Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $80,000/year plus $3,000 travel allowance; stipend increases with experience; typical fellowship duration 2-3 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research on novel super-hydrophobic, non-flammable composite resins to reduce water uptake and improve performance in aerospace polymer matrix composites.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a PhD earned within 5 years; research conducted onsite at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, CA.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports research on the design and development of new super-hydrophobic composite resins aimed at significantly reducing water uptake in polymer matrix composite (PMC) parts. Water retention in composite structures causes several detrimental effects such as wet glass transition temperature (wet-Tg) knockdown, catastrophic part failure due to rapid heating, increased galvanic corrosion of adjacent metal parts, and overall weight gain. These issues are especially problematic for the U.S. Navy, which operates in humid and saltwater environments.
The research will focus on creating hyper-hydrophobic resins with novel chemical structures and cure chemistries that maintain or improve composite processing capabilities, eliminate wet-Tg knockdown, and extend the use temperature for high-performance aerospace applications. Additionally, the new resins are required to be non-flammable and self-extinguishing, enhancing warfighter safety, asset performance, and survivability.
The research is conducted at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) in China Lake, CA, within the Chemistry Division.
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: Approximately $80,000 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 annually
- Stipend increases with years of postdoctoral experience beyond PhD
- Typical fellowship duration: 2-3 years
- Additional benefits include paid relocation (if relocating more than 50 miles) and access to group health insurance for awardees and dependents in the U.S.
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens only
- Education: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. 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
- Current or recent prior affiliation with the sponsoring agency (NAWCWD) may disqualify applicants; check eligibility carefully
- Research must be conducted onsite at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, CA
Application Process
- Identify the Research Opportunity number: 34.01.01.B8008
- Contact the Research Adviser prior to applying: Joseph W Tsang (Joseph.w.tsang.civ@us.navy.mil, 760-939-1617)
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) detailing problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- Curriculum vitae, transcripts (postdocs only), and list of publications/presentations
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs)
- Submit application via the NRC RAP online system: Apply Now
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels; scoring above 70/100 is typically required for award recommendation
- Review feedback is provided approximately one week after panel decisions
Additional Information
- Awardees must enroll in health insurance throughout the tenure
- Relocation assistance is available for those moving more than 50 miles
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance and fieldwork
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline
- Applicants should ensure no conflicts of interest with letter writers employed by the sponsoring agency unless they have served as mentors or collaborators
- Applicants with prior NRC Research Associateships must wait at least two years after termination before applying again
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