The NRC Research Associateship Programs fund postdoctoral and senior scientists and engineers to pursue self-proposed research at U.S. federal laboratories. The National Academies’ Office of Fellowships runs the competition with 16 participating agencies, among them NIST, NOAA, the Naval Research Laboratory and Army and Air Force laboratories.
Applicants choose a Research Opportunity posted by a laboratory adviser and build their proposal around it. Associates are guest researchers, not employees, except at NIST, which hires them on two-year appointments.
Benefits & funding
- A stipend set by the sponsoring agency and location, listed in each Research Opportunity.
- Group health insurance, with the cost shared between associate and agency.
- Paid relocation for awardees living over 50 miles from the lab who stay at least six months.
- An annual travel and professional-development allowance, set by the agency.
- An initial 12 months, renewable for 12–24 more; senior awards can run as little as 3 months.
Eligibility
- A Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M. or equivalent research doctorate, earned before tenure begins.
- Postdoctoral: doctorate held under five years at the deadline; senior: five years or more, or a permanent post with an established research record; not every lab takes seniors.
- Citizenship rules vary by laboratory: some take U.S. citizens only, some add permanent residents, and several, including NOAA and NSA, also accept non-U.S. citizens.
- Labs open to foreign nationals may require up to three years of prior U.S. residency for security clearance.
- No current or recent (under 24 months) employment or postdoc at any participating laboratory in the agency program applied to.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
PhD Enrolled · PhD
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Application process
- 1Choose up to three Research Opportunities per cycle, no more than one per agency.
- 2Contact each listed Research Adviser to discuss the project and funding before applying.
- 3Submit the online application, with proposal, transcripts and recommendation letters, by 5 PM ET on the cycle deadline.
- 4The adviser and laboratory decide whether to send it to a panel, where at least three reviewers score it.
Program timeline
Current cycle opened
September 1, 2026
Application deadline
November 2, 2026, 5 PM ET
Under review
From November 3, 2026
December 1, 2026
Next cycle opens, closing February 1, 2027
Current cycle’s review finalized
Early December 2026