Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 (next) | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration is 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship at NIST to develop AI and machine learning methods for genomics reference materials, enhancing measurement confidence in biological data through collaboration with the Genome in a Bottle Consortium.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree earned within the last 5 years; applications require prior contact with the Research Adviser; NIST participates in February and August review cycles only.
Description
This fellowship opportunity is offered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the NRC Research Associateship Programs. NIST has a strong history of producing Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) that provide certified values or well-characterized properties with known uncertainties. The advent of high-throughput biological 'omics' technologies, especially sequencing-based methods, generates vast amounts of data (ranging from 10^3 to 10^9 values) that are revolutionizing biosciences and biotechnology.
However, translating these technologies into practical applications requires enhanced measurement confidence, which can be supported by new reference materials. The Genome in a Bottle Consortium, led by NIST, has developed the first reference materials in this domain, including benchmark germline variant calls for seven human cell lines.
This research opportunity focuses on developing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods to automate and improve the integration of diverse 'omics technologies, each with unique strengths and weaknesses, to establish new reference materials. The project involves research in deep learning for genomics and explainable AI, with collaboration among consortium members from academia, industry, and government.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (5 PM ET) — NIST participates in this review cycle
- May 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- August 1, 2025 (5 PM ET) — NIST participates in this review cycle
- November 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: $82,764 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually
- Typical appointment duration: 2 years
- No supplementation indicated
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens only
- Degree: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate before starting tenure
- Experience: Postdoctoral applicants must have held their doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline
- Affiliation Restrictions: Applicants with current or recent prior affiliation with NIST (e.g., employment or previous NRC fellowship at NIST) may be ineligible
- Other: Applicants must contact the proposed Research Adviser prior to applying to discuss research projects and funding availability
Application Process
- Review Eligibility: Confirm eligibility on the NRC RAP website and specific NIST criteria.
- Identify Opportunity: Search for the NIST AI for Genomics Reference Materials opportunity (Opportunity Number: 50.64.41.C0313).
- Contact Adviser: Reach out to the Research Adviser, Justin Matthew Zook (justin.zook@nist.gov), to discuss your research proposal and confirm support.
- Prepare Application:
- Complete profile information including education history and transcripts (postdocs only).
- Upload required documents: dissertation abstract (postdocs), previous/current research description, list of publications, and research proposal (max 10 pages).
- Provide at least three keywords related to your research.
- Arrange for 3-5 letters of recommendation, including your dissertation adviser. Letters must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline.
- Submit Application: Use the NRC RAP online portal to submit your application before the deadline.
- Review and Selection: Applications are reviewed by expert panels; scores above 70 are recommended for awards. Notification typically occurs 6-8 weeks after review.
Additional Information
- Health insurance enrollment is required throughout the tenure.
- Relocation assistance is available for awardees moving more than 50 miles.
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance and fieldwork.
- Applicants should ensure letters of recommendation comply with eligibility rules (letter writers cannot be employed by NIST unless they have been mentors or collaborators).
- Applications with incomplete or missing materials will not be reviewed.
- Previous NRC Research Associateship holders must wait at least two years before applying again.
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