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The Joint Genome Institute (JGI) is a US Department of Energy (DOE) user facility for genomic science, based at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Outside researchers can use its sequencing, synthetic biology and metabolomics capabilities through competitive proposal calls. As described on the official JGI pages on 2026-11-08, there is no cost to the user and no funds are granted: JGI does the work, rather than paying the investigator. This guide explains who runs it, which calls exist, how eligibility differs between them, and what to do before work can start.
What it is and who runs it
JGI describes itself as a high-throughput, AI-centric genomic science user facility. It is located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Biosciences Area), and the University of California runs it for DOE. Its partners are Berkeley Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and the Arizona Genomics Institute. It is supported by the DOE Office of Science’s Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program; see the CASRAI guide to DOE BER for how that program is organised.
The science focus is on plants, fungi, algae, non-medical microbes and microbial communities, with data portals for genomes, metagenomes and metabolomics. JGI’s own pages give two user counts: more than 2,000 primary users per year on its About page and more than 2,500 users on its User Programs page (both read 2026-11-08). JGI is a facility you apply to for services, not a grant-making agency, which is the main point of confusion for first-time applicants. Compare this with another DOE site where researchers apply for access, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
What it funds or requires
The official proposals page states: “There is no cost to the user and no granting of funds.” DOE funding covers sequencing, synthesis, metabolomics and analysis. Three requirements apply across the calls:
- Mission fit. “All accepted proposals must serve the Department of Energy Mission Areas.”
- User Agreement. “Every approved proposal starts with a User Agreement” before any work can begin, and the user’s home institution must have a user agreement in place. JGI’s Project Management Office page provides the agreements.
- Open data. JGI states that the data it generates are publicly available, and its Community Science Program (CSP) page says analysis is performed at no cost to the user.
Because no money passes to the investigator, a JGI allocation is not a substitute for budget lines in a grant. If your project also needs salary, travel or consumables, those must be funded elsewhere; see the grants management hub for how funding sources are usually combined.
Eligibility (summary, with the official source)
Eligibility is set per call, not once for the whole facility. The table summarises the five calls listed on jgi.doe.gov/work-with-us/proposals as read on 2026-11-08. The page lists a status and deadlines for each call that change from cycle to cycle, so this guide gives no deadline dates; check the official page for the current cycle.
| Call | Who it is for (JGI wording) | Letter of Intent | Capabilities named |
|---|---|---|---|
| FICUS | Investigators with research projects that integrate the expertise and capabilities of multiple user facilities | Required; proposals must use capabilities at two or more user facilities | Multiple DOE Office of Science national user facilities |
| CSP Large Scale | Investigators with DOE mission-relevant projects that call for expansive sequencing, synthetic biology and metabolomics | Required | Sequencing, synthetic biology, metabolomics |
| CSP New Investigator | Investigators who have not been a PI on any approved proposal with the JGI | None stated on the page | Synthetic biology, sequencing, metabolomics |
| CSP Functional Genomics | Investigators interested in translating genomic information to biological function | None stated on the page | Synthetic biology, transcriptomics, DAP-seq, metabolomics |
| JGI-TMF Critical Minerals and Materials | Investigators who integrate genomics with nanoscale science in the area of critical minerals and materials | None stated on the page | Must request capabilities from both JGI and the Molecular Foundry |
Two practical readings follow from the table. First, “New Investigator” is defined by JGI history, not career stage: the wording is whether you have been a PI on an approved JGI proposal. Second, projects funded by BER special initiatives or Science Focus Areas are not eligible for BER Support Science (BERSS) support and are directed to apply through a call, per the CSP page.
JGI also lists other routes: BER Support Science, the Bioenergy Research Centers, the Emerging Technologies Opportunity Program, the Visiting Scientist Program, and an Industry Engagement Program overseen by its Partnerships Development team. Details sit on separate JGI pages.
Application and compliance steps
The official pages describe the process in outline, and this guide does not add steps they do not state:
- Choose the call whose eligibility wording matches your project, using the table above and the current call listing.
- Submit a Letter of Intent first if the call requires one (FICUS and CSP Large Scale).
- Submit the proposal in the call’s cycle. JGI links a submission FAQ and a page describing its end-to-end workflow from the proposals page.
- Put a User Agreement in place. Every approved proposal starts with one; it must exist before any work begins, and your home or employing institution must have a user agreement. The Project Management Office page provides them.
Typical timeline phases
JGI’s pages list a submission deadline and a review date for each call, but the dates change by cycle and are not reproduced here. The phases that the official pages establish, in order, are: call open; Letter of Intent (where required); proposal submission; review; approval; User Agreement; work performed by JGI; data made publicly available. JGI’s pages do not give durations for the review or sequencing stages, so any planning estimate should come from the current call page and the Project Management Office.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as a grant. No funds are granted; budget the rest of the project separately.
- Skipping the Letter of Intent for FICUS or CSP Large Scale, where proposals “must be preceded” by one.
- Applying to the wrong call. New Investigator is for people who have never been PI on an approved JGI proposal; Functional Genomics is for connecting genomic information to function.
- Leaving the User Agreement late. Approval alone does not start work.
- Proposing work outside DOE mission areas. Mission relevance is a condition for acceptance.
Related programs
| Program | Relationship to JGI | CASRAI guide |
|---|---|---|
| DOE Biological and Environmental Research (BER) | Supports JGI as a user facility within the DOE Office of Science | DOE BER |
| Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | Another DOE national laboratory with user-access routes | PNNL user guide |
FAQ
Does the Joint Genome Institute give grants?
No. The official page states there is no cost to the user and no granting of funds; JGI provides sequencing, synthesis, metabolomics and analysis for approved proposals.
Who can apply?
Eligibility depends on the call. The New Investigator call is for anyone who has not been PI on an approved JGI proposal, while FICUS requires a project that uses two or more user facilities. A home institution user agreement is required before work begins.
Is a Letter of Intent required?
For FICUS and CSP Large Scale, yes. The other calls listed on 2026-11-08 state no such requirement.
What does JGI study?
JGI’s About page lists plants, fungi, algae, non-medical microbes and microbial communities.
Where is the Joint Genome Institute?
It is at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and is run by the University of California for DOE.
Sources
- Joint Genome Institute, About Us, jgi.doe.gov/about-us, read 2026-11-08.
- Joint Genome Institute, User Programs and Resources, jgi.doe.gov/user-programs-and-resources, read 2026-11-08.
- Joint Genome Institute, Proposals, jgi.doe.gov/work-with-us/proposals, read 2026-11-08. Programs and calls change; consult the official pages for the current cycle.
