Definitions

In this Act: (1) Accelerated doctoral program The term accelerated doctoral program means a program offered by an institution of higher education that— (A) provides 1 or more pathways through which a student may complete a doctoral degree in a critical or emerging technology area in an accelerated timeframe that is at least 1 academic year shorter than the average timeframe ordinarily required to complete comparable doctoral programs at that institution of higher education, while maintaining applicable standards of academic excellence, research quality, accreditation, dissertation oversight, and degree completion; (B) may include an integrated baccalaureate-to-doctorate pathway that— (i) enables students participating in the program, while completing the baccalaureate degree portion of the program, to complete graduate-level coursework that— (I) may be credited toward both the baccalaureate and graduate degree requirements, consistent with applicable accreditation requirements; (II) makes a student’s progression into the doctoral degree portion of the program contingent upon successful completion of specified milestones and admission into a graduate program of study; (III) upon a participating student’s successful completion of the baccalaureate degree portion of the program and the student’s acceptance and transition into the doctoral degree portion of the program, provides funding to the student, which may be through a variety of opportunities, that covers not less than 3 years of the doctoral portion of the program; and (IV) enables a student who is not accepted into, or does not complete, the doctoral degree portion of the program to earn a baccalaureate degree or a master’s degree, based on the student’s level of completion of the program; and (ii) supports timely progression into the doctoral degree portion of the program; and (C) incorporates structured professional development for each student participating in the program that includes— (i) evidence-based research mentorship practices; (ii) career development support; (iii) opportunities for engagement and real-world experience through research rotations; and (iv) education, training, and research rotations designed to develop dual competency. (2) Critical or emerging technology area The term critical or emerging technology area means any of the following areas: (A) Advanced computing. (B) Advanced engineering materials. (C) Advanced gas turbine engine technologies. (D) Advanced and networked sensing and signature management. (E) Advanced manufacturing. (F) Artificial intelligence. (G) Biotechnologies. (H) Clean energy generation and storage. (I) Data privacy, data security, and cybersecurity technologies. (J) Directed energy. (K) Highly automated, autonomous, and uncrewed systems and robotics. (L) Human-machine interfaces. (M) Hypersonics. (N) Integrated communication and networking technologies. (O) Positioning, navigation, and timing technologies. (P) Quantum information and enabling technologies. (Q) Semiconductors and microelectronics. (R) Space technologies and systems. (S) Any additional area of study that the Secretary, based on existing Federal workforce data and after consultation with the heads of relevant Federal science and other agencies, determines— (i) is important to the national security, economic competitiveness, scientific leadership, or energy security of the United States; and (ii) has a demonstrated need for additional domestic workers with doctoral-level expertise. (3) Dual competency The term dual competency means the demonstrated competency of a student in— (A) the student’s primary science, technology, engineering, or mathematics discipline; and (B) the application of artificial intelligence, advanced computing, data science, machine learning, or related computational methods to research in that discipline. (4) Eligible student The term eligible student means an individual who is— (A) a citizen or national of the United States; or (B) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. (5) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801). (6) Participating institution The term participating institution means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) that enters into an agreement with the Secretary to participate in the Program. (7) Program The term Program means the Department of Energy Strategic Scientific Workforce Pilot Program established under section 4(a). (8) Research rotation The term research rotation means a structured research experience at a National Laboratory, Department of Energy user facility, other Federal research facility, or participating industry research facility. (9) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Under Secretary for Science.