SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency established in 1950 to promote scientific progress across disciplines, administers the SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (SPRF). This program is offered through the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) with the aim of supporting early career scientists in developing independent research trajectories. The program is designed to provide opportunities for postdoctoral researchers to broaden their scientific perspectives, obtain advanced training, and pursue interdisciplinary work. It seeks to strengthen the professional development of scientists at a critical career stage, especially in preparation for roles in academia, industry, or government. The SPRF program provides two distinct tracks. The first track, Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR), supports proposals that advance fundamental knowledge in areas such as human cognition, social and organizational behavior, cultural dynamics, and interactions between human societies and the environment. The second track, Broadening Participation in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-BP), focuses on increasing the diversity of researchers in the SBE fields. It specifically encourages proposals that support the participation of underrepresented groups in the sciences, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Blacks, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and individuals with disabilities. Both tracks require collaboration with a sponsoring scientist and a host institution, and applicants must explicitly outline how their proposed work aligns with the objectives of their selected track. Fellowship awards are made directly to individuals, not institutions, and proposers must submit their own applications. Awards are anticipated at a level of $80,000 annually, including a stipend of $65,000 and an annual $15,000 allowance for research and training costs such as supplies, equipment, travel, publication charges, and health insurance. The program anticipates awarding 15 to 20 fellowships each year, with an approximate annual budget of $3,000,000. Fellows may request support for up to 24 months, with the possibility of a no-cost extension but no supplemental funding. Paid leave of up to two months may be included within the fellowship duration for purposes such as parental or family leave. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who hold a doctoral degree in the SBE sciences awarded within three years of the proposal deadline or who expect to receive their degree within 12 months of the deadline but before the fellowship start date. Applicants may not hold full-time tenure-track faculty positions at the time of application, and the same research may not be submitted to multiple NSF programs. Proposals must also identify a sponsoring scientist at the host institution, which may be a U.S.-based accredited higher education institution or nonprofit research organization. While fellows are encouraged to select host institutions different from their doctoral or current postdoctoral institutions, staying at the same institution is permissible with strong justification for how it benefits the applicant’s career development. The fellowship application process requires submission via Research.gov or Grants.gov, with Research.gov strongly encouraged due to unique program requirements. Proposals must adhere to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Required documents include a project summary, project description, budget justification, data management plan, Ph.D. abstract, host institution letter, and letters of collaboration. Applicants must also designate a sponsoring scientist as a co-PI in the submission system. Proposals are evaluated on intellectual merit and broader impacts, as well as solicitation-specific criteria including the suitability of the sponsoring environment, the fellow’s independence, and the contribution of the proposed work to the SBE sciences. Deadlines for this program include January 10, 2023, and November 1, 2023, with subsequent deadlines recurring annually on the first Wednesday in November. The review process involves ad hoc and panel reviews by experts across the SBE sciences. Fellows are expected to begin their tenure between June and September of the award year, with start dates limited to the 1st or 15th of a month. Reporting requirements include annual progress reports and a final outcomes report submitted via Research.gov. Program staff can be contacted by phone at (703) 292-8700 or via email at nsfsbesprf@nsf.gov for inquiries. Additional resources and application instructions are available on the NSF website.