Designation/Position- The NASA Postdoctoral Program
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), US invites application for NASA Postdoctoral Program for early career aspirants and senior scientist US and international candidates having PhD in relevant research area.
About- The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented US and non-US scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year Fellowship appointments are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.
Location- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), US
Research/Job Area-
- Earth Science
- Planetary Science
- Heliophysics
- Astrophysics
- Aeronautics
- Engineering
- Human Exploration And Operations
- Space Bioscience
- Astrobiology
Eligibility/Qualification-
- You must have completed the requirements for a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctorate degree before beginning the fellowship.
- You must have U.S. citizenship, Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status, or the Exchange Visitor J-1 Visa (research scholar only) before beginning the fellowship. An H-1B status is not acceptable because the NPP is not an employment program. You are eligible to apply for the NPP while holding the F-1 status. However, if you are selected for an appointment, you must change your status to one listed above.
- Since each NPP Fellowship is tied to a specific research opportunity located at a NASA Center or program institute, you must relocate to the Center or program institute that supports the opportunity to which you were accepted. In the case of virtual Centers such as the NASA Astrobiology Institute, you must relocate to the university location of your advisor as listed on the research opportunity. Establishing and maintaining residency at the Center or at the location of the advisor is required to begin the appointment and to remain in the program.
- You must not have held an NPP appointment for five years prior to applying. NPP Fellows are eligible for another award five years after the end of the previous appointment.
- Some NASA Centers may require a security or visitation clearance before you start your appointment. The NPP Center Representative will notify you in advance if a clearance is required.
- You cannot start your NPP appointment until all appointment requirements are met. This includes completing and returning all required forms and documentation to USRA. USRA will not issue an advance stipend check, start stipend payments, or approve relocation travel until all requirements are met.
Job/Position Description-
As a postdoctoral scientist or senior scientist, the Fellow will conduct research of national importance and will collaborate with distinguished US and international researchers. NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellows have made significant research contributions that have advanced specific science efforts of NASA and the body of general scientific knowledge, in the areas of astrophysics, earth science, aeronautics, biology and astrobiology, cosmo-chemistry, heliophysics, planetary science, and technology development.
- NASA Postdoctoral Program application deadlines are March 1, July 1 and November 1 annually.
- Scientists within five years of receiving their degrees are eligible to apply as a Postdoctoral Fellow; scientists who have received their doctorates more than five years previously may apply as a Senior Fellow.
- After the first year as a Postdoctoral Fellow, scientists interested in management may apply to the Postdoctoral Management Program at NASA headquarters.
Postdoctoral Fellow– A Postdoctoral Fellow has held the doctoral degree for less than five years at the time of application. Stipend rates for Postdoctoral Fellows start at $60,000 per year. Supplements are provided for high cost of living areas and certain academic specialties.
Senior Postdoctoral Fellow- A Senior Postdoctoral Fellow has held the doctoral degree for five or more years at the time of application. The stipend amount for a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow is based on the location of the appointment, experience (number of years beyond the doctoral degree), and career achievement (academic rank and professional title).
Professional Travel Allowance- Fellows receive $10,000 per appointment year to support travel to conferences, meetings, and other activities (i.e., travel to field sites or observatories to collect data or for required training) that directly support their research projects. The funds that are not used during a 12-month appointment period will carry over to the following appointment period.
Relocation- Expenses associated with relocation, including transportation, the shipment of household goods within the United States or unaccompanied baggage from a foreign country, temporary lodging, and per diem may be reimbursed. Reimbursements are dependent on the Fellow’s original city and country of residence, number of dependents, mode of transportation, etc. and are governed by federal travel regulations and the USRA Travel Policy. Effective 2018, relocation expense reimbursements are considered taxable income by the IRS. Prior to 2018, relocation expense reimbursements are not taxable.
Health Insurance- All NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellows are required to have health insurance. If you do not already have a health insurance policy, NASA will pay approximately 85% of the premium for an individual or family coverage policy purchased through USRA, and the Fellow will pay the remainder. The amount of insurance contributed by NASA is considered taxable income by the IRS.
How to Apply- Eligible and highly interested candidate can apply online. First, applicant should on the applicant Portal to submit their application for the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP). After that applicant can fill the online application as per instruction. Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Letters of Reference
- The research proposal
- Proposal Format
- Graduate Degree Transcripts
- Acceptable Transcripts
You will apply as either a Postdoctoral Fellow or a Senior Fellow depending on your seniority: A Postdoctoral Fellow has held the doctoral degree for less than five years at the time of application; A Senior Fellow has held the doctoral degree for five or more years at the time of application.
The Applicant portal will guide you through the application process. You will need to supply contact information, citizenship, demographic information, employment, publication, education and research experience. In addition, you will need to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be received by the application deadline. If you are applying as a Postdoctoral Fellow (i.e. if you have held your doctorate for less than five years), you must also arrange for your university to send us original transcripts to be received by the application deadline.
