OpenFederal grant26-504

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)

U.S. National Science FoundationCloses Sep 28, 2027(350 days left)From $220,000

Does this fit your business?

This is an NSF fellowship for individual scientists, not for businesses: recent PhD recipients in biology or AI who want cross-training at the intersection of the two fields, with awards of at least $220,000 paid directly to the fellow. If you run a small business, a nonprofit, or any organization that employs people, do not bother — for-profits cannot apply at all and nonprofits cannot submit proposals, though a nonprofit can serve as the fellow's host institution. Only US citizens, nationals,或

Best for
Recent PhD recipients in biology or AI seeking their first postdoctoral position, Early-career postdocs with fewer than 15 full-time months of post-PhD work, US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents pursuing cross-training in AI and biology, Individuals who can affiliate with a US or international host institution
Not for
Small businesses and for-profit companies of any kind, Nonprofits seeking funding for staff or programs, Anyone more than 15 months past their PhD or without US citizenship or permanent residency
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Arts & CultureLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Education & TrainingLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
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Worth Exploring
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Environment & ConservationLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
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Worth Exploring
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Finance & BankingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Food & BeverageLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
ManufacturingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
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Worth Exploring
Technology & SoftwareLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
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Worth Exploring
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
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Worth Exploring

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
Research, Training
Who can apply
Individuals
Award range
From $220,000

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is September 28, 2027.
How much funding can an applicant receive?
The smallest award is $220,000, and total program funding is $16,500,000. The facts do not state a maximum per-award amount.
Who can apply for this grant?
Individuals may apply: recent doctoral recipients or early-career postdocs who are US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, who have not held a PhD-requiring position for more than 15 full-time months, and who have submitted to this program no more than twice before. Proposals are submitted by the individual, not the host institution, and each fellow must affiliate with a US or international host institution.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
No. A small business may not apply, and a for-profit business may not apply. For-profit organizations can only serve as host institutions under special conditions with prior approval from a Program Officer.
Can a nonprofit apply?
Not as the applicant. Proposals must be submitted by the individual, and awards go directly to fellows. A private nonprofit institute or museum may serve as a host institution.

Summary

NSF postdoctoral fellowships for recent PhD recipients (US citizens/nationals/permanent residents) to conduct research and training at the intersection of AI and biology. Awards go directly to individual fellows, who must affiliate with a host institution; for-profit hosts only with prior approval.

About this grant

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Biological Research has the potential to pave the way for breakthroughs in biotechnology and bio-system design that will create innovations, new industries, and jobs. To capitalize on this promise, the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) will make awards for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent doctoral degree recipients, for proposals with a research and training focus at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Biological Sciences to Strengthen and Safeguard Biotechnology Innovations. Applying AI to highly complex biological systems will reveal unknown mechanisms in the natural world that hold promise for technological developments.

Candidates with AI and/or biology experience will develop deep expertise in both by proposing additional training in both areas. These combinations of current expertise and new cross-training will produce scientists who work seamlessly at the intersection of AI and biology. The fellows are expected to become field leaders who use AI capabilities to extrapolate from biological data to technological advances.

Proposers are encouraged to consider how to leverage the nation's diversity of existing biological data, and biological infrastructure, such as Biofoundries, Programmable Cloud Labs, Manufacturing USA Institutes, and NEON, to accelerate discovery, innovation and the biotechnology that improves human lives, promotes the U.S. economy, and benefits the nation.

Who can apply

Our reading of the listing: for-profit businesses are not eligible for this one.

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

Proposals must be submitted by the individual, not the host institution, and awards are made directly to Fellows.

Each postdoctoral Fellow must identify a sponsoring scientist(s) and must affiliate with an appropriate U.S. or international host institution at the time of proposal submission. Appropriate U.S. organizations include institutions of higher education, private nonprofit institutes and museums, government agencies and laboratories, and, under special conditions that require prior approval from a Program Officer, for-profit organizations. Appropriate international institutions include institutions of higher education and many government or non-profit research organizations.

Who May Serve as PI:

The PRFB awards are intended primarily for graduate students who are seeking independent support for their first postdoctoral position, or postdoctoral Fellows early in their careers. An individual is eligible to submit a proposal if all the following criteria are met:

Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident, i.e., have a "green card," at the time of submission.

Must present a research plan that falls within the purview of BIO and that focuses on the research area described in this solicitation.

Must earn the doctoral degree in an appropriate field prior to beginning the fellowship.

Must select sponsoring scientists, departments, and institutions that offer a significant opportunity to broaden the proposer's research focus and training.

Must not have submitted the same research to another NSF postdoctoral fellowship program.

Must not have worked in any position that requires a doctoral degree for a combined total of more than 15 full-time months prior to the deadline.

Must not have submitted proposals to the PRFB program more than once in previous years, i.e., you are limited to a maximum of two submissions, regardless of the outcome.

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

By signing and submitting the proposal, the proposer 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).

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Science
  • Technology
  • Biology

Program contact

U.S. National Science Foundationgrantsgovsupport@nsf.gov703-292-4203

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