THE SSAA PROGRAM PROVIDES THE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A CADRE OF TRAINED SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS 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. THE OFFICE OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS ANNOUNCE THEIR INTEREST IN RECEIVING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW OR RENEWAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS FOR RESEARCH GRANTS IN THE SSAA PROGRAM. RESEARCHERS SEEKING RENEWALS OF THEIR CURRENT SSAA GRANT SHOULD APPLY TO THIS NOFO. THE RESEARCH AREAS OF INTEREST IN THE SSAA PROGRAM FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ARE PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS AND MATERIAL PROCESSING, LOW ENERGY NUCLEAR SCIENCE, AND RADIOCHEMISTRY.