Postdocs – Funding Opportunities

AAAS

Science and Technology Policy Fellowships – The AAAS program provides scientists (with a PhD in a scientific discipline or terminal Masters in an engineering discipline) the opportunity to have an immersive experience in areas of science policy. The fellowships provide one year of support to work with a federal agency (executive and legislative branches) to address policy topics relevant to the Fellow’s scientific interests. Applications are due on November 1st.

Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowships – This AAAS program provides fellows with a 10-week summer experience in science communication, including placement in national media organizations. The Application window typically opens in October.

DOD

Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program – Awards fellowships to postdoctoral and senior scientists to work at the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Air Force Institute of Technology, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Applicants must be within 5 years of earning a doctorate degree and must be U.S. citizens.

Army Research Laboratory Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships – Fellows pursue independent research that supports the ARL mission. Awardees are expected to have initiated a track record of innovation and completed a Ph.D. or Sc.D. in the physical sciences, life sciences, computational sciences, behavioral sciences, or engineering. Individuals must be within 5 years of the doctorate and there are no citizenship requirements.

DOE

Brookhaven National Labs Leona Woods Distinguished Postdoctoral Lectureship Award – This award recognizes women and members or other under-represented populations in physics. Lecturers will visit BNL for at least a week and give a general interest colloquium and a technical talk in their area of expertise. The laboratory will provide travel and local support, along with a $1000 honorarium.

NASA

NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) – Provides fellowships that range from 1-3 years. Fellows work with NASA scientists and engineers at NASA centers and institutes on topics that address earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics, engineering, human exploration and space operations, astrobiology, and science management. Deadlines are March 1, July 1, and November 1 annually. Applicants must be within 5 years of receiving their degree to be a Postdoctoral Fellow. Scientists who received their degrees more than 5 years ago may apply to be a Senior Fellow. Stipends and other benefits are available.

Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program Opportunities website to learn more about opportunities at specific centers and institutes.

NIH

Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Awards (F32) – Providing up to 3 years of postdoctoral stipend and research support, the NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowships can support extended research experiences in biomedical research. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or non-citizen nationals.

Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00) – The Pathway to Independence Award provides 2-year mentored postdoc support (K99 phase), and following a successful placement in a tenure-track research position, a 3-year independent research grant (R00 phase). This program is ideal for postdocs who anticipate searching for academic tenure-track positions in 2-3 years from the time of application.

Early Independence Awards (DP5) – Postdocs within the first 12 months of their postdoctoral period can apply for the DP5 to pursue an ambitious research project. The DP5 requires institutional commitment to an independent appointment if the grant is awarded.

NSF

Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (AGS-PRF) – The Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (PRF) to highly qualified early career investigators to carry out an independent research program. The research plan of each Fellowship must address scientific questions within the scope of AGS disciplines. The program supports researchers for a period of up to 2 years with Fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice.

Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) – The purpose of the Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) is to support future leaders in mathematics and statistics by facilitating their participation in postdoctoral research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development.

NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF) – NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships provide an opportunity for highly qualified, recent doctoral scientists to carry out an integrated program of independent research and education. Fellows may engage in observational, instrumental, theoretical, laboratory or archival data research in any area of astronomy or astrophysics, in combination with a coherent educational plan for the duration of the fellowship.

EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships (EAR-PF) – The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) awards Postdoctoral Fellowships to recent recipients of doctoral degrees to conduct an integrated program of independent research and professional development. Fellowship proposals must address scientific questions within the scope of EAR disciplinary programs and must align with the overall theme for the postdoctoral program. The program supports researchers for a period of up to two years with fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) – The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent recipients of the doctoral degree for research and training in selected areas supported by BIO and with special goals for human resource development in biology. For applications under this solicitation, these areas are (1) Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology, (2) Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes, and (3) Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowships.

SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (SPRF) – The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) offers Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to encourage independence early in the Fellow’s career through supporting his or her research and training goals. The research and training plan of each Fellowship must address important scientific questions within the scope of the SBE Directorate and the specific guidelines in this solicitation. The SPRF program offers two tracks: (I) Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR) and (II) Broadening Participation in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-BP). See the full text of the solicitation for a detailed description of these tracks.

USDA

National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program Funding Opportunity (NNF) – Fellowships and Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) are specifically intended to support traineeship programs that encourage outstanding students to obtain post-doctoral training in areas where there is an identified national need for the development of scientific and professional skills. Funds from the fellowships and IRTA awards are invested in graduate training and relevant international experiential learning.

NIFA Advancing Science Postdoctoral Fellowship – The NIFA fellowships support the next generation of research, education, and extension experts in food and agricultural sciences, to gain experiences in industry or international settings.

Other

L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science – The L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program is a national awards program that annually recognizes and rewards five U.S.-based women researchers at the beginning of their scientific careers. Recipients each receive up to $60,000 that must be put towards their postdoctoral research. Application windows generally open in December.