Fellowship/Professional Development Program

Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program

The Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program (AF STFP) provides nationally competitive fellowship awards for postdoctoral and senior scientists. Selected individuals have the unique opportunity to engage in collaborative research alongside Air Force scientists and engineers within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), and the U.S. Space Force (USSF). This program offers high-quality research opportunities, aiming to foster innovation and technological advancement within the Air Force through these collaborations.

Apply

Applications open

Until May 1, 2026 5:00 PM

Under review

May 2, 2026 - TBD

Recipient announcements

TBD

About Application and 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 approximately one week after the review has been finalized. Applicants will be notified via email 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

AF STFP Fellows receive an annual stipend starting at $95,000 carrying out their proposed research which may be higher based on a Fellow’s years of experience past obtaining a doctoral degree. All Fellows will receive a stipend increase after one year of tenure.

Term

Awards are typically made for an initial 12 months, renewable for an additional 12 months depending on funding and laboratory needs.

Insurance

AF STFP Fellows are required to be enrolled in a health insurance plan throughout the length of their tenure. A group health insurance plan, which provides coverage for major medical expenses, is available to Fellows and their qualifying dependents in the United States. The cost of this plan is shared by the Fellow and the Air Force.

Relocation Assistance

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

Professional Travel and Development Allowance

Every Fellow is granted an annual professional travel and development allowance of $5,000 to help offset expenses associated with attending conferences, meetings, training events, or conducting field work.

Application

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

For additional information on eligibility requirements, please watch the "Eligibility & Benefits Deep Dive" webinar recording.

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.

Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship awards are available at the postdoctoral and senior researcher levels:
- Postdoctoral Fellowships: Applicants must have held the doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline.
- Senior Fellowships: Applicants must hold a doctorate for a minimum of five years by the application deadline or 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.
Current or Prior Affiliation with the Laboratory

Individuals with current or recent affiliation with any laboratory participating in the AF STFP may not be eligible. (“Recent” is defined as less than 24 months between termination of the prior affiliation and the proposed start of AF STFP tenure.) A list of laboratories that participate in the program can be found here.

Current or recent affiliation is generally acceptable if it involves research performed in collaboration with scientists at Air Force laboratories as a student, postdoc, or faculty member, unless the proposed research involves continuation of the same project.

Disqualifying current or recent affiliation includes:
- Direct employment relationships either with the Air Force or with a contractor whose work is performed at an Air Force laboratory
- Postdoctoral fellowships sponsored by or conducted at an Air Force laboratory
Applicants uncertain of their eligibility should confirm it with the agency they are applying to and the Office of Fellowships (afstfp@nas.edu) prior to submitting the application.

Citizenship and Immigration Status

AF STFP Fellows are limited to U.S Citizens.

Security Review/Security Clearance

AF STFP awards are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a public trust background investigation. If the investigation yields unsatisfactory results, a fellowship will not be offered.
For additional information on the steps of the application process, watch the "Introduction: Fellowship and Application Process" webinar recording.

InfoRAP serves as the application portal for both the AF STFP and the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP). To begin the AF STFP application process, follow the steps below:
1. Review the eligibility criteria above to determine your eligibility for the AF STFP.
2. Identify Research Opportunities you wish to pursue by browsing the list of available opportunities or using the search function. Applicants can apply to only one AF STFP Research Opportunity per cycle.
3. Contact the proposed Research Adviser(s) listed with the Research Opportunities of interest to discuss potential research projects and funding availability.
4. Follow the instructions provided in the Applicant Guide.
5. Once you have completed the steps above, start an application.
Instructions for Recommendation Letter Writers

Applicant Resource

Applicant Guide

Applicant Resource

Selection process

Preparing a Competitive Application

For tips on preparing your application, watch the "Preparing a Competitive Fellowship Application" webinar recording.

Review Panels

Applications to both the AF STFP and NRC 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 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 two panel Co-Chairs, 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 panel review 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 Air Force 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

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. Applications with out-of-date transcripts will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered for review. Letter writers may use a previous letter; however, they must re-upload their letter on your behalf by the application deadline.
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.
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.
The process varies, and in cases where funding is being determined, it may take additional time. There is no fixed deadline for award decisions to be made, but we aim to get award offers out to applicants as early as possible. You will be notified by the Fellowships Office of the National Academies regarding an award offer. 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.
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.

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My Academies

Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program

Key dates

Award details

Stipend

Term

Insurance

Relocation Assistance

Professional Travel and Development Allowance

Application

Application Process

Eligibility

How to apply

Resources

Selection process

Selection criteria

FAQs

FAQs

How can I determine my eligibility for an AF STFP award?

Must I already have my doctoral degree to apply?

Can an AF STFP award pay for research done at my current institution?

Am I permitted to list a reference who is employed at an Air Force facility?

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 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 was previously an AF STFP Fellow. Am I eligible to apply for another award?