Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 (Application Deadline)
Funding Amounts: $99,200 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical fellowship duration 2-3 years
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to develop computational models of human-like visual perception and attention, integrating AI and cognitive science with opportunities for empirical human research.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents; requires strong programming skills and interest in AI and cognitive science; relocation and health insurance benefits included.
Description
This postdoctoral fellowship opportunity at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) focuses on interdisciplinary research in computational models of visual perception and attention. The project aims to develop software inspired by human psychology that generates high-level, human-like descriptions of visual scenes. A key feature of the software is a model of attention that prioritizes processing of task-relevant objects while ignoring irrelevant details.
The research integrates artificial intelligence, cognitive science, spatial reasoning, and qualitative spatial representations. While the primary focus is computational, there are opportunities to conduct empirical studies with human participants to investigate human perception and compare it with the computational system’s behavior.
The ideal candidate will have a strong programming background and a keen interest in AI and cognitive science, particularly in perception and attention mechanisms.
Due Dates
- Application Deadline: May 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: $99,200 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually
- Typical fellowship duration: 2-3 years
- Additional benefits include paid relocation for awardees living more than 50 miles from the host lab 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 researchers who have earned a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent) within the last five years as of the application deadline
- Prior or current employment or postdoctoral fellowship at the sponsoring agency may disqualify applicants; collaboration without continuation of the same project or adviser is generally acceptable
- Applicants must have a strong programming background and interest in AI and cognitive science
- Security clearance or background checks may be required depending on the agency
Application Process
- Applicants must first identify research opportunities and contact the proposed Research Adviser to discuss potential projects and funding availability
- Complete an online application including:
- Profile information (contact, education, transcripts, employment history, honors)
- Research proposal (up to 10 pages) detailing problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- Previous and current research description (up to 4 pages)
- List of publications and presentations (up to 2 pages)
- At least three letters of recommendation, including the dissertation adviser for postdoctoral applicants
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the application deadline
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels; scoring is on a 100-point scale with a minimum score of 70 required for award recommendation
- Applicants will receive reviewer feedback approximately one week after review finalization
Additional Information
- Awardees must enroll in a health insurance plan during the tenure
- Relocation assistance is available for those moving more than 50 miles to the host lab
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance, meetings, or fieldwork
- The fellowship provides mentorship, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and professional development opportunities
- Applicants should ensure eligibility regarding prior affiliations and citizenship requirements before applying
- The program encourages diversity and provides equal consideration regardless of race, gender, or background
External Links
Contact Information