Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $82,764 per year with $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research developing mathematical models to characterize pluripotent stem cell populations using live cell imaging data.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens holding a recent doctoral degree; requires contacting a research adviser prior to application; awards made through a competitive review process.
Description
This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the NRC Research Associateship Programs supports postdoctoral researchers in developing advanced mathematical models to characterize pluripotent stem cell populations. The research focuses on analyzing time-lapse microscopy data of living cells, tracking gene promoter activity via fluorescent protein intensity in individual cells over time.
Stem cell populations exhibit significant heterogeneity and complex dynamic responses. Using quantitative imaging data from large numbers of live cells, the project aims to construct potential landscapes for promoter activity based on steady-state population distributions and fluctuations in single cells. Prior work has applied Langevin/Fokker-Planck equations to predict relaxation rates in cell populations, revealing insights into symmetric and asymmetric inheritance and rates of cell state changes. This project extends these models to multidimensional landscapes.
The ultimate goal is to develop predictive models that evaluate the stability of cell states and forecast transitions as stem cells progress from pluripotent to differentiated states. The research involves collaboration among experts in live cell imaging, data analysis, and probabilistic model development.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (Review finalized early March)
- May 1, 2025 (Review finalized early June)
- August 1, 2025 (Review finalized early September)
- November 1, 2025 (Review finalized early December)
Note: If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: Approximately $82,764 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually
- Typical appointment duration: 2 years
- No supplementation specified
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: 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 affiliation with NIST (e.g., employment or previous NRC fellowship) may be ineligible
- Letter writers: Cannot be employed by NIST unless they have served as mentors or collaborators during the applicant’s prior academic or research training
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP website.
- Identify this Research Opportunity (NIST LabCode 50, ROPCD 506441, RONum B8169).
- Contact the Research Adviser, John Timothy Elliott (jelliott@nist.gov), to discuss the research project and funding availability before applying.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages)
- Previous and current research description (max 4 pages)
- List of publications and presentations (max 2 pages)
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser)
- Transcripts (for postdoctoral applicants)
- Submit application via the NRC RAP online portal before the deadline.
Application Materials
- Profile information (contact, education, employment, honors)
- Research proposal with clear problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- Letters of recommendation uploaded by referees via the online system
- Transcripts (unofficial allowed but must be current and complete)
Review and Selection
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels in life sciences and related fields.
- Each application is scored on a 100-point scale; scores above 70 are recommended for awards.
- Review criteria include academic record, research proposal quality, letters of recommendation, and alignment with NIST mission.
- Final funding decisions depend on ranking and available slots.
Additional Information
- Health insurance enrollment is required during tenure; group plans are available.
- Relocation assistance is provided for awardees moving more than 50 miles.
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance and fieldwork.
- Applicants may apply to up to three different NRC RAP opportunities per cycle but only one per agency.
- Applicants who do not receive funding may reapply in subsequent cycles.
External Links
Contact Information
For questions about eligibility or application procedures, contact the NRC RAP office at rap@nas.edu.