Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Stipend approximately $82,764 per year plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research using chromatography and mass spectrometry to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize clinical analytes and develop proteomics-based reference standards.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree; research conducted at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD; requires contacting a Research Adviser prior to application.
Description
This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) supports postdoctoral research focused on the qualitative and quantitative characterization of clinical analytes using proteomics approaches. Proteomics, a key post-genomic technique, enables comprehensive analysis of proteomes under various physiological and pathological conditions. Due to the complexity of biological proteomes, the research involves advanced bioanalytical techniques such as chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify and measure clinical analytes in biological matrices.
In addition to analyte characterization, the program encourages research aimed at developing protein-based reference standards and generating data to improve measurement quality in proteomics. This work supports clinical proteomics, biochemistry, clinical chemistry, and protein metrology fields.
The research is conducted within the Material Measurement Laboratory, Biomolecular Measurement Division at NIST, located in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (NIST participates in this review cycle)
- August 1, 2025 (NIST participates in this review cycle)
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on the deadline date. If the deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Annual stipend: $82,764
- Annual travel allowance: $3,000
- Typical appointment length: 2 years
Funding covers salary and travel expenses related to conferences, meetings, or fieldwork.
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens only.
- Education: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate before beginning tenure.
- Career stage: Open to postdoctoral applicants who 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 or its contractors are generally ineligible.
- Research must be conducted on-site at NIST.
- Applicants must contact the proposed Research Adviser before applying.
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP website.
- Identify this Research Opportunity (NIST RAP opportunity number 50.64.51.B7947).
- Contact the Research Adviser (Ashley Beasley Green: ashley.beasley@nist.gov, 301-975-4026) to discuss research plans and funding availability.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Profile information (contact, education, transcripts)
- Research proposal (up to 10 pages, including problem statement, background, methodology, expected results)
- Previous and current research description (up to 4 pages)
- List of publications and presentations (up to 2 pages)
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser)
- Submit application via the NRC RAP online portal before the deadline.
Application Requirements
- Research proposal must be original, innovative, and feasible within 2-3 years.
- 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 initially.
- Applicants must notify letter writers to ensure timely submission.
- Only one application per sponsoring federal agency is allowed per cycle.
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels in relevant scientific disciplines.
Additional Information
- Awards are made based on scientific merit, feasibility, and relevance to NIST’s mission.
- Applicants scoring above 70 (on a 100-point scale) are recommended for awards.
- Health insurance enrollment is required during tenure; group plans are available.
- Relocation assistance is provided for awardees moving more than 50 miles.
- Reviewer feedback is provided approximately one week after review finalization.
- Applicants who do not receive awards may reapply; a one-year wait is required if the application was not recommended.
External Links
Contact Information