Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 base stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration is 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship at NIST focused on developing advanced chemical metrology methods and reference materials for cannabis plants and cannabis-containing commercial products to improve product quality, safety, and analytical standards.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree earned within the last 5 years; requires contacting a NIST research adviser prior to application; applications reviewed in February and August cycles.
Description
This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) supports postdoctoral researchers in advancing chemical metrology related to cannabis plants and cannabis-containing commercial products. The program aims to develop and improve measurement tools, reference materials, and analytical methodologies to ensure the quality and safety of cannabis products used by suppliers, manufacturers, healthcare researchers, forensic laboratories, and other stakeholders.
Key research areas include:
- Development of chromatographic separation techniques (liquid, gas, supercritical fluid; single or multi-dimensional) combined with absorbance, fluorescence, electrochemical, and mass spectrometric detection for quantitative analysis of cannabinoids (e.g., Δ9-THC, CBD) and other compounds.
- Evaluation and optimization of sample extraction, fractionation/cleanup, derivatization, and hydrolysis processes.
- Application of spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and Raman spectroscopy for cannabinoid measurement.
- Use of multidimensional and multiple independent analytical methods to assign values to reference materials.
- Creation of chemical fingerprints to characterize product authenticity or detect adulteration.
The ultimate goal is to provide fit-for-purpose reference standards and measurement tools that improve cannabis product quality, enhance understanding of bioavailability and bioactivity, and reduce potential public health risks.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- May 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- August 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- November 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
Note: If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
NIST specifically participates in the February and August review cycles.
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
- Education: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate before beginning tenure.
- Experience: Postdoctoral applicants must 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.
- Applicants must contact the proposed NIST Research Adviser before applying.
Application Process
- Identify Research Opportunity: Review the NIST cannabis chemical metrology fellowship details and confirm eligibility.
- Contact Adviser: Reach out to the designated Research Adviser (Walter Brent Wilson, walter.wilson@nist.gov) to discuss research interests and funding availability.
- Prepare Application: Complete profile information, upload transcripts (for postdocs), research proposal (max 10 pages), previous/current research descriptions, and list of publications.
- References: Provide contact information for 3-5 references, including the dissertation adviser for postdocs. Letters must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline.
- Submit Application: Apply through the NRC Research Associateship Programs online portal before the deadline.
- Review: Applications are reviewed by expert panels; applicants scoring 70+ are recommended for awards, subject to funding availability.
Important Notes
- Letters of recommendation must be from individuals not employed by NIST unless they have served as mentors or collaborators during the applicant’s prior academic or research work.
- Applicants must ensure all materials are complete and submitted by the deadline; incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
- Health insurance enrollment is required throughout the tenure.
- Relocation assistance is available for awardees moving more than 50 miles to the host laboratory.
Additional Information
- The fellowship provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and mentorship at NIST’s Material Measurement Laboratory, Chemical Sciences Division, located in Gaithersburg, MD.
- The program supports research that addresses challenges in cannabis product analysis, including extraction efficiency, sample complexity, detection specificity, and availability of authentic reference standards.
- The research outcomes are expected to contribute to improved public health by enhancing product quality and safety.
External Links
Contact Information
For general questions about the NRC Research Associateship Programs, contact the Fellowships Office at rap@nas.edu or call 202-334-2760.