Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology

U.S. National Science FoundationFrom $220,000Due Sep 29, 2026

Individuals Researchers Large award Narrow eligibility

Deadline: Sep 29, 2026
Posted: Feb 5, 2026
Award amount: From $220,000
Focus areas: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

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In plain English

This NSF program funds Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology for research and training at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biological sciences. Proposals are submitted by the individual fellow (not the host institution), and applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who are recent doctoral recipients early in their careers, with several eligibility limits (e.g., on prior postdoctoral experience and number of prior submissions). The minimum award is listed around $220,000. This is for individual early-career researchers, not organizations, and has narrow eligibility criteria.

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Who can apply

*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: <ul> <li>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.</li> <li>Must present a research plan that falls within the purview of BIO and that focuses on the research area described in this solicitation.</li> <li>Must earn the doctoral degree in an appropriate ﬁeld prior to beginning the fellowship.</li> <li>Must select sponsoring scientists, departments, and institutions that offer a signiﬁcant opportunity to broaden the proposer's research focus and training.</li> <li>Must not have submitted the same research to another NSF postdoctoral fellowship program.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>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.</li> </ul> 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).

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.

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