Fellowship Opportunities
Below is a selection of fellowships that support postdoctoral fellows. Please note that several of them have specific citizenship requirements. Before applying, we encourage you to contact our Research Development Office that provides support in identifying the best funding opportunity and writing the application.
| Sponsor opportunity |
Deadline | Overview | Citizenship requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship in Aging Research | Deadline for Letters of Intent: January 22, 2020 | Basic and translational research that builds on early discoveries that show translational potential for clinical relevant strategies See https://explorehealthcareers.org/funding_opportunity/the-american-heart-association-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/ for more details. |
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| The American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship Program | The program intends to initiate careers in cardiovascular and stroke research while obtaining significant research results under the supervision of a sponsor or mentor, prior to embarking on a career in independent research. Research broadly related to cardiovascular function and disease, stroke or to related clinical, basic science, bioengineering or biotechnology, and public health problems. Proposals are encouraged from all basic, epidemiological and/or clinical disciplines that bear on cardiovascular and stroke problems. See https://explorehealthcareers.org/funding_opportunity/the-american-heart-association-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/ for project descriptions |
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| Postdoctoral Fellow at U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Research Associateship Program (RAP) | Applications for 2020 will open in December | From life-saving vaccines to sustainable energy development, science is making the world better for everyone. We know that jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are the jobs of tomorrow, but today, women only make up 24 percent of STEM workers in the United States, only 14 percent of the country’s engineers and 27 percent of computer science professionals. Without appropriate female representation, the potential STEM innovations of tomorrow will be missing half of the talent in our world. See https://www.lorealusa.com/csr-commitments/l%E2%80%99or%C3%A9al-usa-for-women-in-science-program for more information. |
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| Autism Speaks Postdoctoral Fellowship | February 27, 2019, 8:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) | Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, forthe needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support;increasing understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research intocauses and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. We empower peoplewith autism and their families with resources, online tools and information covering the life span.The goal of this program is to support well-qualified postdoctoral scientists pursuing training in autismspectrum disorder (ASD). The program is open to applicants from public or private institutions doingpreclinical or clinical research. See https://www.autismspeaks.org/scientific-research-grants-how-apply for more information. |
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| Postdoctoral Fellow at U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Research Associateship Program (RAP) | Rolling Deadline | Opportunities are varied across many disciplines and rotate frequently. Areas of science include: Computational and Information Sciences Directorate Human Research and Engineering Directorate Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate Vehicle Technology Directorate Weapons and Materials Research Directorate See https://orau.org/arlfellowship/search-projects/default.htm for project descriptions |
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| Postdoctoral ResearchFellowships in Biology (PRFB) | Full Proposal Deadline Date: November 19, 2019 | The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) awards Postdoctoral ResearchFellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent recipients of the doctoral degree forresearch and training in selected areas supported by BIO and with special goalsfor human resource development in biology. The fellowships encourageindependence at an early stage of the research career to permit Fellows topursue their research and training goals in the most appropriate researchlocations regardless of the availability of funding for the Fellows at thatsite. For applications under this solicitation, these areas are (1) BroadeningParticipation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology, (2) InterdisciplinaryResearch Using Biological Collections, (3) National Plant Genome Initiative(NPGI) Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and (4) Integrative ResearchInvestigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes,Environment and Phenotypes. | |
| The NASA PostdoctoralProgram (NPP) | Application cycle deadlines for the NASA Postdoctoral Program are March 1, July1 and November 1, annually.Currently, the Astrobiology Program acceptsapplications only during the March and November rounds, and does not considerapplications submitted during the July round. | The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities tohighly-talented US and non-US scientists to engage in ongoing NASA researchprojects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated researchinstitute. These one- to three-year Fellowship appointments are competitive andare designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, earth science,aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology. | An applicant must have U.S. citizenship, Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status,or the Exchange Visitor J-1 Visa (research scholar only) before beginning thefellowship. An H-1B status is not acceptable. You are eligible to apply for theNPP while holding the F-1 status. |
| National Institutes of HealthThe NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award(F99/K00) | Letter of Intent: due 30 days before the application due date; Application:February 22 | The purpose of the NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award(F99/K00) is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students recognized bytheir institutions for their high potential and strong interest in pursuingcareers as independent cancer researchers. The award will facilitate thetransition of talented graduate students into successful cancer researchpostdoctoral appointments, and provide opportunities for career developmentactivities relevant to their long-term career goals of becoming independentcancer researchers | An applicant may be a citizen or a noncitizen national of the United States,have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currentlyvalid Permanent Resident Card USCIS Form I-551, or other legal verification ofsuch status), or be a non-U.S. citizen with a valid U.S. visa. |
| NIH Director's Early Independence Award | Letter of Intent: August 27; Application: September 27 | This award supports exceptional investigators who wish to pursue independentresearch essentially directly after completion of their terminaldoctoral/research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, therebyforgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating theirentry into an independent research career. Applications are welcome fromindividuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives and in any topic ofrelevance to the broad mission of NIH. The NIH Director's Early IndependenceAward is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program of the NIHCommon Fund. | No citizenship requirement for PDs/PIs. For applications submitted on behalf ofnon-U.S. citizens with temporary U.S. visas, visa status must allow the PD/PI toconduct the proposed research at the applicant institution. |
| AHRQ-sponsored NationalResearch Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship(F32) | April, August, December; expires August 9, 2022 | The purpose of this individual postdoctoral research training fellowship is toenhance the research training of promising postdoctoral candidates who have thepotential to become productive, independent investigators in health servicesresearch, with a research interest in areas and priorities relevant to themission of AHRQ. | Citizen or permanent resident |
| NINDS Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSAfor Training of Postdoctoral Fellows (F32) | April, August, December; expires September 8, 2019 | The purpose of this award is to support outstanding scientific training ofhighly promising postdoctoral candidates with outstanding mentors. Candidatesare eligible to apply for support from this program from ~12 months prior to thestart of the proposed postdoctoral position to within 12 months after startingin postdoctoral position.Based on the early timeframe of eligibility, and thediscouragement of inclusion of preliminary data, this NINDS F32 seeks to fosterearly, goal-directed planning and to encourage applications for bold and/orinnovative projects by the candidate that have the potential for significantimpact. Applications are expected to incorporate strong training in quantitativereasoning and the quantitative principles of experimental design and analysis.Support by this program is limited to the first 3 years of a candidate'sactivity in a specific laboratory or research environment, so as to furtherencourage early fellowship application and timely completion of "mentoredtraining" of the postdoctoral candidate in a single environment. | Citizen or permanent resident |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSAIndividual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32) | April, August, December; expires May 8, 2019 | The purpose of the Kirschstein-NRSA postdoctoral fellowship is to enhance theresearch training of promising postdoctoral candidates who have the potential tobecome productive, independent investigators in scientific health-relatedresearch fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes andCenters. | Citizen of permanent resident |
| NIDCD Research DissertationFellowship for Au.D. Audiologists (F32) | April, August, October; expires May 8, 2019 | The purpose of the NIDCD Research Dissertation Fellowship for Au.D. Audiologists(F32) program is to support a comprehensive, rigorous biomedical researchtraining, and dissertation research leading to a research doctorate (i.e.,Ph.D.) in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences. | Citizen or permanent resident |
Non-NIH Postdoctoral Opportunities, maintained by NIH, see website.
| Sponsor opportunity |
Deadline | Overview | Citizenship requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSF SBE Postdoctoral ResearchFellowships | November 1, 2017, October 9, 2018, second Tuesday in October | The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) offersPostdoctoral Research Fellowships to encourage independence early in theFellow's career through supporting his or her research and training goals. Theresearch and training plan of each Fellowship must address important scientificquestions within the scope of the SBE Directorate and the specific guidelines inthis solicitation. The SPRF program offers two tracks: (I) Fundamental Researchin the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR) and (II) Broadening Participation in the SBESciences (SPRF-BP). See the full text of the solicitation for a detaileddescription of these tracks. | Citizen or permanent resident |
| NSF Mathematical SciencesPostdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) | October 18, 2017; Third Wednesday in October | The purpose of the Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships(MSPRF) is to support future leaders in mathematics and statistics byfacilitating their participation in postdoctoral research environments that willhave maximal impact on their future scientific development. There are twooptions for awardees: Research Fellowship and Research Instructorship. Awardswill support research in areas of mathematics and statistics, includingapplications to other disciplines. | Citizen or permanent resident |
| NSF Postdoctoral ResearchFellowships in Biology (PRFB) | November 7, 2017; First Tuesday in November | The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) awards Postdoctoral ResearchFellowships in Biology to recent recipients of the doctoral degree for researchand training in selected areas supported by BIO and with special goals for humanresource development in biology. The fellowships encourage independence at anearly stage of the research career to permit Fellows to pursue their researchand training goals in the most appropriate research locations regardless of theavailability of funding for the Fellows at that site. For FY 2015 and beyond,these BIO programs are (1) Broadening Participation of Groups Under-representedin Biology, (2) Research Using Biological Collections, and (3) National PlantGenome Initiative (NPGI) Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. These areas changeperiodically as new scientific and infrastructure opportunities presentthemselves. For this reason, this solicitation will be changed as necessary toreflect the areas being funded | Citizen or permanent resident |
| NSF Earth Sciences PostdoctoralFellowships (EAR-PF) | October 25, 2017; Fourth Wednesday in October | The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) awards Postdoctoral Fellowships to recentrecipients of doctoral degrees to carry out an integrated program of independentresearch and professional development. Fellowship proposals must addressscientific questions within the scope of EAR disciplines and must align with theoverall theme for the postdoctoral program. The program supports researchers fora period of up to two years with fellowships that can be taken to theinstitution of their choice (including institutions abroad). The program isintended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential, andprovide them with research experience, mentorship, and training that willestablish them in leadership positions in the Earth Sciences community. Becausethe fellowships are offered only to postdoctoral scientists early in theircareer, doctoral advisors are encouraged to discuss the availability of EARpostdoctoral fellowships with their graduate students early in their doctoralprograms. Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and areadministered by the Fellows. | Citizen or permanent resident |
| NSF Astronomy and AstrophysicsPostdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF) | October 11, 2017; Second Wednesday in October | NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships provide an opportunityfor highly qualified, recent doctoral scientists to carry out an integratedprogram of independent research and education. Fellows may engage inobservational, instrumental, theoretical, laboratory or archival data researchin any area of astronomy or astrophysics, in combination with a coherenteducational plan for the duration of the fellowship. The program supportsresearchers for a period of up to three years with fellowships that may be takento eligible host institution(s) of their choice. The program is intended torecognize early-career investigators of significant potential and to providethem with experience in research and education that will establish them inpositions of distinction and leadership in the community. | Citizen or permanent resident |
| NSF/FDA Scholar-in-Residence atFDA | Any time | The National Science Foundation (NSF), through the Directorate for Engineering'sDivision of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems(CBET), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through its Center forDevices and Radiological Health (CDRH) have established the NSF/FDAScholar-inResidence Program at FDA. This program comprises an interagencypartnership for the investigation of scientific and engineering issuesconcerning emerging trends in medical device technology. This partnership isdesigned to enable investigators in science, engineering, and mathematics todevelop research collaborations within the intramural research environment atthe FDA. This solicitation features four flexible mechanisms for support ofresearch at the FDA: 1) Faculty at FDA; 2) Graduate Student Fellowships; 3)Postdoctoral Fellowships; and, 4) Undergraduate Student Research Experiences.Undergraduate student participants supported with NSF funds must be citizens orpermanent residents of the United States | unknown |
| EMBO Long-TermFellowships | February, August | The EMBO Long-Term Fellowships are awarded for a period of up to two years andsupport post-doctoral research visits to laboratories throughout Europe and theworld. International exchange is a key feature in the application process. | unrestricted |
| Alexander von Humboldt ResearchFellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers | Rolling | Supports 6 to 24 months research stay in Germany | unrestricted |
| AAUW AmericanFellowships | November | Women pursuing full-time study to complete dissertations, conductingpostdoctoral research full time, or preparing research for publication for eightconsecutive weeks | |
| AAUW InternationalFellowships | December | International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in theUnited States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Bothgraduate and postgraduate studies at accredited U.S. institutions are supported. | |
| Afya Bora Fellowship in GlobalHealth Leadership | December | The Afya Bora Fellowship in Global Health Leadership works to fill an identifiedgap in training for African and U.S. health professionals. This innovative12-month fellowship will prepare African and U.S. health professionals to leadand manage major health programs in African countries. | |
| L'Oreal USA for Women inScience fellowship program | February | From life-saving vaccines to sustainable energy development, science is makingthe world better for everyone. We know that jobs in Science, Technology,Engineering, and Math (STEM) are the jobs of tomorrow, but today, women onlymake up 24 percent of STEM workers in the United States, only 14 percent of thecountry's engineers and 27 percent of computer science professionals. Withoutappropriate female representation, the potential STEM innovations of tomorrowwill be missing half of the talent in our world. | US Citizen or permanent resident |
| American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowships | October 16, 2017; general: October, April | This award is to support the training of researchers who have received adoctoral degree to provide initial funding leading to an independent career incancer research (including basic, preclinical, clinical, cancer control,psychosocial, behavioral, epidemiology, health services and health policyresearch). Awards may be for three years with progressive stipends of $48,000,$50,000, and $52,000 per year, plus a $4,000 per year fellowship allowance (anadditional $1,500 is added to the fellowship allowance in the last year toattend the ACS Postdoctoral Fellows Symposium or a domestic scientific meeting).Depending on availability of special endowment funds, the Society annuallyselects one or more of the top-ranked fellowships to be supplemented above thestandard stipend. | Citizen or permanent resident |
| Damon Runyon Cancer ResearchFoundation | March, August | The Foundation encourages all theoretical and experimental research relevant tothe study of cancer and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies andprevention. Candidates must apply for the fellowship under the guidance of aSponsor—a scientist (tenured, tenure-track or equivalent position) capableof providing mentorship to the Fellow. In addition to aiding in theplanning, execution and supervision of the proposed research, the Sponsor's roleis to foster the development of the Fellow's overall knowledge, technical andanalytical skills, and capacity for scientific inquiry. The Sponsor is alsoexpected to assist the Fellow in attaining his/her career goals. Awards are made to institutions for the support of the Fellow under directsupervision of the Sponsor. |
Unrestricted; research has to be performed in the US |
| Beckman PostdoctoralFellowship | Check Spring 2018 | The Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows Award Program supports postdoctoralscholars with the highest potential for success in an independent academiccareer in chemistry and the life sciences, to assist in their transition from"mentored yet independent" postdoctoral projects to an independent, tenure-trackposition. These individuals are expected to become the next generation ofleaders and innovators in science, engineering, and technology. | Citizen or permanent resident |
| Banting PostdoctoralFellowship | 20-Sep-17 | Health Research, Natural sciences and/or engineering, social sciences and/orhumanities | Canadian citizens; permanent residents of Canada; foreign citizens |
| Fulbright Postdoctoral ScholarAwards | August | Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar Awards are open to U.S. scholars who haverecently completed their doctoral degree - typically within the five previousyears. Scholars are eligible to apply if they will complete the requirements fortheir doctoral (or equivalent) degree by February 1, 2018, unless otherwisespecified in the award description. Postdoctoral awards are available in STEMfields, the arts, humanities and social sciences. These grants present anexcellent opportunity for recently minted scholars to deepen their expertise, toacquire new skills, to work with additional resources and to make connectionswith others in their fields. | Citizens |
| Life Sciences ResearchFoundation | September | We believe that discoveries and application of innovations in biology for thepublic's good depends upon the training and support of the highest quality youngscientists. Every year our selection committee of renowned scientists identifythe top 5% of applicants from an international pool of more than 1000postdoctoral applicants. Once chosen, the LSRF collaborates with current andpotential sponsors to match them with fellows with similar research interests.In 2015, thirty of these remarkable young scientists were matched with sponsorsto support their research. Yet even now many excellent scientists remainunfunded. | Must work in US lab |
| Helen Hay Whitney Foundationearly postdoctoral research fellowships | June | The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation supports early postdoctoral research trainingin all basic biomedical sciences. To attain its ultimate goal of increasing the number of imaginative,well-trained and dedicated medical scientists, the Foundation grants financialsupport of sufficient duration to help further the careers of young men andwomen engaged in biological or medical research. |
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| Charles A. King TrustPostdoctoral Research Fellowship Program | February | Established in 1936, the Charles A. King Trust was created to "support andpromote the investigation of human disease and the alleviation of humansuffering through improved treatment." In keeping with these principles, theKing Trust today supports postdoctoral fellows in Basic Science andClinical/Health Services Research. | |
| American Brain TumorAssociation Basic Research Fellowship Program | January | Basic Research Fellowship Grants are two year, $100,000 grants supportingpostdoctoral fellows conducting brain tumor research. Fellows must include alead mentor who currently conducts brain tumor research at the same academicinstitution in an effort to provide research, scientific management and otherleadership guidance necessary to foster the applicant's career advancement. | unrestricted |
| NARSAD Young InvestigatorGrant | January - February | The NARSAD Young Investigator Grant provides support for the most promisingyoung scientists conducting neurobiological research. Two-year awards up to$70,000, or $35,000 per year are provided to enable promising investigators toeither extend research fellowship training or begin careers as independentresearch faculty. Basic and/or clinical investigators are supported, butresearch must be relevant to serious brain and behavior disorders such asschizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders or child and adolescent mentalillnesses. | No restriction |
| Burroughs Wellcome Fund CareerAwards for Medical Scientists | 3-Oct-17 | The Career Awards for Medical Scientists (CAMS) is a highly competitive programthat provides $700,000 awards over five years for physician-scientists, who arecommitted to an academic career, to bridge advanced postdoctoral/fellowshiptraining and the early years of faculty service. | US/Canadian citizens, permanent/temporary residents |
| Burroughs Wellcome FundPostdoctoral Enrichment Program | 15-Oct-17 | The Postdoctoral Enrichment Program (PDEP) provides a total of $60,000 overthree years to support the career development activities for underrepresentedminority postdoctoral fellows in a degree-granting institution (an institutionincludes its affiliated graduate and medical schools, hospitals and researchinstitutions) in the United States or Canada whose training and professionaldevelopment are guided by mentors committed to helping them advance to stellarcareers in biomedical or medical research. | US/Canadian citizens |
| Jane Coffin Childs MemorialFund for Medical Research | February | The Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research (known colloquially asthe JCC Fund) was established in 1937 for the purpose of supporting researchinto the causes and treatment of cancer. The Fund has taken a broad approach tothe study of cell growth and development, emphasizing the study of the basicbiology and chemistry of the underlying processes. The Fund has increasinglyfocused its resources on the funding of three-year postdoctoral Fellowships,supporting Fellows selected by its Board of Scientific Advisers from among thebest young scientists at what is often a critical stage in their careers. As aresult, there have been over 1,600 Jane Coffin Childs Fellows doing basiccancer-related research in laboratories in North America, Europe, Japan andAustralia. | Applicants may be citizens of any country, but for foreign nationals awards willbe made only for study in the United States. American citizens may hold afellowship either in the United States or in a foreign country. |
| The Irene Diamond Fund/AFARPostdoctoral Transition Awards in Aging | Irene Diamond Fund/AFAR Postdoctoral Transition Awards in Aging distinguishesitself from other postdoctoral fellowship programs by providing full-timeresearch training and flexible and portable grant support to senior postdoctoralfellows - those with at least 3 and not more than 6 years of prior postdoctoraltraining - providing leverage to negotiate for junior faculty appointments andindependent research programs either at their own or otherinstitutions. Translational research, in the broadest sense, is defined as a systematic effortto convert basic research knowledge into practical applications to improve humanhealth and well-being. This program will support Type 1 translational agingresearch, i.e. basic science discoveries that are moved into clinically-relevantfindings. Type 2 translational research, such as projects that are strictlyclinical in nature, are not eligible. Studies should use one or more of thefollowing models:
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| Glenn/AFAR PostdoctoralFellowhip Program for Translational Research on Aging | The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, in partnership with the AmericanFederation for Aging Research (AFAR), created the Glenn/AFAR PostdoctoralFellowship Program for Translational Research on Aging to encourage and furtherthe careers of postdoctoral fellows, who are uniquely capable of translatingadvances in basic research from the laboratory to the clinic. The award isintended to provide significant research and training support to permit thesepostdoctoral fellows to become established in the field of aging. | ||
| Hanna H. Gray FellowsProgram | January | HHMI seeks to increase diversity in the biomedical research community. We knowthat the biggest challenges in science call for diverse perspectives andoriginal thinking. The goal of the Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program is to recruitand retain individuals who are from gender, racial, ethnic, and other groupsunderrepresented in the life sciences, including those from disadvantagedbackgrounds, early in their careers. We believe these promising scientists havethe potential to become leaders in academic research and inspire futuregenerations. | |
| Wenner-Gren FoundationPost-Ph.D. Research Grants | May, November | Post-Ph.D. Research Grants are awarded to individuals holding a Ph.D. orequivalent degree to support individual research projects. The programcontributes to the Foundation's overall mission to support basic research inanthropology and to ensure that the discipline continues to be a source ofvibrant and significant work that furthers our understanding of humanity'scultural and biological origins, development, and variation. The Foundationsupports research that demonstrates a clear link to anthropological theory anddebates, and promises to make a solid contribution to advancing these ideas.There is no preference for any methodology, research location, or subfield. TheFoundation particularly welcomes proposals that employ a comparativeperspective, can generate innovative approaches or ideas, and/or integrate twoor more subfields. | |
| NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships | September 9, 2020 | The EAR Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to propose a strong, coherent research program in or across any area of Earth Science within the scope of the Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) disciplinary programs. The Division of Earth Sciences supports proposals for research geared toward improving the understanding of the structure, composition, and evolution of the Earth, evolutionary history of the life it supports, and the processes that govern the formation and behavior of Earth materials. The NSF EAR web site lists EAR disciplinary programs. Candidates are encouraged to approach the fellowships as opportunities to broaden their experience with research that moves beyond their previous research focus, and that takes a broad view of integrating disciplines, extending technical approaches to problems, or expanding collaborations. | Be U.S. citizens (or nationals) or permanent residents of the United States (i.e., have a “green card”) at the time of proposal submission |