Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Fellowship funding for postdoctoral research focused on quantitative chemical analysis of e-waste to support circular economy initiatives.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree; research conducted on-site at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD; application requires contacting a research adviser prior to applying.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports postdoctoral research on the quantitative elemental analysis of electronic waste (e-waste) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The goal is to better understand the chemical composition of e-waste, which is critical for advancing recovery and recycling efforts within the circular economy framework.
The research involves receiving e-waste samples from partner recyclers, homogenizing the material, and performing both destructive and non-destructive chemical analyses. Techniques available include Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF).
Candidates will develop homogenization processes and measurement techniques, with potential future work including the development of standard reference materials to support the e-waste recycling industry and further research into e-waste composition and recovery processes.
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)
If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: $82,764 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually
- Typical appointment duration: 2 years
- No supplementation indicated
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 or related postdoctoral fellowships may be ineligible
- Research location: Research must be conducted on-site at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD
Application Process
- Identify the research opportunity and contact the designated Research Adviser (Nicholas Eugene Sharp; nicholas.sharp@nist.gov; 301-975-3926) prior to applying
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) detailing 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)
- Upload transcripts (required for postdoctoral applicants)
- Submit application via the NRC Research Associateship Programs online portal
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels; scoring above 70 is typically required for award recommendation
- Review cycles occur four times per year with feedback provided approximately one week after review finalization
Additional Information
- Health insurance enrollment is required throughout the tenure; group health insurance 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, meetings, and fieldwork
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the application deadline
- Applicants are responsible for ensuring all materials are complete and submitted on time
- Previous NRC Research Associateship recipients may apply again after a two-year gap from prior award termination
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Contact Information