Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 (Next deadline)
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $95,000 plus $5,000 travel allowance; stipend increases with experience; typical award duration 2-3 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral and senior researchers conducting cooperative autonomous unmanned aerial systems research at the US Air Force Academy for military and civilian applications.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens; requires contacting Research Adviser prior to applying; relocation and health insurance benefits included.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports research on cooperative autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) at the US Air Force Academy's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The project focuses on advancing the capabilities of multiple UAVs working together autonomously for military and civilian missions such as wide-area reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence collection, secure communication, and threat recognition.
Historically, UAVs have evolved from early remotely piloted reconnaissance missions in the 1960s to sophisticated mobile flying networks capable of sensor integration and limited armament. While much research has focused on single UAV systems, this program emphasizes the advantages of multiple UAVs operating cooperatively, offering enhanced flexibility, redundancy, and efficiency.
Examples of cooperative UAV applications include autonomous flying communication networks providing secure data links among friendly units or intercepting enemy communications, and coordinated surveillance groups capable of detecting and identifying threats such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) with minimal ground personnel involvement.
The Academy Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research regularly conducts multi-UAV flight experiments, and this fellowship aims to demonstrate effective use of cooperative UAVs in diverse operational scenarios.
Due Dates
- Application deadline: May 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- Review finalized: Early June 2025
- Note: If deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: $95,000
- Travel allowance: $5,000 annually
- Experience supplement: Additional stipend based on years of post-PhD experience
- Typical award duration: 2-3 years
- Additional benefits: Paid relocation for awardees living more than 50 miles from host lab (after 6 months tenure), group health insurance for awardees and dependents in the U.S.
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens only
- Applicant level: Postdoctoral researchers (PhD earned less than 5 years ago) and Senior researchers (PhD earned at least 5 years ago or permanent appointment with significant research experience)
- Must have earned a doctoral degree before beginning tenure
- Applicants with current or recent prior affiliation/employment at the sponsoring agency or contractor may be ineligible
- Letter writers cannot be employed by the sponsoring agency unless they have served as mentors or collaborators during applicant’s prior research
- Security clearance or National Agency Check may be required depending on agency policies
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP website and specific agency requirements.
- Identify this Research Opportunity (Opportunity number: 13.04.06.B7697) at the US Air Force Academy.
- Contact the Research Adviser, George WP York (george.york@usafa.edu, 719-333-4210), to discuss research interests and funding availability before applying.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) with clear problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- 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 application via the NRC RAP online portal before the deadline.
- Notify letter writers to upload their letters by the deadline (letters must be uploaded online, no hard copies accepted).
Application Requirements
- Profile information including education history and transcripts (transcripts required for postdocs, not for senior applicants)
- Research proposal aligned with the cooperative autonomous UAV research scope
- References and letters of recommendation uploaded by letter writers
- Compliance with formatting and submission guidelines (PDF format, page limits, no password protection)
Review and Selection
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels in engineering and applied sciences.
- The Research Adviser and Laboratory Program Representative review and endorse applications before panel review.
- Applicants are scored on academic record, research proposal quality, letters of recommendation, and relevance to the host laboratory mission.
- Scores above 70 are recommended for awards; funding depends on rank and availability.
- Feedback is provided approximately one week after review finalization.
Additional Information
- Awardees receive mentorship, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and opportunities to collaborate with leading scientists.
- The program supports professional growth and career advancement in academia, industry, or government research.
- Health insurance coverage is mandatory and partially cost-shared.
- Relocation assistance is available for those moving more than 50 miles to the host lab.
- Applicants with prior NRC Research Associateships must wait at least two years before applying again.
External Links
Contact Information