Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 base stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration is 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to develop advanced vibrational spectroscopy techniques for sensitive, rapid characterization of protein higher order structures, with applications in biological and biopharmaceutical sciences.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens holding a doctoral degree within the last 5 years; research conducted at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD; requires prior contact with research adviser.
Description
This postdoctoral research opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) focuses on advancing vibrational spectroscopy methods to selectively and sensitively characterize the higher order structure (HOS) of proteins. Proteins require specific three-dimensional conformations to function properly, and abnormalities in these structures can lead to serious health issues or reduced drug efficacy. Current methods for measuring HOS face challenges in reliability, speed, and sensitivity.
The research aims to develop two advanced spectroscopic techniques:
- Chiral coherent Raman spectroscopy: Sensitive to the helical backbones of proteins, capable of acquiring spectra over 100 times faster than conventional spontaneous chiral Raman methods.
- Quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based absorption spectroscopy: Measures secondary protein structures in aqueous solutions with improved concentration sensitivity compared to traditional FT-IR methods.
These innovations have significant implications for biological sciences, biopharmaceutical industries, and healthcare sectors by enabling faster, more accurate protein structure analysis.
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 length: 2 years
- No supplementation specified
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens only.
- Degree Requirements: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate before starting tenure.
- Experience Level: Postdoctoral applicants must have held their doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline.
- Affiliation Restrictions: Applicants with current or recent prior affiliation with NIST (e.g., employment or previous NRC fellowship) may be ineligible.
- Other: Applicants must contact the proposed Research Adviser prior to applying.
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review Eligibility: Confirm eligibility on the NRC RAP website and specific agency requirements.
- Identify Opportunity: Locate this research opportunity at NIST via the RAP search tools.
- Contact Adviser: Reach out to the Research Adviser (Young Jong Lee; youngjong.lee@nist.gov) to discuss the research project and funding availability.
- Prepare Application: Follow detailed instructions in the NRC RAP Applicant Guide, including:
- Profile information and transcripts (postdocs must upload transcripts from all post-secondary institutions).
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) including problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance.
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser).
- Submit Application: Apply online through the NRC RAP portal before the deadline.
Important Notes
- Only one application per sponsoring federal agency is allowed per cycle.
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline.
- Applications with incomplete materials or insufficient letters will not be reviewed.
- Applicants will receive reviewer feedback approximately one week after review finalization.
Additional Information
- Awardees must enroll in a health insurance plan during tenure; a group plan 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, or fieldwork.
- The research is conducted onsite at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD.
- The program encourages diversity and does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, age, gender identity, or national origin.
- Applicants with prior NRC Research Associateships must have a two-year gap before applying again.
External Links
Contact Information
This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for early-career researchers to contribute to cutting-edge spectroscopy techniques with broad impact on protein science and healthcare applications.