SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE), offers the SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (SPRF) to foster independence early in a fellow’s career by supporting research and training in the SBE sciences. The program encourages fellows to develop projects that address significant scientific questions within the SBE directorate’s scope. It offers two fellowship tracks: Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR) and Broadening Participation in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-BP). The Fundamental Research track supports projects aimed at building foundational knowledge in areas such as human behavior, cognition, language, and social systems, while the Broadening Participation track focuses on increasing diversity in the SBE sciences and addressing underrepresentation in the scientific community. The fellowships are awarded directly to individuals, not to their host institutions. Each fellow must identify a sponsoring scientist and host institution at the time of proposal submission, which may be an accredited U.S. institution of higher education or a nonprofit, non-academic research organization. Although fellows are generally expected to conduct research at a different institution from their doctoral-granting or current postdoctoral host, exceptions can be made with strong justification. The sponsoring scientist serves as a co-PI and must be affiliated with the host institution, providing mentorship and ensuring access to necessary resources and facilities. Funding for the fellowship is set at $80,000 annually for up to two years, comprising a $65,000 stipend and a $15,000 research and training allowance. The allowance may be used for expenses directly related to the research and educational activities, including equipment, travel, and health insurance. The program anticipates making between 15 to 20 awards per year, contingent on proposal quality and available funds. No cost sharing or matching is required, and supplemental funding from non-federal sources is permitted if it does not impose additional responsibilities beyond those of the fellowship. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who have earned a doctoral degree in an SBE science within the three years preceding the proposal deadline or will do so within 12 months after the deadline but before the fellowship start date. Applicants must not hold a full-time tenure-track faculty position or submit the same research proposal to another NSF program. Only one proposal per individual per year is allowed. Proposals must be submitted electronically by the fellow through Research.gov or Grants.gov, and the fellow serves as their own Authorized Organizational Representative. Applications require a comprehensive project description, a host institution letter confirming support and facilities, a budget justification, and other standard NSF documents such as the data management plan. The review process considers intellectual merit, broader impacts, and track-specific criteria such as contributions to scientific knowledge or diversity goals. Proposals are reviewed by panels and ad hoc reviewers, with award notifications issued by NSF’s Division of Grants and Agreements. Deadlines occur annually on the first Wednesday in November, with prior cycles including January deadlines. While the current opportunity is archived, the fellowship is recurring, and the next expected cycle will reopen in November. Prospective applicants should begin preparations well in advance to meet the detailed submission requirements. For questions, applicants can contact the SPRF Program Staff at nsfsbesprf@nsf.gov or (703) 292-8700.

Start preparation early due to the detailed requirements and ensure strict compliance with NSF PAPPG and solicitation instructions.