Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (EAR-PF), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Directorate for Geosciences and Division of Earth Sciences, support early-career scientists pursuing independent research and professional development in Earth Sciences. This initiative is designed to foster leadership among emerging researchers by providing them with a platform to diversify their scientific expertise and expand professional networks through integrated research and mentorship opportunities. Candidates are encouraged to conduct research outside their doctoral institutions or current organizations to promote interdisciplinary growth and new collaborations. Each EAR-PF award provides funding for up to two years and is aimed at individuals who have recently obtained a PhD. Fellows must affiliate with a primary host institution, which can be a U.S.-based higher education institution, non-profit research organization, or for-profit entity with relevant scientific capacity. However, federally funded research centers, foreign institutions, and government agencies are not eligible to serve as primary host organizations. The fellowship also mandates the selection of at least one scientific mentor; candidates remaining at their current or PhD institution must engage two mentors, including one from a new organization. The total program funding is estimated at $2.784 million annually, supporting approximately 8 to 10 fellows each year. Awardees will receive a salary based on the U.S. Government's General Schedule (GS-11, Step 1) locality pay for their host institution's region, with a 3% salary increase in the second year. Additionally, fellows are allocated $15,000 annually to support research-related expenses and professional development activities. The awards will be issued to the host institutions through a pre-award transfer process, allowing the institutions to manage payroll, fringe benefits, and indirect costs. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who have earned (or will have earned) a PhD before the start of the fellowship and have no more than 24 full-time-equivalent months of post-PhD professional experience by the application deadline. Each candidate may submit only one proposal per year, and the same project may not be concurrently submitted to another NSF program. Proposals must include a coherent research plan within the scope of EAR’s mission, a professional development component, and a strong justification for the choice of host institution and mentor(s). EAR-PF also emphasizes broader impacts, including efforts to broaden participation in Earth Sciences and the integration of tools such as artificial intelligence into research. Applications are accepted twice annually, with deadlines on January 14 and the last Wednesday in October. This recurring schedule continues annually. Proposals are submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov by the applicant (not through an institutional AOR). Required components include a project summary and description (with a broader impacts section), data management plan, budget justification, biographical sketches, mentoring and host letters, and confirmation of facility support. Proposals failing to meet submission or content guidelines will be returned without review. Reviewers evaluate submissions based on intellectual merit, broader impacts, candidate qualifications, commitment to diversity, and the suitability of the mentorship and host institution. Successful applicants are notified following NSF’s internal review process and are expected to begin their fellowship between August 1 of the year after submission and July 1 of the following year. Fellows may not hold concurrent appointments without NSF approval and must adhere to reporting requirements throughout the performance period. While the fellowship is non-renewable, it provides foundational support for scientists transitioning into leadership roles within the geosciences community.