Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (EAR-PF) program is administered by the Division of Earth Sciences within the Directorate for Geosciences at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers who have recently earned their doctoral degrees to conduct independent research in Earth Sciences. The fellowship promotes leadership and professional development by encouraging investigators to diversify their research directions, tools, and collaborations, often through placements at institutions different from where they earned their doctorate. The program provides two years of funding to support a coherent research plan aligned with the Division of Earth Sciences' disciplinary scope. Applicants must affiliate with a U.S.-based host institution—such as universities, non-profits, or qualifying for-profit entities—although federal entities and foreign organizations are not eligible. The proposed research must integrate a significant Earth Science component and include a professional development plan, which should consume 10–25% of the fellow’s effort. Fellowship recipients are expected to pursue research that expands beyond their PhD work, ideally incorporating interdisciplinary approaches and new collaborations. Applications must include justification for the host organization and mentoring arrangements. A scientific mentor is required, with at least one additional mentor for applicants who remain at their PhD or current institution. The mentors’ roles and plans for supporting the applicant must be documented. All proposals must reflect NSF’s broader commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly aiming to broaden participation in STEM fields. The fellowship includes a salary determined by the GS-11 Step 1 level based on locality pay for the host institution, with a 3% increase in year two. Additionally, $15,000 annually is allocated for research-related costs. Awards are administered by the host institution rather than directly to the individual, involving a pre-award transfer process once the proposal is selected for funding. Up to 10 awards are expected annually, subject to fund availability. Proposals are reviewed based on intellectual merit, broader impacts, qualifications of the candidate, and potential for leadership in the Earth Sciences community. Applications must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Required documents include the research plan, professional development plan, mentoring statements, data management plan, and host institution support letters. The next full proposal deadlines are January 14, 2025, and October 29, 2025. Fellowship tenure must begin between August 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026. Primary contacts for this opportunity are Nicole M. Gasparini and Aisha R. Morris, who can be reached at earpf@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-8550 and (703) 292-7081, respectively. For more information and technical support, applicants are encouraged to consult the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide and utilize NSF’s help resources through Research.gov or Grants.gov.