Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship for first-principle modeling of 2D materials and devices, integrating computational simulations with experimental data to advance 2D electronics.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a Ph.D. earned within the last 5 years; requires contacting a research adviser prior to application; NIST participates in February and August review cycles.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports postdoctoral research focused on the first-principle based modeling of novel two-dimensional (2D) materials and electronic devices such as sensors and transistors. The research involves advanced computational techniques including Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Tight Binding (TB) methods to model phase diagrams, electronic properties, and transport phenomena in 2D-like materials, with a particular interest in materials like MoS2.
A key aspect of the project is simulating actual devices to understand how transport properties are influenced by real-world factors such as defects, impurities, and other deviations from ideal structures. The research is conducted in close collaboration with experimentalists, enabling direct comparison of simulation results with measured data. This synergy allows the modeling to interpret experimental findings and guide future experimental designs.
The fellowship is hosted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), specifically within the Material Measurement Laboratory's Materials Science and Engineering Division, located in Gaithersburg, MD.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- May 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- August 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- November 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
Note: If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Annual stipend: $82,764
- Travel allowance: $3,000 per year
- Typical appointment duration: 2 years
- Health insurance coverage required and partially subsidized
- Relocation assistance available for awardees moving more than 50 miles
Eligibility
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate earned before starting tenure
- Postdoctoral applicants must have held their doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline
- Applicants with current or recent prior affiliation with the sponsoring agency (NIST) may be ineligible; check specific eligibility criteria
- Must not have current or previous postdoctoral fellowships sponsored by or conducted at NIST
- Applicants must contact the proposed Research Adviser before applying
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP For Applicants page.
- Identify this Research Opportunity (NIST opportunity code 50.64.21.B8083) and contact the Research Adviser, Francesca Tavazza (francesca.tavazza@nist.gov), to discuss your research proposal and funding availability.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages)
- Previous and current research description (max 4 pages)
- List of publications and presentations (max 2 pages)
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs)
- Transcripts (required for postdoctoral applicants)
- Register and submit your application via the NRC RAP online system: Apply Now
- Ensure all letters of recommendation are submitted by the deadline.
Application Materials
- Contact and demographic information
- Education history and transcripts
- Research proposal with clear statement of problem, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- References and letters of recommendation uploaded by letter writers via the online system
- Confirmation of no disqualifying prior affiliation with NIST
Review Process
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels in relevant disciplines (Engineering, Materials Science, Physics)
- Each application is read by at least three reviewers
- Evaluation criteria include academic record, research proposal quality, letters of recommendation, and alignment with NIST mission
- Scores above 70/100 typically recommended for award
- Final funding decisions depend on ranking and available slots
Additional Information
- Awards are for on-site research at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD
- Health insurance enrollment is mandatory during tenure
- Relocation and travel allowances provided
- Applicants can apply for up to three NRC RAP opportunities but only one per sponsoring agency
- Applicants who previously held an NRC Research Associateship must wait at least two years before applying again
- Reviewer feedback is provided approximately one week after review finalization
External Links
Contact Information
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Research Adviser and the NRC RAP Program Office for questions about eligibility, application procedures, or research scope.