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APPLICANT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Eligibility Am I eligible for an NRC Research Associateship award?
Eligibility varies by sponsoring laboratory and some laboratories have citizenship restrictions. To determine your eligibility, review the general Eligibility criteria as well as the specific criteria of the program to which you are applying. Are NRC Research Associateship awards only for postdocs?
Some sponsors offer Research Opportunities for senior, as well as postdoctoral researchers. Check the eligibility criteria for the program to which you are applying. The NETL Methane Hydrate Fellowship Program is available for applicants enrolled in master's and Ph.D. programs. The Davies Teaching Fellowships offer opportunities to combine teaching with research at a federal laboratory. What are the deadline dates for each review? Online Application
Opens | Application
Deadline* (5 PM ET) | Support Documents
Deadline*(5 PM ET) | Review Complete
| December 1 | February 1 | February 15 | March 11, 2016 | March 1 | May 1 | May 15 | June 17, 2016 | June 1 | August 1 | August 15 | September 16, 2016 | September 1 | November 1 | November 15 | January 6, 2017 | *If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline is moved to the next business day.
Must I already have my degree to apply?
You can apply before receiving your degree; however, all degree requirements must be met prior to beginning tenure.
Which Agencies accept Foreign Nationals?
To view Agencies which accept Foreign Nationals, view the Participating Agencies page.
Terms of an Associateship Award
What are the terms of an Associateship award?
An NRC Research Associate receives a stipend, health insurance, and a travel allowance. A allowance is also available for those who qualify. The stipend and travel allowance vary by sponsoring agency. Applicants should check the specific agency details to determine these amounts. What is the length of an Associateship award?
Most awards are for one year and are renewable for up to three years. Some awards are initially two years. Applicants should check the specific agency details to determine the initial term of the award. Can an Associateship award pay for research done at my current institution?
Associateships are awarded to individuals to do research on-site only at sponsoring laboratories and affiliated institutions participating in our program.
Is my Associateship award categorized as employment? Who is considered to be my employer?
Associateship awards to postdoctoral and senior researchers under the NRC Research Associateship Programs are characterized as non-compensatory grants. Since you are conducting independent research at a host laboratory, you are not considered an employee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine or the federal laboratory.
Applying for an Associateship Award What do I need to do before applying?
Prior to applying, you must identify a prospective Adviser and a Research Opportunity. You must contact the Adviser before applying to ensure mutual interest in hosting you as an NRC Research Associate. How do I apply for an Associateship award?
The application is completed online in the NRC WebRAP system. Prior to accessing WebRAP, prospective applicants should read the Navigating the Online Application and How to Apply pages.
What required documents are uploaded to the application?
Uploads include the following: - Abstract of Ph.D. Dissertation (for postdoctoral applicants)
- Previous and Current Research
- List of Publications
- Research Proposal
Applicants are also responsible for providing Supporting Documents (Reference Reports and transcripts, when applicable) What should I include in my Research Proposal?
Refer to Guidelines for Preparing the Research Proposal.
What are the formatting guidelines for uploads?
Documents to be uploaded must be in PDF format in a standard typeface no smaller than 12-point font, 1” margins, and double-spaced. - Abstract of Ph.D. Dissertation (for postdoctoral applicants) – maximum 1 page
- Previous and Current Research – maximum 4 pages
- List of Publications – maximum 2 pages
- Research Proposal – maximum 10 pages
What are Supporting Documents?
Supporting Documents consist of Transcripts (not required for Senior applications), immigration documents, and Reference Reports. It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact their reference writers. Am I permitted to list a reference who is employed at the agency to which I am applying?
Reference writers may not be employed in any capacity, or any location, of the agency to which you are applying unless they have served as mentors or collaborators on research performed while the applicant was a student, postdoc, or faculty member.
How can I monitor the receipt of my Supporting Documents?
Log in to your online application and check their status on the Main page of your application.
Will I be notified when my application is complete?
No. Before submitting your application, check its completeness by selecting Data Validation in the left navigation of the application module. You will not be able to submit your application until all required fields and uploads have been completed. Once you have successfully submitted your application, the Main page of your application will indicate its submitted status.
How are applications reviewed?
Applications are reviewed by panels of experts in the discipline area of your proposal. Reviewers include leading researchers in science, engineering, and technology from academia, government, and industry. What criteria are applied to the review?
Refer to the Review Criteria. How do I get feedback on the review of my application?
You may check the status of your application online. Your scores and comments will be available approximately one week after the Review Complete date.
What happens after the review is completed?
If you passed the review, you are then eligible for an award and the agency may select you if funding is available. Agency decisions are based your relative rank among other applicants and additional factors including importance of your proposed work to the mission of the agency.
How long does the award decision process take?
The process varies by agency. In some cases it could be very soon after the review but more typically it will be four to eight weeks after the review is finalized. Decisions where funding is in question may take longer.
Who notifies me if I am selected to receive an award?
In most cases, you will be notified by the Fellowships Office of the Academies regarding an award offer. For applicants to NIST Research Opportunities, notification will come directly from NIST. If I do not receive an award when can I reapply?
Candidates who were recommended for an award by the panels but who were not offered an award because of funding or other limitations may reapply at any time without a mandatory waiting time.
Applicants who do not pass the review must wait one year to reapply and are encouraged to read the comments of reviewers to improve their application prior to reapplying.
I have previously held an NRC Research Associateship. Am I eligible to apply for another award?
Persons who have previously held an NRC Research Associateship may apply for another award only if a period of at least two years will have elapsed between termination of the first award and the proposed tenure of a second. Can I use Support Documents from a previous review?
Our panels allow Reference Reports to be used for one year. Transcripts can be carried over without any restrictions if there are no changes.
How many Agencies can I apply to in each review?
You can apply to a maximum of three different Agencies (e.g. AFRL, NRL, EPA, NOAA) and only to one opportunity per agency in each review.
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