Fellowship/Professional Development Program

NRC Research Associateship Programs

The NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) are prestigious postdoctoral and senior research awards designed to provide promising scientists and engineers with high-quality research opportunities at federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. These programs offer a comprehensive experience, including mentorship and access to state-of-the-art facilities, all geared toward enhancing the research career development of the Research Associates.

Not accepting applications

About Review process Resources

Key dates

Application Opens	*Deadline (5 PM ET)**	Review Finalized
December 1	February 1	Early March
March 1	May 1	Early June
June 1	August 1	Early September
September 1	November 1	Early December

Reviewer feedback will be available to applicants one week after the review has been finalized. Applicants will be notified via e-mail once this information is available.

*If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline is moved to the next business day.

Award details

Stipend

NRC Research Associates receive a stipend while carrying out their proposed research. Stipends vary by sponsoring agency and location and can be found by within the details of the Research Opportunity listing.

Awards for applicants to NIST are made directly by NIST, and NRC Research Associates at NIST are hired for two-year term appointments.

Insurance

NRC Research Associates are required to be enrolled in a health insurance plan throughout the length of their tenure. A group health insurance program, which provides coverage for major medical expenses, is available to Research Associates and their qualifying dependents in the United States. The cost of this program is shared by the Research Associate and the sponsoring agency.

All exchange visitors and their dependent families are required by the U.S. Department of State to carry health insurance while they are in the United States.

Relocation Assistance

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

Travel Allowance

Every NRC Research Associate is granted an annual travel allowance to help offset expenses associated with attending conferences, meetings, training events, or conducting field work. The exact allowance varies by sponsoring agency and can be found within the specifics of each Research Opportunity.

Application

Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender identity, or national origin.

Education and Experience

Applicants must have earned a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or academically equivalent research doctorate before beginning tenure.

The Fellowships Office makes NRC Research Associateship awards at the postdoctoral and senior researcher levels.
- Postdoctoral Associateships: Applicants must have held the doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline.
  
  Senior Associateships: Applicants are required to either have held a doctorate for at least five years by the application deadline or to have a permanent appointment in academia, government, or industry, complemented by research experience that has led to significant contributions and recognition as established investigators in their specific fields. To ascertain if senior applicants are accepted, applicants are advised to review the specifics of the agency to which they are applying.
Current or Prior Affiliation with the Laboratory

Individuals with current or recent prior affiliation with the sponsoring agency they wish to apply to may not be eligible.
Disqualifying current or prior affiliation includes:
- Direct employment relationships either with the agency or with a contractor whose work is performed at the agency
  
  Current or previous postdoctoral fellowships sponsored by or conducted at the sponsoring federal agency/laboratory
Current or prior affiliation that is generally acceptable includes:
- Research performed in collaboration with scientists at the sponsoring federal agency/laboratory as a student, postdoc, or faculty member unless the proposed research involves continuation of work with the same Research Adviser or on the same or similar project.?
  
  Participation in the NIST Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) unless the proposed research involves continuation of the same project.?
Applicants uncertain of their eligibility should confirm it with the agency they are applying to and the Fellowships Office (rap@nas.edu) prior to submitting the application.

Citizenship and Immigration Status

Citizenship requirements for the NRC Research Associateship Programs vary depending on the sponsoring federal laboratory. Applicants should refer to the citizenship requirements of the agency to which they are applying and to the Visa Options for International Associates (PDF).

Security Review/Security Clearance

Depending on the agency, an award may be contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a National Agency Check (NAC) or other clearance processes.?If the investigation yields unsatisfactory results, it will lead to the withdrawal of the Associateship award offer.

Laboratories that accept applications from foreign nationals may necessitate a prior U.S. residency of up to three years as part of their clearance processes. Foreign nationals are advised to discuss security requirements with their prospective Research Adviser and/or agency program manager.
To begin the application process, follow the steps below:
1. Review the eligibility criteria to determine your eligibility for an NRC Research Associateship. Some sponsoring agencies may have additional eligibility requirements listed in their Research Opportunities.
  
  Identify Research Opportunities you wish to pursue. Visit the sponsoring agency pages or use the general search function to find Research Opportunities. Applicants can apply for up to three Research Opportunities; however, only one application per sponsoring federal agency is allowed.
  
  Contact the proposed Research Adviser(s) listed with the Research Opportunities of interest to discuss potential research projects and funding availability.
  
  Follow the instructions provided in the Applicant Guide (PDF).
  
  Once you have completed the steps above, start an application.
Letter of Recommendation Instructions

Applicant Resource

Applicant Guide

Applicant Resource

Selection process

Review Panels

Applications for awards from the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) are reviewed by panels of experts in the following broad discipline areas:
- Chemistry
- Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Mathematics
- Life Sciences
- Physics
The panels are composed of top scientists and engineers across academia, industry, and government. Many RAP reviewers are members of one or more of the National Academies, and newly inducted members of the National Academies are routinely invited to serve as reviewers. Each panel is led by a panel Chair and Co-Chair, who are typically more experienced reviewers that assist with the proper functioning of the review panels.

Review Process

Prior to National Academies’ panel review, the applicant's proposed Research Adviser reviews the candidate’s application and provides their scientific evaluation of the project, its relevance to the scientific interests of the sponsoring organization, the availability of support facilities, and an indication of their willingness to serve as a Research Adviser. Approval to review an applicant is then endorsed by the Laboratory Program Representative to affirm support for the project should the applicant be recommended for an award. The approval for review by the NRC Research Associateship Programs panels is not a commitment for funding.

Each application is read by a minimum of 3 reviewers. Reviewers assess the quality of an application, the likelihood for success, and the contribution of the research to the mission of the sponsoring federal laboratory.

Postdoctoral applicants are evaluated on the basis of demonstrated ability as a student and on their potential for making contributions as an independent scientist. Senior applicants are evaluated on the basis of proven ability and demonstrated research accomplishments.

Evaluations are made without regard to age, gender, marital status, national origin, creed, racial group, or ethnic group.

Application Evaluation

Each reviewer will assign a numerical score based on a 100-point scale, and the final score is an average of all reviews. All applicants scoring higher than 60 are eligible for an award, but only applicants with a final score of 70 or above will receive a recommendation for award by the review panel. Sponsoring laboratories offer awards to the highest scoring applicants first and continue to make awards until available slots are filled.

In the review process each applicant is evaluated on the following elements:

1. Academic and Research Record
- Educational background
- Previous research experience
- Publications and presentations
2. Letters of Recommendation

3. Scientific Merit of the Proposed Research
- Clarity of objectives and methodology
- Technical/innovative quality of the work plan
- Feasibility of success in the proposed timeframe
- Qualifications of the applicant relative to the proposed research
4. Host Laboratory/Center Review

The Laboratory/Center Review form includes comments from the prospective Adviser and the disposition of the Laboratory/Center's program committee or representative concerning the importance of the proposed research to the mission of the laboratory and capacity of the laboratory to support the research.?

FAQs

How can I determine my eligibility for an NRC Research Associateship award?

Eligibility varies by sponsoring laboratory and some laboratories have citizenship restrictions. To determine your eligibility, review the eligibility information above as well as the specific criteria of the agency to which you are applying. 
Can an NRC Research Associateship award pay for research done at my current institution?

NRC Research Associateships are awarded to individuals to do research on-site only at sponsoring laboratories and affiliated institutions participating in the program. 
Am I permitted to list a reference who is employed at the agency to which I am applying?

Letter writers may not be employed in any capacity or any location of the agency to which you are applying unless they have served as mentors or collaborators on research performed while the applicant was a student, postdoc, or faculty member.
Can I use transcripts and/or letters from a previous review?

Transcripts can be carried over without any restrictions if there are no changes. You should ensure that the most current version of your transcript has been uploaded to your application prior to the application deadline. Letter writers may use a previous letter; however, they must re-upload their letter on your behalf by the application deadline.
Will I be notified when my application is complete?

No. Before submitting your application, check its completeness by selecting Validate & Submit in the left navigation of the application module. You will not be able to submit your application until all required fields and uploads have been completed. Once you have successfully submitted your application, your application will indicate its submitted status. 
Are all submitted applications reviewed?

It is at the discretion of the laboratory whether or not to recommend a submitted application for review. To increase the likelihood of having your application approved for review, please discuss your application and research proposal with your proposed Research Adviser prior to submitting the application. The proposed Research Adviser may suggest revisions to improve a proposal's scientific or technical quality or to provide better integration into the research mission of the agency or center. Determining if a proposal is viable based on either funding availability or research scope is left to the agency.
How are applications reviewed?

Applications are reviewed by panels of experts in the discipline area of your proposal. Reviewers include leading researchers in science, engineering, and technology from academia, government, and industry.
How do I get feedback on the review of my application?

Reviewer feedback will be available to applicants one week after the review has been finalized. Applicants will be notified via e-mail once this information is available.
What happens after the review is completed?

If you passed the review, you are then eligible for an award and the agency may select you if funding is available. Agency decisions are based on your relative rank among other applicants and additional factors including importance of your proposed work to the mission of the agency.
How long does the award decision process take and how will I be notified if I have been selected or not?

The timing of award decisions varies by agency. In some cases, decisions may be made shortly after the review concludes, while in others, especially where funding is being determined, it may take additional time. There is no fixed deadline for laboratories to make award decisions, but we aim to get award offers out to applicants as early as possible. In most cases, you will be notified by the Fellowships Office of the National Academies regarding an award offer. For applicants to NIST Research Opportunities, the notification will come directly from NIST. Please note that awards can be held for up to one year. Your point of contact during the application and review process is the Research Adviser of the opportunity you applied to, so please request they contact the laboratory program representative(s) regarding any questions on the status of an award.
If I do not receive an award when can I reapply?

Candidates who were recommended for an award by the panels but who were not offered an award because of funding or other limitations may reapply at any time without a mandatory waiting time.
Applicants who do not pass the review must wait one year to reapply and are encouraged to read the comments of reviewers to improve their application prior to reapplying.
I have previously held an NRC Research Associateship. Am I eligible to apply for another award?

Individuals who have previously held an NRC Research Associateship may apply for another award only if a period of at least two years will have elapsed between termination of the first award and the proposed tenure of a second.

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My Academies

NRC Research Associateship Programs

Key dates

Award details

Stipend

Insurance

Relocation Assistance

Travel Allowance

Application

Application Process

Eligibility

How to apply

Resources

Selection process

Selection criteria

FAQs

FAQs

How can I determine my eligibility for an NRC Research Associateship award?

Must I already have my doctoral degree to apply?

Can an NRC Research Associateship award pay for research done at my current institution?

Am I permitted to list a reference who is employed at the agency to which I am applying?

Can I use transcripts and/or letters from a previous review?

Will I be notified when my application is complete?

Are all submitted applications reviewed?

How are applications reviewed?

How do I get feedback on the review of my application?

What happens after the review is completed?

How long does the award decision process take and how will I be notified if I have been selected or not?

If I do not receive an award when can I reapply?

I have previously held an NRC Research Associateship. Am I eligible to apply for another award?