Biological and Environmental Res... | U.S. DOE Office of Science (SC)
Official websites use .gov
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
lock
) or
means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
What's New
Dear Colleague Letter
BER announces its interest in receiving applications from universities and/or national laboratories for multi-disciplinary research centers.
Starting in FY2026 (October 1st, 2025), BER will request research proposals through the
Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program
(commonly known as “Open Call”) for most of its program areas, instead of targeted Notices of Funding Opportunities. The research areas of interest for the corresponding fiscal year will be described within the BER section of the Open Call.
Visit our
Funding Opportunities page
for the latest open calls for proposals.
New Workshop Reports
Envisioning Frontiers in AI and Computing for Biological Research
(January 2026)
View All
Mission
The mission of the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program is to support transformative science and scientific user facilities to achieve a predictive understanding of complex biological, earth, and environmental systems for energy and infrastructure security, independence, and prosperity.
The program seeks to understand the biological, biogeochemical, and physical processes that span from molecular and genomics-controlled scales to the regional and global scales that govern changes in watershed dynamics, climate, and the earth system.
Starting with the genetic information encoded in organisms’ genomes, BER research seeks to discover the principles that guide the translation of the genetic code into the functional proteins and the metabolic and regulatory networks underlying the systems biology of plants and microbes as they respond to and modify their environments. This predictive understanding will enable design and reengineering of microbes and plants underpinning energy independence and a broad clean energy portfolio, including improved biofuels and bioproducts, improved carbon storage capabilities, and controlled biological transformation of materials such as nutrients and contaminants in the environment.
BER research further advances the fundamental understanding of dynamic, physical, and biogeochemical processes required to systematically develop Earth System models that integrate across the atmosphere, land masses, oceans, sea ice, and subsurface. These predictive tools and approaches are needed to inform policies and plans for ensuring the security and resilience of the Nation’s critical infrastructure and natural resources.
Latest Topical Funding Opportunity Awards
Department of Energy Announces $87 Million for AI investments
Award Selection:
December 2025
Announcement Number:
Department of Energy Announces $36 Million for Student Traineeships
Award Selection:
December 2024
Announcement Number:
DE-FOA-0003280
Department of Energy Announces $31 Million for the Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR) initiative
Award Selection:
November 2024
Announcement Number:
DE-FOA-0003207 FY 2024 Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR)
Modeling Storm Clouds Caused by Extreme Wildfires
Redesigned Hepatitis C Drug Becomes a Powerful New Treatment for COVID-19
A Standout Solvent for Today’s Biorefineries
Exploring the Potential of a Formate-Based Bioeconomy
Not Lost in Translation: Algae Show How to Make Two Proteins from One Messenger RNA
Machine Learning Reveals Genes That Help Yeasts Resist Stress
Contact Biological and Environmental Research
Address
U.S. Department of Energy
SC-33/Germantown Building
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585
Phone
Tel(301) 903-3251
Fax(301) 903-5051
Join Mailing List
Signup for the
Office of Science’s GovDelivery email service
, and check the box for the
Biological and Environmental Research Program
in your subscriber preferences.
Top
Leaving Office of Science
The link you have requested will take you to a website outside the Office of Science.
Please click the following link to continue:
Thank you for visiting our site. We hope your visit was informative and enjoyable.
sub nav