Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | February 1, 2026
Funding Amounts: $99,200 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical fellowship duration 2-3 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to study Earth's upper atmosphere climate and dynamics using empirical models and data assimilation at the Naval Research Laboratory.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents holding a recent doctoral degree; relocation and health insurance benefits included.
Description
This postdoctoral research opportunity at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) focuses on the climate and behavior of Earth's upper atmosphere, specifically above approximately 50 km altitude. The research involves analyzing a wide range of contemporary and historical measurements of atmospheric temperature, composition, and winds. Key scientific interests include understanding the systematic responses of the thermosphere and mesosphere to:
- Long- and short-term variations in radiative forcing from solar and terrestrial sources, as well as solar wind and magnetospheric energy inputs.
- Anthropogenic changes in atmospheric composition.
- Influences from the climate and meteorology of the lower atmosphere.
The research approach emphasizes thorough statistical analysis of large, diverse datasets, identification and characterization of significant geophysical variations and biases, and the development and validation of comprehensive empirical models with physical constraints. A major component of the program is the continued development of:
- NRLMSIS: The most comprehensive empirical model of atmospheric temperature and composition.
- HWM (Horizontal Wind Model): The only global empirical model of atmospheric winds.
These models are widely used by scientific and engineering communities for applications such as atmospheric remote sensing, satellite drag prediction, atmospheric gravity wave research, and ionospheric modeling.
Due Dates
- May 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- August 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- November 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- February 1, 2026 (5 PM ET)
If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: $99,200 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually for conferences, meetings, or fieldwork
- Typical fellowship duration: 2-3 years
- Additional benefits include relocation assistance for awardees living more than 50 miles from the host laboratory and access to a group health insurance program for awardees and qualifying dependents.
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
- Applicant Level: Postdoctoral applicants who have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent research doctorate within the last five years as of the application deadline.
- Affiliation Restrictions: Applicants with current or recent prior employment or postdoctoral fellowships at the sponsoring agency may be ineligible. Research collaborations with agency scientists are generally allowed unless continuing the same project or adviser.
- Security Clearance: Some awards may require satisfactory completion of security checks.
- Other: Applicants must have completed all degree requirements before beginning tenure.
Application Process
- Identify Research Opportunity: Review the opportunity at NRL and contact the listed Research Advisers (John T Emmert or McArthur Jones Jr) to discuss research plans and funding availability.
- Prepare Application Materials:
- Profile information including education history and transcripts.
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) detailing problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance.
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs).
- Submit Application: Apply online through the NRC Research Associateship Programs portal before the deadline.
- Review: Applications are reviewed by expert panels; applicants scoring 70+ are recommended for awards.
- Notification: Applicants receive feedback approximately one week after review finalization; award decisions follow within 6-8 weeks.
Note: Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all materials are complete.
Additional Information
- Relocation assistance is provided for awardees moving more than 50 miles.
- Health insurance is available through a group plan shared between the awardee and sponsoring agency.
- The program encourages innovative, technically sound research that can be completed within the fellowship period.
- The research must align with the mission of the Naval Research Laboratory and contribute to advancing knowledge in upper atmospheric science.
External Links
Contact Information
For general questions about eligibility and application procedures, contact the NRC Research Associateship Programs Fellowships Office at rap@nas.edu.