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NIST Postdoctoral Research Associateships Program

The NIST/NRC Postdoctoral Research Associateships Program provides two-year temporary appointments for outstanding scientists and engineers chosen through a national competition administered by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. These appointments provide an opportunity for the Nation's best scientists, mathematicians and engineers to engage in state-of-the-art research in association with senior research specialists of the Institute's staff, using the excellent and often unique research facilities at NIST.

Postdoctoral Research Program Flyer

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible to become an Associate?
A: U.S. citizenship is required for these appointments.

Research Associates at NIST are awarded only to persons who have held the doctorate less than five years at the time of application.

The Defense Authorization Act of 1986, Section 1622, prohibits any male born after December 31, 1959, from being appointed to a position in an executive agency if he is required to register with the Selective Service System but has knowingly and willfully not registered.

Q: What type of an appointment does the Associate have?
A: A postdoctoral research associate is given a two-year term appointment with professional ZP-III pay scale and considered to be an employee of the U.S. Government.

Q: What is the salary and what benefits are associated with the appointment?
A: For the NIST-NRC Postdocs starting in 2008, the annual base salary for a NIST Associate is $61,557. The base salary is subject to federal and state income taxes and Social Security deductions.

Sick leave and annual leave are accrued at the rate of 13 days per year, and retirement, health, and life insurance benefits are included. Costs of relocation and transportation of household effects within the United States to the duty station only, within allowances prescribed by law, will be paid. Allowances for moves from overseas locations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The sponsoring division for each NIST Associate will provide support for expenses related to official travel, laboratory equipment, research support, and other items as deemed appropriate by that division. It is expected that this support will be about $5500 per year.

Procedure/Process

The Postdoctoral Research Associateships Program is administered jointly by NIST and the National Research Council. The application deadline is February 1st and August 1 of each year. Approximately 60 new awards are made annually.

Detailed information on procedures and all necessary application materials and supporting documents are available from the National Research Council web site.

For further information or a copy of the Research Opportunities Booklet or application material, please contact Dr. Susan Heller-Zeisler, at 301-975-3111.

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Last Modified: June 2, 2008
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