Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Stipend approximately $82,764 per year plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research to develop in vitro models for measuring Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) in bacteria, focusing on mechanisms promoting gene sharing and antibiotic resistance.
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.
Description
This fellowship opportunity, offered through the NRC Research Associateship Programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), supports postdoctoral researchers in developing laboratory models to quantitatively measure Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) among bacteria. HGT is a critical process by which bacteria share genetic information, including genes responsible for antibiotic resistance, across species boundaries. These gene transfer events accelerate microbial adaptation to environmental stresses and contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Despite the recognized importance of HGT, the specific microbiological mechanisms and environmental triggers remain poorly understood and cannot currently be measured quantitatively in mixed microbial communities. The goal of this research opportunity is to create in vitro models that simulate HGT events under controlled laboratory conditions and to identify environmental factors that promote these gene transfer processes.
Research supported by this fellowship will contribute to a better understanding of microbial community dynamics, antibiotic resistance dissemination, and potentially inform strategies to mitigate the spread of resistance genes.
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.
Funding Amount
- Annual stipend: Approximately $82,764
- Annual travel allowance: $3,000
- Typical appointment duration: 2 years
- Health insurance coverage is required and partially subsidized
- Relocation assistance available for awardees moving more than 50 miles
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
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP website.
- Identify this research opportunity at NIST (Opportunity Number: 50.64.41.B8208).
- Contact the Research Adviser, Samuel P. Forry (sam.forry@nist.gov), to discuss your research proposal and confirm funding availability.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) with sections on problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- Curriculum vitae and publication list
- Transcripts (for postdoctoral applicants)
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser)
- Submit your application through the NRC RAP online portal before the deadline.
- Ensure all letters of recommendation are uploaded by letter writers by the deadline.
Review Process
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels in relevant scientific disciplines.
- The proposed Research Adviser and NIST program representatives review and endorse applications before panel review.
- Applicants are scored on academic record, research proposal quality, and relevance to NIST’s mission.
- Scores above 70 typically receive award recommendations.
- Feedback is provided approximately one week after review finalization.
Additional Information
- Awards are for research conducted on-site at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD.
- Health insurance enrollment is mandatory for the duration of the fellowship.
- Relocation and travel allowances are provided.
- Applicants may apply to up to three different NRC Research Opportunities but only one per sponsoring agency.
- Previous NRC Research Associateship holders may apply again after a two-year gap.
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system; hard copies are not accepted.
- Applicants are responsible for ensuring all application components are complete and submitted on time.
External Links
Contact Information
| Contact Person | Email | Phone | Affiliation |
|---|
| Samuel P. Forry | sam.forry@nist.gov | 301-975-5246 | NIST |
| NRC Fellowships Office | rap@nas.edu | 202-334-2760 | National Academies |