Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (EAR-PF), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports early-career scientists with a doctoral degree in conducting independent research and professional development within the Earth Sciences. Administered through NSF’s Directorate for Geosciences and specifically its Division of Earth Sciences (EAR), this competitive program offers recipients up to two years of support to pursue projects that diversify their skills and expand their scientific networks. The initiative is designed to encourage new investigators to move beyond their dissertation work and conduct interdisciplinary and innovative research that aligns with EAR's strategic priorities, particularly those outlined in "Earth in Time," the division’s decadal vision document. Applicants must affiliate with a U.S.-based primary host organization, such as an accredited college or university, non-profit research institution, or for-profit research organization. Preference is given to applicants who propose to conduct research at institutions other than their doctoral or current employer to broaden their research perspective and collaborative networks. Each applicant must also designate a scientific mentor at the host institution, and in some cases, identify a second mentor from a different organization. Mentors must approve and support the fellow’s research and professional development plan, which must include mentoring skill-building activities. Fellowships include a stipend determined by the GS-11 Step 1 salary for the location of the host institution, adjusted annually. Each fellow also receives an additional $15,000 annually to cover direct research and development costs. Fellows may not hold additional positions or appointments during the fellowship term unless explicitly approved by NSF. Awards are issued to the host institution, which administers the funds and provides fringe benefits. Should a fellow accept a tenure-track position during the first year, the award is terminated; if employment begins in year two, NSF must be notified to resolve fund disposition. The application requires submission through Research.gov or Grants.gov. Applicants must register as individuals and are considered their own Authorized Organizational Representative. Proposals must include a project summary, full research proposal (not to exceed 10 pages), data management and sharing plan, budget justification, abstract of the PhD thesis, and letters from the host institution and mentor(s). The proposal should also include a commitment to broadening participation in Earth Sciences. Letters of recommendation are not accepted, and mentor letters must avoid subjective endorsements. Evaluation is based on NSF’s standard merit review criteria—intellectual merit and broader impacts—as well as applicant qualifications, commitment to diversity, suitability of the host and mentors, and the research’s alignment with EAR’s mission. The annual deadline for proposals is January 14 and the last Wednesday of October. The next application deadline is October 29, 2025, with subsequent deadlines recurring annually on the last Wednesday of October. Awards are typically made between August 1 and July 1 of the following year. Applicants may only submit one proposal per year, and each fellow may only receive one EAR-PF award in their career.

Proposals should align with EAR’s decadal vision, emphasize interdisciplinary research, justify host institution selection, and include concrete diversity goals. Avoid proposing solely educational efforts.