Research Grants

• Candidates are expected to be interested in pursuing or currently studying the DE technology areas of high energy lasers, high power microwaves, pulsed lasers or counters to directed energy.
• Students applying for this award must be U.S. citizens.
• The applicant and their advisor must not have received international or foreign funding within the past ten years.
• The award term is one year. Current Scholars may reapply for support in subsequent years; however, they will be evaluated on equal footing with all other applicants. The requirement that applicants have at least one year remaining before degree completion is waived for current Scholars who reapply. If an award is granted to a current Scholar who will graduate before May 2028, the award amount will be proportionately reduced.

The graduate research grant program typically offers partial awards up to $10,000 per school year. The number of research grants and amounts awarded depend on available funding, which is provided by a grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

DEPS will carry out a due diligence process for all individual persons applying for a DEPS graduate research grant.

To apply for this research grant, please email the following individual items to the EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Should you choose to mail your application, please send the below to the DEPS Research Grant Program, Directed Energy Professional Society, 7770 Jefferson Street NE, Suite 440, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.

DEPS GRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION

• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work, sent directly from the school to DEPS (see note below)
• Letter of interest outlining your current academic status and describing your specific interest in a directed energy technology (typically 1–2 pages).
• A statement of proposed research that discusses your current research focus as well as its projected outcomes (min. 1 page, maximum 10 pages. The more details the better!)
• A letter of reference from a potential or current graduate research advisor including an assessment of the student's potential and description of facilities to be employed for the research. (This should be a signed letter, on University/company letterhead and may be submitted digitally if sent directly from the reference.)

Note: Returning applicants need only submit transcripts that have changed since their last application. For example, a second year graduate student does not need to resend undergraduate transcripts.

Subject to funding, 27–28 awards are expected to open late April 2027. Applications will be reviewed by the DEPS Board of Scientific and Engineering Advisors (BSEA) for potential award. The awards will be announced during the summer after applications are due. Typically end of July, first week of August.

• A complimentary DEPS membership (one year). If you haven't already, create a DEPS USER ACCOUNT
• Exposure on the DEPS website and in the WAVEFRONT NEWSLETTER via the DE Scholar Spotlight
• Unique networking opportunities to meet your peers and share your research
• Automatic enrollment in the Mentor Match program
• Your name added to our list of grant recipients.
• And more!

Please note, funds are intended to be used toward tuition, travel costs associated with the DE Student Workshop, and/or any other educational materials.

DE SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT

Scholars are highlighted in a segment of the WaveFront Newsletter called the DE Scholar Spotlight. Students will be featured to gain additional exposure within the Directed Energy community. DEPS scholars have received job opportunities from these spotlights.

Students will be asked to provide a brief bio (1-4 paragraphs) that includes:

• the focus of your current research
• future aspirations
• other general interests/hobbies
• expected graduate date
• alternate email address
• and a recent photo.

• DE Graduate Scholar are highly encouraged to present your current research at a Student Workshop that is held in conjunction with our DE Annual Science & Technology Symposium. The date and location of this event will be confirmed and provided as soon as available (typically in the Spring).
• Additional requirements of the award include participation at a virtual mid-year check-in. This will be an additional connection opportunity for scholars and mentors in the Dec/Jan timeframe. It will be a virtual meeting where scholars will give informal, 5-10-minute presentations on their research. You will be required to submit a PDF version of these slides the day of the check-in. When presenting on the research you are being funded for in any forum, please acknowledge/properly attribute to DEPS and ONR.
• Response to scholar close-out questions at the conclusion of the academic year

*Should you be unable to attend and present at the DE Student Workshop, you are still required to provide DEPS with a PowerPoint presentation discussing your research.

If you have any questions, please contact the EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR