Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Stipend approximately $82,764 per year plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research integrating data and computational tools to predict and improve structural materials properties, advancing the Materials Genome Initiative.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree earned within the last 5 years; research conducted onsite at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD.
Description
This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) supports postdoctoral researchers working on integrating fundamental data with computational tools to predict material properties, such as strength and fatigue, in structural materials. The research focuses on developing and combining first-principle calculations, atomistic simulations, and CALPHAD-based thermodynamic, diffusion mobility, and molar volume databases with computational tools. A key aspect is understanding phase relations, phase transitions, and processing-structure-property relationships, supported by experimental characterization and database development.
The outcomes of this research will contribute to NIST’s efforts in building the materials innovation infrastructure central to the Materials Genome Initiative, aiming to accelerate materials design and discovery.
Key Research Areas
- First principles and atomistic simulations
- CALPHAD thermodynamic and diffusion mobility databases
- Phase relations and transitions
- Processing-structure and structure-property relationships
- Experimental characterization to validate models
- Development of materials databases and software tools
Due Dates
Applications are accepted four times per year with deadlines at 5 PM ET on:
- February 1, 2025
- May 1, 2025
- August 1, 2025
- November 1, 2025
If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Annual stipend: Approximately $82,764
- Annual travel allowance: $3,000
- Typical appointment length: 2 years
- No supplementation specified
Eligibility
- Citizenship: U.S. citizens only
- Education: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate before starting tenure.
- Experience: Postdoctoral applicants must have held their doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline.
- Prior affiliation: Applicants with current or recent prior employment or postdoctoral fellowships at NIST may be ineligible.
- Research must be conducted onsite at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD.
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility on the NRC RAP website and confirm with the Fellowships Office if uncertain.
- Identify Research Opportunity: This specific opportunity is listed under NIST with Research Opportunity number 50.64.21.B7663.
- Contact Research Adviser(s): Applicants must contact one or more of the listed advisers (Carelyn E. Campbell, Lucas Michael Hale, Francesca Tavazza) to discuss research plans and funding availability before applying.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Profile information (contact, education, transcripts)
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) with sections on problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- Previous and current research description (max 4 pages)
- List of publications and presentations (max 2 pages)
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser)
- Submit application online via the NRC RAP portal before the deadline.
Important Application Details
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline.
- Transcripts must be current and uploaded; unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels; only those scoring 70+ out of 100 are recommended for awards.
- Applicants are encouraged to discuss and refine proposals with advisers prior to submission.
Additional Information
- Health insurance enrollment is required for the duration of the appointment.
- Relocation assistance is available for awardees moving more than 50 miles.
- Travel allowance supports conference attendance and related activities.
- The program promotes diversity and does not discriminate based on race, gender, or other protected categories.
- Applicants who previously held an NRC Research Associateship may apply again after a two-year gap.
External Links
Contact Information