42 U.S.C. § 16535 — Discovery science and engineering inno-

Page 8922 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 16535 Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011. § 16535. Discovery science and engineering inno- vation institutes (a) In general The Secretary shall establish distributed, mul- tidisciplinary institutes (referred to in this sec- tion as ‘‘Institutes’’) centered at National Lab- oratories to apply fundamental science and engi- neering discoveries to technological innovations relating to— (1) the missions of the Department; and (2) the global competitiveness of the United States. (b) Topical areas The Institutes shall support scientific and en- gineering research and education activities on critical emerging technologies determined by the Secretary to be essential to global competi- tiveness, including activities relating to— (1) sustainable energy technologies; (2) multiscale materials and processes; (3) micro- and nano-engineering; (4) computational and information engineer- ing; and (5) genomics and proteomics. (c) Partnerships In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall establish partnerships between the Insti- tutes and— (1) institutions of higher education— (A) to train undergraduate and graduate science and engineering students; (B) to develop innovative undergraduate and graduate educational curricula; and (C) to conduct research within the topical areas described in subsection (b); and (2) private industry to develop innovative technologies within the topical areas de- scribed in subsection (b). (d) Grants (1) In general For each fiscal year, the Secretary may se- lect not more than 3 Institutes to receive a grant under this section. (2) Merit-based selection The selection of Institutes under paragraph (1) shall be— (A) merit-based; and (B) made through an open, competitive se- lection process. (3) Term An Institute shall receive a grant under this section for not more than 3 fiscal years. (e) Review The Secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall, by not later than 3 years after August 9, 2007— (1) review the performance of the Institutes under this section; and (2) submit to Congress and the Secretary a report describing the results of the review. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to pro- vide grants to each Institute selected under this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010. (Pub. L. 110–69, title V, § 5008, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 618.) § 16536. Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE) graduate fellowship program (a) Definition of eligible student In this section, the term ‘‘eligible student’’ means a student who attends an institution of higher education that offers a doctoral degree in a field relevant to a mission area of the Depart- ment. (b) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a graduate fel- lowship program for eligible students pursuing a doctoral degree in a mission area of the Depart- ment. (c) Selection (1) In general The Secretary shall award fellowships to eli- gible students under this section through a competitive merit review process, involving written and oral interviews, that will result in a wide distribution of awards throughout the United States, as determined by the Sec- retary. (2) Criteria The Secretary shall establish selection cri- teria for awarding fellowships under this sec- tion that require an eligible student— (A) to pursue a field of science or engineer- ing of importance to a mission area of the Department; (B) to demonstrate to the Secretary— (i) the capacity of the eligible student to understand technical topics relating to the fellowship that can be derived from the first principles of the technical topics; (ii) imagination and creativity; (iii) leadership skills in organizations or intellectual endeavors, demonstrated through awards and past experience; and (iv) excellent verbal and communication skills to explain, defend, and demonstrate an understanding of technical subjects re- lating to the fellowship; and (C) to be a citizen or legal permanent resi- dent of the United States. (d) Awards (1) Amount A fellowship awarded under this section shall— (A) provide an annual living stipend; and (B) cover— (i) graduate tuition at an institution of higher education described in subsection (a); and (ii) incidental expenses associated with curricula and research at the institution of higher education (including books, com- puters, and software). (2) Duration A fellowship awarded under this section shall be up to 3 years duration within a 5-year period.