Mary Triece, Communication    

The Cultural Origins of Debates Over Race Equality