The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) places scientists on ongoing NASA research at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters or a NASA-affiliated institute. Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) runs it for NASA.
Each fellowship is tied to one posted research opportunity with a named NASA advisor. Applicants within five years of their doctorate enter as Postdoctoral Fellows, others as Senior Fellows; a Management Program track at Headquarters is open after one year of a research fellowship.
Benefits & funding
- Postdoctoral Fellows: stipend from US$70,000 a year, plus supplements for high-cost areas and some specialties; Senior Fellows’ stipends depend on location, experience and rank.
- US$10,000 per appointment year for research travel; unused funds carry over.
- NASA pays about 85% of health insurance bought through ORAU (taxable).
- Relocation costs may be reimbursed (taxable).
- 24 months at first, reviewed yearly; up to three years, with year 3 funded by the advisor.
Eligibility
- A PhD or equivalent doctorate completed before the fellowship starts; you may apply while still finishing.
- One of: US citizenship; US lawful permanent residence; foreign nationals eligible for a J-1 exchange visitor visa (obtained after selection); or applicants for US permanent residence, asylum or refugee status holding a valid EAD with a pending I-485 or I-589.
- Each opportunity sets its own citizenship rule: some are open to US citizens only, and citizens of designated countries may be excluded.
- Researchers affiliated with an institution in the People’s Republic of China, or intending to collaborate with researchers there, are not eligible.
- No NPP appointment within the past five years.
- You must relocate to the host site for the whole appointment.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
PhD Enrolled · PhD
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Choose one posted research opportunity (one application per cycle) and contact its NASA advisor.
- 2Submit through the Zintellect portal a research proposal of at most 15 pages; Postdoctoral Fellow applicants also upload doctoral transcripts.
- 3Arrange three recommendation letters by the deadline; Postdoctoral Fellow applicants need one from their thesis advisor, and the NASA advisor may not be a referee.
- 4Apply by 1 November 2026, 6 p.m. US Eastern; other rounds usually close 1 March and 1 July.
Program timeline
Application and reference-letter deadline
1 November 2026, 6 p.m. US Eastern
About two to three months after the deadline
Award notification
Within three weeks of the offer
Acceptance due
Within six months of the offer letter
Appointment usually starts