Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 base stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research on compact, transportable devices using laser-cooled atoms for precision clocks, inertial sensors, and fundamental physics tests at NIST.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens holding a Ph.D. within the last 5 years; requires contacting the research adviser prior to applying; NIST participates in February and August review cycles.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the Physical Measurement Laboratory, Time and Frequency Division. The focus is on developing atomic devices and instrumentation that leverage laser-cooled atoms combined with precision spectroscopy. These technologies enable highly precise and fundamentally accurate instruments and sensors.
The research group specializes in designing compact and transportable systems with applications including:
- Cold-atom coherent population trapping for accurate atomic clocks.
- Atom interferometry experiments to measure inertial forces, with applications in inertial navigation and precision tests of relativistic effects and fundamental interactions.
The work aims to advance precision measurement science through innovative experimental approaches in atomic physics.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (NIST participates)
- May 1, 2025
- August 1, 2025 (NIST participates)
- November 1, 2025
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
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens only.
- Education: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. 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 the sponsoring agency (NIST) are generally ineligible.
- Applicants must contact the proposed Research Adviser before applying.
- Security clearance may be required depending on the agency.
Application Process
- Review eligibility on the NRC RAP website and confirm with the Fellowships Office if uncertain.
- Identify research opportunities and contact the Research Adviser (John E. Kitching; john.kitching@nist.gov; 303-497-4083) to discuss potential projects.
- Prepare application materials, including:
- Profile information (contact, education, transcripts)
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) with clear problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance.
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs).
- Submit application via the NRC RAP online system before the deadline.
- Notify and monitor letter writers to ensure timely submission of recommendation letters.
Applications are reviewed by expert panels in relevant scientific disciplines. Scores above 70 typically receive award recommendations.
Additional Information
- Health insurance coverage is required throughout the tenure.
- Relocation assistance is available for awardees moving more than 50 miles.
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance and fieldwork.
- Applicants may apply to up to three research opportunities but only one per sponsoring federal agency.
- Feedback on reviews is provided approximately one week after panel decisions.
- Previous NRC Research Associateship holders may reapply after a two-year gap.
External Links
Contact Information
For questions about eligibility, application process, or technical issues, contact the NRC RAP Fellowships Office at rap@nas.edu or call 202-334-2760.