Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology | 24 593

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 593

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), is offering Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to support recent PhD recipients in carrying out focused research and training in BIO-supported fields while also advancing human resource development in biology. The program is designed to help early-career scientists build independence quickly by letting them pursue a well-justified research and professional development plan at the research location(s) best suited to their goals, working closely with one or more sponsoring scientists. A core expectation is that sponsors will provide active mentoring, and that both the fellow and the host research group will benefit from the fellow being integrated into ongoing scientific work.

For this solicitation, proposals must align with BIO and be placed into one of three specific competitive areas: (1) Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology, (2) Integrative Research on the Rules of Life, specifically examining interactions among genomes, environment, and phenotypes, and (3) Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. Regardless of the track, the fellowship requires a research and training plan that addresses important biological questions within BIOs scope and follows the program-specific guidance for the chosen area. NSF also signals that potential applicants should start planning early, ideally while still in their PhD programs, by discussing fit and timing with doctoral mentors and prospective postdoctoral sponsors.

A key feature of PRFB is that proposals must be submitted by the individual applicant rather than by a university or other host organization. The award is made directly to the postdoctoral fellow and administered by the fellow, reinforcing the programs emphasis on independence and individual career development. While the fellowship is awarded to a person, the applicant must still identify appropriate sponsoring scientist(s) and affiliate with a suitable host institution at the time of submission. Eligible hosts can include U.S. institutions of higher education, private nonprofit institutes (including museums), government agencies and laboratories, and in limited cases for-profit organizations if special conditions are met and prior approval is obtained from an NSF Program Officer. International host institutions can also be appropriate, particularly higher education institutions and private nonprofit organizations.

Eligibility is tightly focused on scientists very early in their postdoctoral careers. The program is intended primarily for graduate students seeking support for their first postdoctoral position or for postdoctoral researchers who are still at an early stage. Applicants are not eligible if they have held positions requiring a doctoral degree for more than a combined total of 15 full-time months before the proposal deadline. In addition, applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents (green card holders) at the time of submission; they must earn the doctoral degree in an appropriate field before the fellowship begins; their research plan must fall within BIO and fit one of the three competitive areas; and they must choose sponsors, departments, and institutions that clearly expand or broaden their research focus and training. Applicants also cannot submit the same research proposal to another NSF postdoctoral fellowship program. Proposals that do not meet these requirements are returned without review, and submitting the proposal serves as a formal certification that the applicant meets the stated eligibility criteria, with false statements subject to federal criminal penalties.

Administrative details in the listing identify this as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity (CFDA 47.074) titled "Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology" (Funding Opportunity Number 24-593), with an original closing date of 2024-11-07 and an opportunity creation date of 2024-08-09. The notice does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided text, but it clearly emphasizes that the fellowship supports independent, mentored postdoctoral research and training in BIO priority areas while strengthening participation and development of talent in the biological sciences.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 24 593

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: