Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (AGS-PRF)

The Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (PRF) to highly qualified early career investigators to carry out an independent research program. The research plan of each Fellowship must address scientific questions within the scope of AGS disciplines. These disciplines include Atmospheric Chemistry (ATC), Climate and Large-Scale Dynamics (CLD), Paleoclimate (PC), and Physical and Dynamic Meteorology (PDM) in the Atmospheric Sciences, and Aeronomy (AER), Magnetospheric Physics (MAG), Solar Terrestrial (ST), and Space Weather Research (SWR) in the Geospace Sciences.

The AGS-PRF program supports researchers (also known as Fellows) for a period of up to 24 months with Fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice. The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential and provide them with experiences in research that will broaden perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help establish them in leadership positions within the Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences community. Fellowships are awards to individual Fellows, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.

Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

AGS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship proposals are submitted to NSF directly by individuals who meet the eligibility criteria described below. Each individual (also referred to as proposer) must identify one or more scientific mentor(s) and host institution(s) in the proposal. Activities supported by the AGS Fellowship program may be conducted at any appropriate U.S. host institution as defined in the Program Description.

Who May Serve as PI:

An individual is eligible to submit a proposal to the NSF AGS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship program if all the following criteria are met:

Individual eligibility criteria:

Be U.S. citizens (or nationals) or legally admitted permanent residents of the United States (i.e., have a "green card") at the time the proposal is submitted.

Present research and professional development plans that fall within the purview of the Atmospheric and Geospace Science Sections within the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences at NSF (https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=ags).

Meet one of the following criteria:

be currently a graduate student;

          OR

have held a PhD degree in a scientific or engineering field for no more than 2 years at time of submission;

          OR

have less than the equivalent of 18 months full time employment at time of submission if more than 2 years have elapsed since the PhD degree was conferred. To affirm eligibility under this criterion, the proposer must include specific language in the Biographical Sketch.

 

Fellowship location criteria:

Proposers are encouraged to expand the network of collaborators and implement the Fellowship at an institution new to the proposer. However, proposers who choose to carry out the postdoctoral Fellowship at the institution where they received their PhD or their current institution at the time of submission must meet these three conditions: (1) have been at this institution for at least 12 months at the time of submission; (2) present a strong justification and clearly explain the benefits of this choice to their research and professional development goals; and (3) have two scientific mentors, one at the hosting institution and a second mentor at a different institution and/or department who is a new collaborator with the proposer.

National centers, facilities or institutes funded by other federal agencies, such as NASA, NOAA, EPA or the U.S. Department of Energy, are ineligible as host institutions.

If a proposer fails to meet any eligibility criterion, their proposal will be returned without review. Proposers uncertain about the eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to contact a cognizant NSF Program Officer listed in this solicitation.

Awardees must begin the Fellowship within 6 months of notification of an award.  NSF review typically takes 3-6 months.  If you are a current graduate student, please consider the review timeframe in your decision when to apply.  Awardees who have not received their PhD at the time of proposal submission must present a form certifying their PhD prior to starting a Fellowship.

Proposals that fail to meet the above eligibility requirements will be returned without review.

By signing and submitting the proposal, the fellowship candidate is certifying that they meet the eligibility criteria specified in this program solicitation. Willful provision of false information in this request and its supporting documents or in reports required under an ensuing award is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).