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Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (various programs) is a collection of fellowships from the National Science Foundation that funds recent doctoral graduates to advance their research careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Programs include the Innovative Postdoctoral Entrepreneurial Research Fellowship (IPERF), which provides $78,000 annually in stipend support plus research and training allowances.
Eligible applicants are generally U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who have recently earned or will shortly earn their PhD. Specific eligibility criteria vary by program.
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Funding for Postdoctoral Researchers - Funding at NSF | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Updates to NSF Research Security Policies On July 10, 2025, NSF issued an Important Notice providing updates to the agency's research security policies, including a research security training requirement, Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program annual certification requirement, prohibition on Confucius institutes and an updated FFDR reporting and submission timeline.
Funding for Postdoctoral Researchers The U.S. National Science Foundation offers postdoctoral fellows paid opportunities to expand their skills and knowledge in science and engineering. Information for principal investigators This page highlights opportunities that postdoctoral fellows can directly apply to. Engineering Postdoctoral Fellowship NSF's Engineering Fellows program supports independent postdoctoral research in engineering.
In addition to hands-on academic research with a faculty advisor, each fellowship cohort participates in professional development and mentoring activities designed to prepare them for future research careers. These two-year fellowships provide a stipend and travel allowance. Citizens and permanent residents of the United States who have recently earned a Ph.
D. are eligible to apply. The program accepts applications on an annual basis.
Visit the eFellows website to learn more. Innovative Postdoctoral Entrepreneurial Research Fellowship Funded by NSF, the Innovative Postdoctoral Entrepreneurial Research Fellowship (I-PERF) recruits, trains, mentors, matches and funds early-career, Ph. D.
-level scientists and engineers so they can participate in innovative entrepreneurial activities at some of the nation’s most promising startup companies. Fellows receive an annual stipend of $78,000, optional individual health and life insurance benefits, relocation assistance to the approved host company, a professional conference travel allowance, and scripted professional development training.
Applicants must have earned a doctoral degree in an NSF-supported STEM discipline within the last seven years. Only U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents are eligible to apply. See the I-PERF website for full eligibility criteria.
Visit the I-PERF website to apply.
Mathematical and Physical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships The NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate (NSF MPS) offers three postdoctoral fellowship programs: NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Supports postdoctoral fellows performing impactful research across all fields supported by NSF MPS while broadening the participation of groups that are underrepresented in the mathematical and physical sciences.
NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Supports postdoctoral fellows in pursuing research and training in mathematics and statistics, including their applications to other disciplines. NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships Supports postdoctoral fellows to conduct an integrated program of independent research and education in areas supported by the NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships NSF's Postdoctoral Research Fellowships support independent postdoctoral research, allowing fellows to perform work that will broaden their perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help establish them in leadership positions. These two- or three-year fellowships provide a stipend and a research and training allowance.
Citizens, nationals and permanent residents of the United States who have recently earned a Ph. D. or will have earned their Ph.
D. before beginning the fellowship are eligible to apply. Current postdoctoral fellowship opportunities can be found on NSF's Funding Search .
Deadlines vary by program: some accept proposals at any time while others have annual deadlines.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Eligibility varies by specific program, but generally includes U. S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who have recently earned a Ph. D. or will have earned their Ph. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Stipends (e.g., $78,000 annually for Innovative Postdoctoral Entrepreneurial Research Fellowship), research and training allowances. Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Agricultural Technologies (AG) - NSF SBIR/STTR is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The Agricultural Technologies topic supports innovations enabling farm production ecosystems that support the proper utilization of natural resources. Such technologies may encompass systems-level and multidisciplinary solutions to enable complex agricultural practices that support increased biodiversity balanced with yield production. Sub-topics include food waste mitigation, resilient supply & distribution, and other agricultural technologies.
NSF ADVANCE program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF ADVANCE program aims to broaden the implementation of evidence-based systemic change strategies that promote equity for STEM faculty in academic workplaces and the academic profession. The program provides grants to enhance systemic factors that support equity and inclusion and to mitigate systemic factors that create inequities in the academic profession and workplaces.
Engineering of Biomedical Systems (EBMS) Program is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The EBMS program supports fundamental and transformative research at the interface of engineering and biomedical sciences to solve biomedical problems. Projects should focus on high-impact, transformative methods and technologies, including the development of validated models (living or computational) of normal and pathological tissues and organ systems, and advanced biomanufacturing of three-dimensional tissues and organs.
EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program (FEC) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation. The FEC program builds interjurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in STEM focus areas. Projects are investigator-driven and must include researchers from at least two EPSCoR eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise to address challenges. The program aims to drive discovery and build sustainable STEM capacity. Tennessee is an EPSCoR-eligible jurisdiction.
Engineering of Biomedical Systems (EBMS) Program is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The EBMS program supports fundamental and transformative research at the interface of engineering and biomedical sciences to solve biomedical problems. Projects should focus on high-impact, transformative methods and technologies, including the development of validated models (living or computational) of normal and pathological tissues and organ systems, and advanced biomanufacturing of three-dimensional tissues and organs.