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 is 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research in mathematical modeling and simulation at NIST to develop new models for understanding scientific phenomena and optimizing instrument performance.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree earned within the last 5 years; requires contacting a NIST Research Adviser prior to application.
Description
This fellowship opportunity, offered through the NRC Research Associateship Programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), supports postdoctoral researchers in the development of mathematical models and simulations. The research focuses on understanding, simulating, optimizing, and controlling scientific phenomena and associated measurements. Mathematical models often involve ordinary or partial differential equations, frequently nonlinear, and may require analytic or numerical solutions.
The work includes:
- Developing new mathematical models to simulate scientific experiments producing measurements.
- Implementing numerical methods and testing their accuracy.
- Optimizing and controlling instrument performance through mathematical and computational techniques.
- Applying perturbation methods and other advanced mathematical tools.
Research areas span physics, chemistry, biology, and related fields where mathematical modeling can improve experimental design and instrument behavior.
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
- Base stipend: $82,764 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually
- Typical appointment length: 2 years
- No supplementation specified
Eligibility
- Citizenship: U.S. citizens only
- Education: 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 fellowship at NIST may be ineligible
- Applicants must contact the proposed NIST Research Adviser before applying
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP website.
- Identify this Research Opportunity at NIST (Opportunity Number: 50.77.11.C0761).
- Contact the Research Adviser (Ryan Murray Evans, ryan.evans@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)
- Register and submit your application via the NRC RAP online system before the deadline.
- Notify your letter writers to upload their letters by the deadline.
Application Materials
- Profile information (contact, education, transcripts)
- Research proposal with clear problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- References and letters of recommendation (letters must be uploaded by letter writers)
- Transcripts (required for postdoctoral applicants)
- Compliance with formatting and submission guidelines (PDF format, page limits, etc.)
Review Process
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels in Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Mathematics.
- The proposed Research Adviser and NIST program representatives review and endorse applications before panel review.
- Each application is scored on academic record, letters, scientific merit, and relevance to NIST’s mission.
- Scores above 70 are recommended for awards; funding depends on ranking and availability.
Additional Information
- Health insurance coverage is required throughout the tenure; a group plan is available.
- Relocation assistance is provided for awardees moving more than 50 miles.
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance and related activities.
- Applicants with prior NRC Research Associateships must wait two years before reapplying.
- Applicants should confirm eligibility if they have prior affiliation with NIST.
- Letters of recommendation must not come from current NIST employees unless they were mentors or collaborators during prior academic work.
External Links
Contact Information