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Research and Equipment Development Grade Evaluation

By Office of Science Quality and Integrity

The USGS Office of Science Quality and Integrity—in conjunction with the Office of Human Resources—is responsible for administering the USGS Research Grade Evaluation (RGE), Equipment Development Grade Evaluation (EDGE), and Senior Scientist (ST) review processes.

The November 17, 2025 Submission Date is moved to Monday, January 26, 2026

Check below for more information on putting together a package.

All schedule changes require Center Director approval. This includes all requests for reclassification, early reviews, or delayed reviews. Center Directors should communicate desired schedule additions by emailing rge-edge@usgs.gov by December 15.

Training

To accommodate a number of scientists recently added to the schedule, the RGE-EDGE Team is planning to hold one additional training session for scientists who are preparing to submit for the January 26th submission deadline. The slides that will be covered are linked below.

RGE-EDGE RSR-DSR Training Slides
ANNOUNCEMENTS

► Updates to the RGE-EDGE Schedule (updated December 19, 2025)

November 2025 Submission Cycle: The previous November 17, 2025 submission date has been moved to Monday, January 26, 2026. 
The Intent to Submit date for this cycle was December 15, 2025. No additions will be made.

Future Submission Dates:

  • The May 15 submission date has been moved to June 15
  • The November 15 submission date has been moved to December 15.
  • The “Intent to Submit” deadlines are one month prior to the new submission dates, on May 15 and November 15, respectively.
  • When these dates fall on a weekend, they will be extended to the following Monday.

May 2025 Submission Cycle: A number of panels were scheduled to take place during October and November, coinciding with the lapse of appropriations. The RGE-EDGE team has rescheduled those panels, and results will be distributed when available.

Parts of this web page and affiliated documents have not been fully updated and may still refer to the previous May and November submission dates. These will be updated once the new cycle dates are established. 

► The following policy has been adopted following inquiries regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for developing your Scientist Record. 

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for your Scientist Record. The use of generative AI must comply with existing DOI and USGS policies, including those posted to these URLs:

Following such policies, generative AI is not to be used to author research or development scientist records—USGS authorship lies with human scientists; AI systems are not authors or co-authors. Generative AI can be used as a writing improvement tool; however, human authors are responsible for the scientist record and for any modifications introduced by the use of AI tools. Scientists utilizing generative AI tools (e.g., CoPilot, ChatGPT, Grammarly) to improve grammar, clarity, and coherence of their RGE or EDGE package must critically review, revise, and approve all AI-generated suggestions to ensure accuracy and maintain the integrity of the content. Also, generative AI is not to be used to perform peer reviews.

This language has been added to the Guidance for Writing your RSR/ DSR documents below.

► Are you currently (or trying to become) an RGE-EDGE scientist and interested in serving on a panel? We are always looking for volunteers! Just e-mail RGE-EDGE@usgs.gov to let us know and we will add you to our volunteer list!

 

GENERAL INFORMATION
  • USGS Research and Equipment Development Grade Evaluation Process Handbook (in revision)

RGE:

EDGE:

ST:

 

FOR SCIENTISTS BEING REVIEWED (RGE, EDGE and ST)
  • Planning for your RGE-EDGE Submission
  • RSR/DSR Forms:
  • External Impact Statement guidance
  • Submission Information:
    • Deadlines - May 15 for summer cycle; November 15 for winter cycle. In the event that these dates fall on a weekend, deadlines will be pushed to the following Monday.
    • All schedule changes require center director approval. This includes all requests for reclassification, early reviews, or delayed reviews. Center Directors should communicate desired schedule changes by emailing rge-edge@usgs.gov at least one month before the due date - April 15 (summer cycle) or October 15 (winter cycle).
    • Submit packages to the submission email box: submit_rge-edge@usgs.gov (submissions only)
    • Direct submission questions to the RGE-EDGE email box: RGE-EDGE@usgs.gov
  • Timing of Results:
    • The RGE-EDGE Team holds approximately 15 evaluation panels a cycle. Cycles extend from late-spring into November (summer cycle) or late-fall into May (winter cycle). Individual findings will be distributed on a rolling basis as each panel is completed and panel findings are approved by Human Resources. Timing of the distribution of individual findings will depend on when the individual’s panel is scheduled; we do not disclose the panel schedule for a cycle. Results are distributed through center directors for sharing with scientists.

 

FOR PANELISTS

RGE:

EDGE:

 

TRAINING

Questions may be sent to the RGE-EDGE e-mail box: RGE-EDGE@usgs.gov

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