Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $56,000 stipend plus $2,000 travel allowance; typical tenure 2-3 years
Summary: Supports postdoctoral and senior researchers to improve fish stock assessments and develop ecosystem-based fishery management approaches at NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens; relocation and health insurance benefits included; requires contacting a Research Adviser prior to applying.
Description
This fellowship opportunity is offered by the NRC Research Associateship Programs in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center located in Miami, FL. The program supports research aimed at improving single-species fish stock assessments and advancing ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management in the Southeastern United States.
Associates may propose new research projects or join ongoing efforts. Current research topics include:
- Environmental and ecological effects on fish stock dynamics
- Biophysical models of fish recruitment
- Integrated ecosystem assessments
- Management strategy evaluation
The goal is to enhance fish stock assessments and provide improved management advice to regional fishery management bodies.
Notable publications related to this research include studies on catch limits during episodic natural mortality events, environmental effects on Bluefin tuna recruitment, and climate-driven ecosystem reorganization in the Gulf of Mexico.
Due Dates
- Application deadline: May 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
Applications are reviewed in cycles, with this deadline corresponding to the spring review cycle. If the deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: $56,000 per year
- Travel allowance: $2,000 per year
- Duration: Typically 2-3 years
- Additional benefits: Paid relocation for awardees living more than 50 miles from the host lab (if tenure is at least six months), group health insurance coverage for awardees and qualifying dependents.
Eligibility
- Open to postdoctoral and senior researchers.
- Applicants must have earned a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent) before starting tenure.
- Postdoctoral applicants must have held their doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline.
- Senior applicants must have held their doctorate for at least five years or have a permanent appointment with significant research accomplishments.
- Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens (note that some security clearance or residency requirements may apply).
- Applicants with current or recent prior affiliation with NOAA or the sponsoring lab may be ineligible.
- Applicants must contact the proposed Research Adviser (Mandy Karnauskas) prior to applying to discuss research projects and funding availability.
Application Process
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP website.
- Identify this Research Opportunity (NOAA Stock Assessment / Ecosystem-based Approaches to Fishery Management, Opportunity Number 26.03.43.C0172).
- Contact the Research Adviser to discuss your research proposal.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Profile information (contact, education, transcripts, research history)
- Research proposal (up to 10 pages) detailing problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs)
- Submit application via the NRC RAP online portal before the deadline.
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers through the online system by the deadline.
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels; scoring above 70/100 is typically required for award recommendation.
Additional Information
- Health insurance is mandatory for the duration of the tenure.
- Relocation assistance is available for eligible awardees.
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance, meetings, or fieldwork.
- Applicants should ensure all documents are in English, formatted as PDFs, and meet page and file size limits.
- Feedback on application reviews is provided approximately one week after review finalization.
- Applicants who do not receive awards may reapply; those recommended but not funded may reapply without waiting.
External Links
Contact Information
| Contact Person | Email | Phone | Affiliation |
|---|
| Mandy Karnauskas | Mandy.Karnauskas@noaa.gov | 305-361-4592 | NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center |
| NRC RAP Office | rap@nas.edu | 202-334-2760 | NRC Research Associateship Programs |