Grants / National Science Foundation / U.S. National Science Foundation

NSF 21-538: Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Closed Closed Opportunity NSF 21-538 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) (NSF 27-500). Status: Closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. National Science Foundation notices from 2025.

• Award floor$190,000
• Total funding$4.0 million
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - Fellowship proposals must be submitted directly by the Fellowship candidate to NSF. Each Fellowship candidate must identify a sponsoring scientist(s) and must affiliate with a U.S. host organization. Appropriate primary host organizations include: <ul> <ul> <li>Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) Two-and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members.</li> <li>Non-profit, Non-academic organizations -Independentmuseums, observatories,research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.</li> <li>For-profit research organizations – U.S. commercial organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education.</li> </ul> </ul> *Who May Serve as PI: To be eligible to submit a proposal to the OCE-PRF Program, an individual must, as of the full proposal target date, meet all the following criteria: <ul> <li>Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident (i.e., have a "green card") at the time the proposal is submitted;</li> <li>Have earned the doctoral degree (PhD), or expect to have earned the doctoral degree prior to the required start date of the fellowship;</li> <li>Not have worked for more than a total of 24 full-time-equivalent months in positions that require the doctoral degree;</li> <li>Present a project plan that falls within the purview of NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences oceanographic research priorities; and</li> <li>Not have submitted concurrently the same project to another program.</li> </ul> Applicants are encouraged to expand the network of collaborators and implement the fellowship at anorganization new to the applicant. However, applicants who choose to carry out the postdoctoral fellowship at the organization where they received their PhD or their currentorganization at the time of submission must: (1)present a strong justification and clearly explain the benefits of this choice to their research and educational goals; and (2) have two scientific mentors, one at the hostingorganization and a second mentor at a different organization who is a new collaborator with the applicant. Proposals that fail to meet the above eligibility requirements will be returned without review. By signing and submitting the proposal, the fellowship candidate is certifying that they meet the eligibility criteria specified in this program solicitation. Willful provision of false information in this request and its supporting documents or in reports required under an ensuing award is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).

Is this a realistic fit?

• Most of the program's money (71% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) offers postdoctoral research fellowships (PRF) to provide opportunities for scientists early in their careers to work within and across traditional disciplinary lines, develop partnerships, and avail themselves of unique research resources, sites and facilities. The fellowship program is intended toprovide beginning investigators of significant potential with experiences that will establish them in positions of leadership in the scientific community. During tenure, Fellows affiliate with a host research organization(s) and conduct research on topics supported by OCE.Fellowships will include participation in a professional development program that emphasizes development of mentoring skills and that coordinates theinvolvementof Fellows in conferences and activities that are focused on increasing the engagement of underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents. Applicants who are women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in STEM, or who have attended community colleges and minority-serving institutions (e.g. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, AlaskaNativeServing Institutions,and Hawaiian Native and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions) are especially encouraged to apply.

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NSF 27-500, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.