AFRL Science and Technology Fellowship Program (STFP) is sponsored by Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The AF STFP offers opportunities for postdoctoral and senior scientists and engineers to perform research at sponsoring Air Force laboratory sites, enabling them to undertake innovative research projects that advance the technological capabilities of the Air Force, which may include AI-related defense applications.

Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program 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.

Until May 1, 2026 5:00 PM Application and Review Process 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. 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.

Awards are typically made for an initial 12 months, renewable for an additional 12 months depending on funding and laboratory needs. 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. 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. 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 . 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: Review the eligibility criteria above to determine your eligibility for the AF STFP. 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. 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 .

Once you have completed the steps above, start an application . Instructions for Recommendation Letter Writers Preparing a Competitive Application For tips on preparing your application, watch the "Preparing a Competitive Fellowship Application" webinar recording .

Applications to both the AF STFP and NRC RAP are reviewed by panels of experts in the following broad discipline areas: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Mathematics 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.

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. 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 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. How can I determine my eligibility for an AF STFP award? Please review the eligibility requirements.

Must I already have my doctoral degree to apply? You can apply before receiving your degree; however, all degree requirements must be met prior to beginning tenure. Can an AF STFP award pay for research done at my current institution?

Fellowships are awarded to individuals to do research on-site only at a participating Air Force laboratory . Am I permitted to list a reference who is employed at an Air Force facility? Letter writers may not be employed at an Air Force facility 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.

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. 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. See the selection process section above.

How do I get feedback on the review of my application? Reviewer feedback will be available via the online application approximately six to eight weeks after the application deadline. What happens after the review is completed?

If you passed the review, you are then eligible for an award and the Air Force may select you if funding is available. Award decisions are based your relative rank among other applicants and additional factors including importance of your proposed work to the mission of the Air Force facility. How long does the award 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 the Office of Fellowships aims to get award offers out to applicants as early as possible.

Applicants will be notified by the Office of Fellowships regarding an award offer. Please note that reviewed applications can be considered for award offers 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.

The Office of Fellowships is not able to provide details regarding the status of funding decisions. 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 was previously an AF STFP Fellow. Am I eligible to apply for another award?

Individuals who have previously held an AF STFP Fellowship 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. Space, Security, and Conflicts Our peer-reviewed reports present the evidence-based consensus of committees of experts. Explore the Latest News and Stories The latest news and stories, with context you can trust.

Seminar/Webinar/Lecture Series Stay in the loop with can’t-miss sessions, live events, and activities happening over the next two days. Annual State of the Science Address – June 2 Join NAS President Marcia McNutt for a discussion on the U.S. research enterprise and global science leadership.

Grants, Fellowships and Awards Science Communication Awards Congressional and Government Affairs Connecting policymakers with the National Academies Answers to everyday science and health questions Learn about membership to the three Academies Information on building access, visitor requirements, and facility operations. Former MyNAP users: You'll need to reset your password on your first login to MyAcademies.

Click "Forgot password" below to receive a reset link via email. Having trouble? Members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of respective Academy portals.

Password must be at least 8 characters I agree to receive emails from the National Academies While logged on as a guest, you can download any of our free PDFs on . You will remain logged in until you close your browser. Yes, send me emails when similar titles are published Thank you for creating a MyAcademies account!

Enjoy free access to thousands of National Academies' publications, a 10% discount off every purchase, and build your personal library. Enter the email address for your MyAcademies (formerly MyNAP) account to receive password reset instructions. We sent password reset instructions to .

Follow the link in that email to create a new password. Didn't receive it? Check your spam folder or Password must be at least 8 characters Your password has been reset.

Verify Your Email Address We sent a verification link to your email. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) and follow the link to verify your email address. If you did not receive the email, you can request a new verification link below Resend Verification Email I agree to receive emails from the National Academies We respect your privacy and will never share your information.