August 12, 2026

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is launching an initiative to produce a new class of open-weight foundation models designed specifically to accelerate scientific discovery as part of DOE’s broader Genesis Mission, and is requesting input from potential contributors from commercial, academic, and research institutions. These Genesis models aim to provide researchers, National Laboratories, industry partners, and the broader open science community with powerful, transparent, and extensible AI models that can be adapted to a wide range of scientific domains and use cases. The first model in this class will be Genesis-Science-1, developed in partnership with Arcee. 

By releasing models with open-weights, DOE seeks to galvanize the scientific and AI communities around shared infrastructure for science: enabling new workflows in materials discovery, energy systems, earth system modeling, fusion, biology, high-energy physics, and beyond. This effort is grounded in the principles of open science, reproducibility, and responsible AI, with the goal of lowering barriers to advanced AI capabilities for the public good. 

As part of this initiative, DOE is collecting information from interested participants who would like to contribute to and benefit from this new ecosystem: 

If you or your organization are interested in participating, either by contributing models and data, co-developing evaluations and benchmarks, or collaborating on fine-tuning and application deployments, please visit the Genesis Mission US Open Models Initiative website for more information.

Applications for the first contribution window for pretraining efforts close on August 14, 2026, and for fine-training efforts on August 25, 2026. Additional deadlines will be rolling and are expected every three months.

Kansas State University’s Graduate School, the Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research, and the Office of Research Development are hosting an information session on the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) via zoom at 3:30 p.m. on September 3, 2026.  Both students and their mentors/major professors are invited.  This fellowship supports outstanding graduate students, in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, who are pursuing research-based Master’s or PhD degrees. Note to apply for a GRFP fellowship you must be a U.S. citizen.

The information session will start with an in-depth look at the requirements for an NSF GFRP submission. This presentation will be followed by a panel of student awardees and faculty members who have served on review panels for this program. They will discuss tips and provide advice that you will not find in this program’s Request for Proposals. If you are serious about submitting to this program, this is a session you should not miss.

Please register here for this session.

One of the key components of an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) proposal is the personal statement. Beth Powers, Director of K-State’s Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research, will lead a Writing Workshop that will give you a chance to test run your NSF GRFP personal statement. Your draft must be submitted to Beth Powers (bethpowers@ksu.edu) by noon on Friday, September 18. Each attendee will be assigned to review one peer’s application using a rubric provided. You will then lead feedback on that application. Beth will read all applications and facilitate a conversation where feedback is given to each person, and everyone gets a chance to learn from their own and others’ feedback.

This session will be held on September 21 from 3:30-5pm. This session will be held via Zoom only. NOTE: To participate you MUST submit an essay by noon Friday the 18th.

Please register here.

August 18-19

This free, in-person workshop develops fundamental data skills needed to conduct research. Its target audience is researchers who have little to no prior computational experience, and its lessons are domain-specific, building on learners' existing knowledge to enable them to quickly apply skills to their own research. Participants will be encouraged to help one another and to apply what they have learned to their own research problems. 

Explore the workshop webpage to learn more about the content covered each day and register online to participate.

Questions? Contact Gwendolyn Sibley at grsibley@ksu.edu.

September 2, 2026 | 12 to 5 p.m.
K-State Olathe Campus

The Secure Energy Initiative's Technical Interchange Meeting will bring together external stakeholders and the K-State community to connect with partners, explore opportunities for collaboration and develop innovative approaches to ensure energy affordability, accessibility, reliability and resilience in Kansas and the surrounding region. 

Benefits for industry and community stakeholders:

Benefits for K-State faculty:

Presenting a poster is required to submit a proposal for SEI seed funding, and only K-State personnel are eligible. Registration for attendance and abstract consideration is required by August 20.

Email Amir Bahadori (bahadori@ksu.edu) for questions on technical topics, or Brooke Speake (kcprofdev@ksu.edu) for more details about registration.

Registration for this free event is required by August 26. Additional information and registration can be found on the K-State Olathe website.

NSF webinars & office hours:

Join the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) for a one-hour virtual information session designed for fellowship advisors supporting applicants through the NSF GRFP application process.

During the session, Program staff will share effective strategies, resources, and best practices to help guide prospective applicants. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the Fellowship Program.

Choose one of the sessions below and register today:

Friday, August 14 at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, August 19 at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, August 19 at 2 p.m.

NSF has made a critical investment in a new model for STEM doctoral education. The UIDP Industry-Integrated PhD (I-PhD) Scholars Program, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate (TIP), is a jointly funded model through which universities, industry, and organizations co-invest in STEM doctoral training. The UIDP I-PhD Scholars Program is a national pilot designed to integrate sustained industry research experiences into rigorous, dissertation-based doctoral education.

View this August 3 session to learn more about the program. This session explained how your organization can get involved in an emerging national initiative to strengthen and modernize STEM PhD training. The webinar included an overview of the program’s goals, structure, design, and pilot launch timeline, as well as opportunities for universities and companies to participate. Speakers discussed the anticipated selection process and answered questions from prospective participants. Whether you educate, employ, fund, mentor, or support STEM doctoral talent, this webinar will help you understand where your organization fits within the I-PhD Scholars model. 

Join us for the latest information on the UIDP Industry-Integrated PhD (I-PhD) Scholars Program on September 3, 2026.

Since its launch, the innovative project has generated significant interest from universities, industry, and other organizations committed to strengthening STEM doctoral education. This webinar will cover next steps as the national pilot forms the inaugural cohort of university-industry partnerships.

The UIDP I-PhD Scholars Program, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate (TIP), is a jointly funded model through which universities, industry and organizations co-invest in STEM doctoral training. The program is designed to integrate sustained industry research experiences into rigorous, dissertation-based doctoral education. Universities and companies interested in joining can learn more and submit an application through the program website.

This informational webinar includes an opportunity for Q&A with the speaker. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required.

The Common Fund supports bold scientific programs that catalyze discovery across all biomedical and behavioral research. These programs bring together investigators and multiple NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICOs) to collaborate on innovative research. Common Fund programs are expected to address high-priority challenges for NIH as a whole and make a broader impact on the scientific community. 

The NIH requests ideas for biomedical and behavioral research challenges and opportunities that may be of interest to the Common Fund. These ideas may inform activities to advance areas of science relevant to these challenges/opportunities, including, but not limited to, scientific workshops, pilot initiatives, and/or future Common Fund programs.

NIH encourages idea submissions that may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• A critical challenge or exciting emerging opportunity in biomedical/behavioral research
• Resources, tools, or knowledge that are needed to address the important challenge or opportunity
• Scientific advancements or other factors that make addressing the important challenge or opportunity particularly timely
• Critical challenges that small labs or research groups face with respect to funding, contracting, or navigating the regulatory landscape
• Priorities from "Advancing NIH's Mission Through a Unified Strategy" and "Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy."

Submissions are due September 19, 2026. 

View the full announcement for additional information.