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: Fellowship supporting postdoctoral research on frequency comb-based optical two-way time-frequency transfer to advance optical clock synchronization and networks.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree; applications require prior contact with a research adviser; NIST participates in February and August review cycles.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports research in frequency comb-based optical two-way time-frequency transfer, aimed at enabling state-of-the-art optical clock measurements. The research focuses on developing ultra-precise methods for transferring time and frequency information over open-air paths, including terrestrial and satellite applications. Optical clock networks enabled by this technology have broad implications for fundamental physics tests, enhanced coherent sensing sensitivity, improved timing and navigation, and the distribution of an optically-defined time standard.
The research group leverages robust optical frequency combs and advanced digital signal processing techniques to achieve synchronization of clocks to within a femtosecond over 10-km scale paths and at terrestrial velocities. The fellowship is hosted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Communications Technology Laboratory in Boulder, CO.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (Review finalized early March)
- May 1, 2025 (Review finalized early June)
- August 1, 2025 (Review finalized early September)
- November 1, 2025 (Review finalized early December)
Note: If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: Approximately $82,764 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually
- Typical appointment duration: 2 years
- Health insurance required (cost shared between awardee and agency)
- Relocation assistance available for those 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 starting tenure
- Career stage: Postdoctoral applicants who 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 or related postdoctoral fellowships may be ineligible; consult eligibility criteria carefully
- Security clearance: May be required depending on agency policies
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP website.
- Identify this Research Opportunity (NIST Optical Time and Frequency Transfer) and contact the proposed Research Adviser, Laura Cathleen Sinclair (laura.sinclair@nist.gov), to discuss research plans and funding availability.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) with clear problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance.
- Previous and current research description (max 4 pages).
- List of publications and presentations (max 2 pages).
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs).
- Register and submit your application via the NRC RAP online portal before the deadline.
- Notify letter writers to upload their letters by the deadline.
Application Materials
- Profile information including education history and transcripts (postdocs must upload transcripts; seniors are exempt)
- Research proposal and abstracts with at least three keywords
- Letters of recommendation uploaded by letter writers through the online system
- Compliance with formatting and submission guidelines (PDF format, page limits, no headers/footers)
Review and Selection
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels in relevant scientific disciplines.
- Each application is scored on a 100-point scale; scores above 70 are recommended for awards.
- Selection considers academic record, research merit, letters, and alignment with agency mission.
- Applicants receive reviewer feedback approximately one week after review finalization.
Additional Information
- Awards are onsite at NIST in Boulder, CO.
- Health insurance coverage is mandatory.
- Relocation and travel allowances are provided.
- Applicants may apply to up to three different NRC RAP opportunities but only one per agency.
- Previous NRC Research Associateship holders may apply again after a two-year gap.
- Applicants should confirm eligibility if they have prior affiliations with the agency.
External Links
Contact Information