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: Postdoctoral fellowship at NIST to develop advanced computational methods for processing, analyzing, and sharing massive microscopy image data.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree; 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) focuses on addressing the challenges posed by the acquisition and analysis of terabyte-scale microscopy image data. Advances in microscopy generate extremely large datasets, often stored as millions of smaller files, which require seamless, interactive rendering and analysis. The fellowship seeks candidates to develop innovative solutions including:
- Algorithm development for image processing and automation.
- Simulation of reference data and evaluation of algorithmic accuracy.
- Design and implementation of parallel and distributed computing algorithms.
- Execution of algorithms on cloud computing platforms.
- Delivery of on-demand image measurements accessible via the web.
The research aims to enable scientists in fields such as cell biology and material sciences to overcome current computational limitations related to memory, storage, and processing power, facilitating collaborative access and validation of microscopy data.
Key technical areas include image processing, machine learning, computer vision, statistical methods, parallel and distributed computing, software engineering, and standards development.
Due Dates
Applications are accepted four times per year with deadlines at 5 PM ET on:
- February 1, 2025
- May 1, 2025
- August 1, 2025
- November 1, 2025
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
- Annual stipend: Approximately $82,764
- Annual travel allowance: $3,000
- Typical appointment length: 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 doctoral degree (Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent) 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 employment or postdoctoral fellowships at NIST may be ineligible.
- Applicants must contact the proposed NIST Research Adviser before applying.
- Security clearance may be required depending on the project.
Application Process
- Identify the research opportunity and contact the NIST Research Adviser to discuss the project and funding availability.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) detailing problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance.
- Curriculum vitae, education history, transcripts (for postdocs), and list of publications.
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs).
- Submit application via the NRC Research Associateship Programs online portal.
- Applicants may apply for up to three research opportunities but only one per sponsoring federal agency.
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers through the online system by the deadline.
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels; scores above 70 are recommended for awards.
- Notification of review results occurs approximately 6-8 weeks after review finalization.
Additional Information
- The fellowship provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and mentorship at NIST.
- Awardees are expected to conduct research on-site at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD.
- Health insurance is mandatory for the duration of the appointment.
- Relocation and travel allowances support awardees’ participation in conferences and research activities.
- Applicants with previous NRC Research Associateships must wait at least two years before applying again.
External Links
Contact Information
For general questions about the NRC Research Associateship Programs, contact the Fellowships Office at the National Academies via email or phone above.