Research Associateship Program Award Opportunities.  The National Research Council of the National Academies is accepting applications for competitive awards for independent postdoctoral scientific research to be conducted at participating US federal laboratories.  Awards are offered in all fields of science and engineering.  These awards provide recent PhD recipients as well as more experienced investigators with the opportunity to devote full time to research without the responsibilities and distractions of permanent career positions.  Applicants design their own research projects to be compatible with the interests of the sponsoring laboratory.  Many opportunities are open to non-US as well as US citizens

Sponsoring laboratories include:  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Institutes of Health, US Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Air Force Research Laboratory, US Air Force Academy, US Army Research Laboratory, US Military Academy, US Army Aviation and Missile Command, US Army Night Vision Laboratory, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Naval Research Laboratory, Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center

Annual stipend ranges from $42,000 to $72,000 for recent Ph.D. recipients and is higher for additional experience.  Awards also include relocation, professional travel and health insurance.  The prerequisite for preparing a successful application is identifying a research opportunity at a participating laboratory using the Web site listed below, and initiating a dialog with the prospective Research Adviser at the lab as early as possible prior to the anticipated application date.  Applications must be submitted online directly to the NRC at www.national-academies.org/rap.  CVs will not be accepted in lieu of online applications.  Annual application submission deadlines are February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 for reviews in mid-March, mid-June, mid-September and mid-January respectively.  Awards are announced within one month of each application review.  Questions should be directed to the NRC at TEL: 202-334-2760.

 The National Research Council, which is the administrative arm of the National Academies, serves as an independent adviser to the federal government on scientific and technical questions of national importance.  Established under the congressional charter of the private, nonprofit National Academy of Sciences, The National Research Council is jointly administered by the Academies of Sciences and Engineering, and along with the Institute of Medicine brings the resources of the entire scientific and technical community to bear on national problems through its volunteer advisory committees. 

One of the National Research Council's major divisions, the Office of Scientific and Engineering Personnel, is charged with administering Research Associateships through its Associateship Programs office.