Advocacy in Action: Internet2 Submits Comments on DOE’s Genesis Mission Workforce Initiative

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

By Matt Hall, Principal Policy Advisor & Analyst

On March 4, 2026, Internet2 submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science regarding the Genesis Mission and the development of an American AI workforce. Representing the collective voice of over 300 member institutions, our response highlights the critical need for scalable collaboration infrastructure and inclusive workforce development to ensure the research and education (R&E) community can lead in AI-enabled discovery.

Key Takeaways

• Support Consortial Models: We urged the DOE to adopt collaboration models anchored by national laboratories that include structured participation from universities and industry.
• Reduce Access Barriers: We recommended standardized, secure access to research infrastructure via federated identity frameworks such as the InCommon Federation.
• Invest in Human Infrastructure: Our comments emphasize supporting the cyberinfrastructure workforce that operates the advanced computing environments that enable AI research.

Why This Matters to You

• The IT leadership community: We are advocating for federal support for the specialized technical staff who manage your campus AI clusters and infrastructure.
• The research & science community: We are advocating for seamless access to DOE datasets and computing resources, allowing you to collaborate across institutions without administrative or technical barriers.
• The public policy community: We are advocating for standardizing partnership agreements to reduce administrative burdens and relying on existing models, consortia, and cross-sector partnerships to enhance what already works and deliver faster results with greater efficiency.

The Deep Dive

Developing a skilled workforce is central to the success of the Genesis Mission. Internet2’s comments recommend that the DOE prioritize training programs that combine AI expertise with domain-specific science and engineering disciplines. Effective programs must move beyond the classroom to include hands-on training in actual research environments, internships, and collaborative projects tied to mission-driven scientific challenges.

Furthermore, large-scale AI-for-science initiatives depend on cross-sector partnerships. We encouraged the DOE to expand opportunities for researchers to access national laboratory assets through capstone projects and mission-relevant datasets. When paired with robust collaboration infrastructure, these assets can significantly accelerate progress toward national research goals.

Looking Ahead

DOE recently announced a $293 million Request for Application for the Genesis Mission. It calls for interdisciplinary teams from the National Laboratories, U.S. industry, and academia to “leverage novel AI models and frameworks to address over 20 national challenges spanning advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear energy, and quantum information science.” Phase I proposals and Phase II letters of intent are due April 28, 2026. 

Internet2 will continue engaging with the DOE and the broader R&E community to ensure that the connectivity, trust frameworks, and collaboration infrastructure needed for AI-driven science remain aligned with the needs of our members.