Us Code § 18999 - Programs to address the STEM workforce
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 18999 — Programs to address the STEM workforce, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 18999. Programs to address the STEM workforce
(a) In general
The Director shall issue undergraduate scholarships, including at community colleges, graduate fellowships and traineeships, postdoctoral awards, and, as appropriate, other awards, to address STEM workforce gaps, including for programs that recruit, retain, and advance students to a bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline concurrent with a secondary school diploma, such as through existing and new partnerships with State educational agencies.
(b) Postdoctoral professional development
In carrying out this section, the Director shall encourage innovation in postdoctoral professional development, support the development and diversity of the STEM workforce, and study the impacts of such innovation and support. To do so, the Director may use postdoctoral awards established under subsection (a) or leveraged under subsection (d)(1) for fellowships or other temporary rotational postings of not more than 2 years. Such fellowships or temporary rotational postings shall be awarded—
(1) to qualified individuals who have a doctoral degree and received such degree not earlier than 5 years before the date that the fellowship or temporary rotational posting begins; and
(2) to carry out research at Federal, State, local, and Tribal government research facilities.
(c) Direct hire authority
(1) In general
The head of any Federal agency may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, a qualified candidate described in paragraph (2) directly to a position in the competitive service with the Federal agency for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards.
(2) Fellowship or temporary rotational posting
Paragraph (1) applies with respect to a former recipient of an award under this subsection who—
(A) earned a doctoral degree in a STEM field from an institution of higher education; and
(B) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the fellowship or temporary rotational posting within a Federal agency.
(3) Limitation
The direct hire authority under this subsection shall be exercised with respect to a specific qualified candidate not later than 2 years after the date that the candidate completed the requirements related to the fellowship or temporary rotational posting described under this subsection.
(d) Existing programs
In carrying out this section, the Director may leverage existing programs, including programs that issue—
(1) postdoctoral awards;
(2) graduate fellowships and traineeships, inclusive of the NSF Research Traineeships and fellowships awarded under the Graduate Research Fellowship Program;
(3) scholarships, research experiences, and internships, including—
(A) scholarships to attend community colleges; and
(B) research experiences and internships under sections 1862p–5, 1862p–6, and 1862p–7 of this title; and
(4) awards to institutions of higher education to enable the institutions to fund innovation in undergraduate and graduate education, increased educational capacity, and the development and establishment of new or specialized programs of study for graduate, undergraduate, or technical college students, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs of study.
(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title III, §10321, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1537.)
Part C—Broadening Participation
About This Section
42 U.S.C. § 18999 is part of Title 42 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 42 U.S.C. § 18999. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.