The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent recipients of the doctoral degree for research and training in selected areas supported by BIO and with special goals for human resource development in biology. For applications under this solicitation, these areas are:
(1) Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology
(2) Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes
(3) Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
The PRFB awards are intended primarily for graduate students who are seeking independent support for their first postdoctoral position, or postdoctoral Fellows early in their careers. Applicants are not eligible for this award if they have worked in any position that requires the doctoral degree for a combined total of more than 15 full time months prior to the deadline.
This award provides:
- 3 years of support
- $60,000 stipend per year
- $20,000 research and training allowance per year
The next deadline is November 7, 2023.
Awards are made in the Spring following the deadline (i.e., Spring 2024), with start dates on the first of the month from June 1 through to March 1.
Eligibility
- be a U.S. citizen (or national) or a U.S. permanent resident, i.e., have a "green card," when applying;
- present a research plan that falls within the purview of BIO and the focus for each of the selected areas, as described in this solicitation;
- earn the doctoral degree in an appropriate field prior to beginning the fellowship;
- select sponsoring scientists, departments, and institutions that offer a significant opportunity to broaden your research focus and training; and
- not have submitted the same research to another NSF postdoctoral fellowship program.
- Applicants are not eligible for this award if they have worked in any position that requires the doctoral degree for a combined total of more than 15 full time months prior to the deadline.
Application Requirements
Fellowship Application Instructions
Detailed instructions for completing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology application are available by accessing the PRFB program page and clicking on the link How to Apply for Fellowship Applicants in the "Additional program resources" section.
The information needed from the reference writers is found on the FastLane homepage after answering "Letter of Reference Writer" to the "Who are you?" question. Your references enter their letters directly into FastLane.
- Letters should not be requested of any mentor(s) who will be sponsoring your fellowship activities.
A complete postdoctoral fellowship application consists of the following (Note: The entire application, with the exception of the letters of reference, must be submitted by the fellowship applicant in FastLane):
NSF Cover Page;
FastLane application form;
Project Summary (limited to one page).
Project Description (Research and Training Plan) (limited to 6 pages, including all figures, tables, etc.)
References Cited: bibliography for Project Description (no page limit);
Biographical Sketch: Applicant's Biographical Sketch which must follow PAPPG guidelines for Senior Personnel;
Current and Pending Support: Include current and planned applications or proposals to other fellowship programs following the PAPPG guidelines for Senior Personnel.
Supplementary Documentation consisting of:
An abstract of your dissertation research (limited to one page);
The sponsoring scientist(s) statement (limited to 3 pages) and biographical sketch(es) (which must follow the PAPPG guidelines); and
A Data Management plan. All applications must include a supplementary document of no more than 2 pages labeled "Data Management Plan" that describes plans for data management and sharing of the products of research or asserts the absence of the need for such plans. Requirements for the Data Management Plan are described in Section II.C.2.j of the PAPPG.
Two letters of reference submitted directly in FastLane by the reference writers. References may, but are not required to, include your thesis advisor. Do not use your sponsoring scientist as a reference.
- Postdoc/Residents/Fellows
- Underrepresented Groups