Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology | 23 620

Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 620

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), offers the Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to support early-career scientists who have recently earned their doctoral degrees. The program is designed to help new Ph.D. recipients build independence quickly by giving them direct control of a fellowship award that funds a well-defined research and training plan. Rather than being tied to an institution-driven project, the fellowship is centered on the fellow as an individual researcher, allowing them to choose the research environment and mentorship team that best fits their scientific goals and professional development needs.

For this solicitation, NSF highlights three main competitive areas. The first focuses on broadening participation of groups underrepresented in biology, reflecting a human resource development goal alongside the scientific work. The second centers on integrative “Rules of Life” research that examines how genomes, environments, and phenotypes interact, encouraging cross-cutting biology that connects multiple scales and disciplines. The third targets plant genome research through dedicated Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. Across all three areas, NSF expects the proposed work to address important biological questions that clearly fall within BIO’s scope and to follow the specific guidance in the program solicitation.

A key feature of PRFB is the built-in expectation of strong mentorship paired with fellow independence. Applicants must identify one or more sponsoring scientists and affiliate with an appropriate host institution at the time they submit the proposal. Host sites can include U.S. colleges and universities, private nonprofit institutes and museums, and government agencies and laboratories, and in some cases (with prior NSF Program Officer approval) for-profit organizations. International host institutions are also allowed when appropriate, particularly institutions of higher education. NSF emphasizes that sponsoring scientists should actively mentor fellows, and that host research groups should benefit from the fellow’s talent and contributions.

Eligibility and submission rules are strict because the fellowship is intended for researchers at a very early postdoctoral stage. Proposals must be submitted by the individual applicant, not by the host institution, and the award is made directly to the fellow. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident (green card holder) at the time of submission. The applicant must earn the doctoral degree in an appropriate field before starting the fellowship, and the research plan must align with BIO and with the chosen competitive area. NSF also requires that the applicant select sponsors and institutional settings that meaningfully broaden the applicant’s research focus and training, rather than simply continuing the same work in the same environment without clear developmental benefit.

There are also limits intended to keep the program focused on first-position or very early postdoctoral researchers. Applicants are not eligible if, before the deadline, they have accumulated more than 15 full-time months in positions that require a doctoral degree. In addition, applicants cannot submit the same research plan to another NSF postdoctoral fellowship program. Proposals that do not meet these eligibility requirements are returned without review, so applicants need to confirm fit and timing carefully. Submission of the proposal serves as certification that the applicant meets all requirements, and NSF notes that providing false information in the application or required reports is subject to federal criminal penalties.

In terms of the opportunity details provided, this is a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number 23-620, CFDA 47.074) offered by the National Science Foundation. The listed closing date for the opportunity is 2024-11-07. Overall, PRFB is best understood as a prestigious, fellow-managed postdoctoral funding pathway that supports both high-impact biological research and intentional career development, with special emphasis on independence, strong mentorship, and alignment with one of BIO’s targeted priority areas.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-09-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 23 620

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: