Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Stipend approximately $82,764 per year plus $3,000 travel allowance; two-year term appointments.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship at NIST to conduct experimental and computational research on thermodynamic properties of fluids, with emphasis on mixtures and advanced measurement techniques.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a Ph.D. earned within the last 5 years; proposals encouraged to include experimental and modeling components; NIST participates in February and August review cycles.
Description
This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) focuses on the experimental and computational study of thermodynamic properties of fluids, particularly mixtures. The research group employs state-of-the-art apparatus including:
- A two-sinker densimeter for precise measurements of pressure, density, and temperature over 200–505 K and pressures up to 40 MPa.
- Instruments measuring the speed of sound in liquid and vapor phases over 228–500 K and pressures up to 90 MPa, which provide critical data for developing fluid equations of state (EOS).
- New techniques for dew-point measurements to define vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE), using both the densimeter and a microwave reentrant cavity resonator.
The major research emphasis has been on hydrocarbon gases and their mixtures, CO2-rich mixtures, and refrigerant mixtures. Proposals that utilize existing instruments or extend capabilities to new fluid systems or more extreme conditions are encouraged. The research team includes both experimentalists and modelers, and proposals with a theory or modeling component are welcomed.
The fellowship is a two-year appointment based in Boulder, CO, within the Material Measurement Laboratory, Applied Chemicals and Materials Division.
Keywords
- Densimetry
- Fluid properties
- Speed of sound
- Thermodynamics
- Vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE)
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (NIST participates in this review cycle)
- May 1, 2025 (Application close date)
- August 1, 2025 (NIST participates in this review cycle)
Applicants should note that NIST only participates in the February and August review cycles.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: Approximately $82,764 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually
- Duration: Two-year term appointment
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens only
- Applicant level: Postdoctoral researchers who have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent research doctorate within the last 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 at NIST) may be ineligible
- Security clearance: May be required depending on agency policies
Application Process
- Eligibility Check: Confirm eligibility based on citizenship, degree status, and prior affiliation with NIST.
- Identify Opportunity: Select this specific Research Opportunity (NIST Experimental Thermodynamic Properties of Fluids) via the NRC Research Associateship Programs portal.
- Contact Adviser: Applicants must contact the Research Adviser, Dr. Mark O. McLinden (markm@boulder.nist.gov), prior to applying to discuss research interests and funding availability.
- Prepare Application:
- Complete profile information including education history and transcripts (postdoctoral applicants must upload transcripts).
- Prepare a research proposal (maximum 10 pages) including problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance.
- Provide at least three keywords related to the research.
- Upload previous and current research descriptions, list of publications, and dissertation abstract (if applicable).
- References: Provide contact information for 3–5 references, including the dissertation adviser for postdoctoral applicants. Letters must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline.
- Submit Application: Validate and submit the application by the deadline (5 PM ET).
Applications are reviewed by expert panels, and only those scoring 70 or above (out of 100) are recommended for awards. Final funding decisions depend on ranking and available slots.
Additional Information
- Health insurance enrollment is required for the duration of the fellowship; a group plan is available with shared costs.
- Relocation assistance is provided for awardees moving more than 50 miles to the host laboratory.
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance and related activities.
- Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with the Research Adviser to improve scientific quality and alignment with NIST goals.
- Applications with incomplete or missing materials, or insufficient letters of recommendation, will not be reviewed.
- Applicants who do not receive an award may reapply; those recommended but not funded may reapply without waiting.
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