Our Mission

DOE’s Office of Science has a mission to deliver scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. We are the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences and are a major supporter of research in such key scientific fields as physics, materials science, computing, and chemistry. We are also the lead federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research related to energy.

To keep America in the forefront of discovery and innovation, we sponsor research at hundreds of universities, national laboratories, and other institutions across the country. We also build and maintain a vitally important array of large-scale scientific facilities at the DOE national laboratories, which are used by thousands of researchers every year.

About the Office of Science

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science is the nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, the steward of 10 DOE national laboratories, and the lead federal agency supporting fundamental research for energy production and security. Our job is to keep America at the forefront of discovery. This video is an overview of the Office of Science’s mission, people, and resources.
Video courtesy of DOE's Office of Science

Science Headlines

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10 Researchers Receive Argonne Postdoctoral Performance Awards
A group of early-career scientists received awards for their accomplishments driving U.S. prosperity and security.
Barcoding Bacteriophages: New Method Could Unleash Powerful Biotechnology Applications
A rapid gene labeling or characterization scheme for bacteriophages can quickly identify and track different phages in diverse settings.
Argonne, Sandia Scientists Create Qubits Using Precision Tools of Nanotechnology
With support from Q-NEXT quantum center, scientists leverage nanoscale-research facilities to conduct precision studies of qubits in silicon carbide.
ORNL at CES: A Week of Pitches, Presentations and Conversations
Technology Transfer staff from DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory attended the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, in Las Vegas, Jan. 8–12.

University and Stakeholder News

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Researcher Wins $366K Grant to Study Environmental Influences on Southeastern Clouds and Storms
Sean Freeman, a researcher at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, has been awarded a $366,000 Department of Energy grant.
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Researchers Working to Develop Next-Generation Polymer Membranes for Sustainable Materials Science
Michele Galizia is leading a research team that will develop improved polymer membranes to advance molecular separation and related materials science.
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Seeing Cancer’s Spread Through a Computational Window
A computational model allows researchers to simulate cellular-scale interactions across unprecedented distances in the human vasculature.
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Department of Energy Grant Funds Research by Chico State and Others to Develop New Battery Tech
A three-year, $2.25 million grant from DOE will fund a collaborative research project to maximize the storage capacity of low-cost batteries.
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Recently Featured Articles

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Science Highlights

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Dept. of Energy Office of Science delivers scientific discoveries, tools for the nation via programs in Advanced Scientific Computing Research; Basic Energy Sciences; Biological & Environmental Research; Fusion Energy Sciences; High Energy Physics; Nuclear Physics. Also supports Accelerator Research; Isotope Research; Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer; 5 national quantum centers; 2 energy innovation hubs. Stewards 10 DOE national labs. 100-plus Nobel Prizes, $8.1 billion budget.

The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Image courtesy of the Department of Energy Office of Science