University Training and Research

Preparing the Next Generation To Meet Future Energy Challenges

The University Training and Research (UTR) Program supports early-stage research at U.S. colleges and universities that advances the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) mission of unleashing the full potential of America’s hydrocarbon and geothermal resources to provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy. Click here to view the webpage under the DOE Headquarters program office HGEO.

By investing in the education and training of America’s future scientists and engineers, this program highlights the key role technology plays in addressing America’s energy challenges, promotes the development of innovative and disruptive technologies, and reinforces workforce development as a part of our nation’s continued economic prosperity. The UTR Program provides the opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, broadening the impact of the HGEO’s portfolio and strengthening America’s workforce.

The UTR Program was authorized under PL 109-58, Energy Policy Act of 2005, as an extension of the University Carbon Research (UCR) program. The UCR program was incepted in 1979 under Public Law 95-224, as amended by 97-258, which provides DOE the authority to “make contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements for the conduct of basic or applied scientific research at nonprofit institutions of higher education.” The program is re-authorized and appropriated annually, most recently through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

A portion of appropriated funds are allocated for historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), or tribal colleges (TCUs) in accordance with Section 1105 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which amended the Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. § 7381). The HBCU-MSI program aims to enhance the competitiveness of HBCUs and other MSIs in hydrocarbons and geothermal energy research and to broaden participation in science, engineering, and technical management. By supporting academic research and improving competitiveness for federal R&D funding at HBCUs, the UTR Program aligns with Executive Order 14283: White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.