THE STEWARDSHIP SCIENCE ACADEMIC ALLIANCES (SSAA) PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2002 TO SUPPORT STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH AT U.S. ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN AREAS OF FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF RELEVANCE TO THE SSP MISSION. THE SSAA PROGRAM PROVIDES THE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A CADRE OF TRAINED SCIENTISTS AT U.S. UNIVERSITIES TO MEET THE NATION’S CURRENT AND FUTURE SSP NEEDS, WITH A FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS NOT SUPPORTED BY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. IT SUPPORTS THE DOE/NNSA’S PRIORITIES BOTH TO ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE SPECIFIC NEEDS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS AND TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL MEET THOSE NEEDS.ONLY APPLICATIONS FOR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AWARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS SOLICITATION, NO GRANT APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED. THE SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST ARE: 1. ADVANCED CHARACTERIZATION OF MATERIALS PROPERTIES UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS 2. LOW ENERGY NUCLEAR SCIENCE 3. RADIOCHEMISTRY 4. HIGH ENERGY DENSITY PHYSICS