Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Typical stipend around $58,000 per year with additional travel and relocation allowances; awards generally 2-3 years in duration.
Summary: Provides postdoctoral and senior researchers opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research at NASA and other federal labs, collaborating with leading scientists on projects of national importance.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens; applicants must have a doctoral degree; requires contacting a Research Adviser prior to application; multiple review cycles per year.
Description
The NASA Postdoctoral Program, administered through the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP), offers postdoctoral and senior researchers the chance to collaborate with top scientists at NASA centers and other federal laboratories. The program supports innovative, self-directed research projects aligned with the goals of sponsoring laboratories, focusing on areas of national scientific and engineering importance.
Applicants conduct research on-site at NASA or affiliated federal labs, gaining access to state-of-the-art facilities and mentorship from established researchers. The program aims to foster professional growth, enhance research capabilities, and contribute to the scientific missions of the host agencies.
One highlighted opportunity under this program is at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, FL. This research focuses on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its influence on global monsoon circulations and extreme weather events. The work involves understanding AMOC variability, flow pathways, and its role in climate variability on decadal timescales using coupled general circulation models.
Due Dates
The NRC Research Associateship Programs have four annual application deadlines:
- 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)
Deadlines are at 5 PM ET. If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Typical stipend: Approximately $58,000 per year
- Travel allowance: Around $2,000 annually
- Supplements: For example, $4,000 additional for doctorates in Physical Oceanography or Ocean Chemistry (specific to NOAA opportunity)
- Relocation assistance available for awardees moving more than 50 miles to the host lab
- Health insurance coverage is required and partially subsidized
Awards are generally for 2-3 years, depending on the specific research opportunity and sponsoring agency.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have earned a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent) before starting tenure.
- Postdoctoral applicants must have held their doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline.
- Senior applicants must have held a doctorate for at least five years or have a permanent appointment with significant research accomplishments.
- Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens (citizenship requirements may vary by sponsoring agency).
- Applicants with current or recent prior employment or postdoctoral fellowships at the sponsoring agency may be ineligible.
- Applicants must not propose continuation of research with the same adviser or on the same project as prior affiliations.
- Security clearance or background checks may be required depending on the agency.
- Applicants must contact the proposed Research Adviser before applying.
Application Process
- Identify Research Opportunities: Search for available projects at NASA and other federal labs via the NRC RAP website or sponsoring agency pages.
- Contact Research Adviser: Discuss your research interests and funding availability with the listed Research Adviser for the opportunity.
- Prepare Application Materials:
- Profile information including education, employment, and honors.
- Transcripts (required for postdocs, not for senior applicants).
- Research proposal (up to 10 pages) including 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).
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs).
- Submit Application: Use the online application portal to upload all materials and submit before the deadline.
- Review and Selection: Applications are reviewed by expert panels in relevant disciplines. Scores above 70 typically receive award recommendations. Final funding decisions depend on agency priorities and availability.
Applicants can apply for up to three research opportunities per cycle but only one per sponsoring federal agency.
Additional Information
- Awardees must maintain health insurance coverage during tenure.
- Relocation and travel allowances help support participation.
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline.
- Applicants are responsible for ensuring all materials and letters are submitted on time.
- Feedback on application reviews is provided approximately one week after review finalization.
- Previous NRC Research Associateship recipients may apply again after a two-year gap.
- Applications with incomplete or ineligible materials will not be reviewed.
External Links
Contact Information