Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for postdoctoral researchers seeking independent research support in atmospheric and geospace sciences. Applicants must hold a U.S. Ph.D. (or equivalent doctorate in a related field) and be sponsored by a host institution. Eligible host institutions typically include universities, research centers, and other organizations capable of supporting research. The fellowship supports research in areas such as atmospheric science, meteorology, climatology, aeronomy, magnetospheric physics, and solar-terrestrial interactions. Fellowships are typically 2-3 years in duration and provide salary, research support, and professional development funds. The program aims to foster independent research careers and is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents as well as foreign nationals who meet sponsorship requirements through U.S. institutions.
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Program description
The Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (PRF) to highly qualified early career investigators to carry out an independent research program. The research plan of each Fellowship must address scientific questions within the scope of AGS disciplines. These disciplines include Atmospheric Chemistry (ATC), Climate and Large-Scale Dynamics (CLD), Paleoclimate (PC), and Physical and Dynamic Meteorology (PDM) in the Atmospheric Sciences, and Aeronomy (AER), Magnetospheric Physics (MAG), Solar Terrestrial (ST), and Space Weather Research (SWR) in the Geospace Sciences.
The AGS-PRF program supports researchers (also known as Fellows) for a period of up to 24 months with Fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice. The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential and provide them with experiences in research that will broaden perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help establish them in leadership positions within the Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences community. Fellowships are awards to individual Fellows, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF application form (SF-424 or equivalent through Research.gov)
- Project narrative (typically 15 pages maximum describing research objectives, methods, and significance)
- Budget and budget justification (salary, research supplies, travel, publication costs)
- Curriculum vitae
- Two or more letters of reference from academic mentors or colleagues
- Host institution sponsorship letter confirming support and available resources
- Postdoctoral research plan and career development statement
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.050 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$640,746,599
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$399,999,980
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$220,735,035
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$106,638,563
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$82,550,071
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$74,280,323
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$73,335,203
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$68,622,497
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$64,462,832
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$63,916,877
Top States by Funding
- TX 4 awards $689.8M
- MA 16 awards $667.5M
- OR 5 awards $452.4M
- CA 12 awards $286.7M
- NY 7 awards $217.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.050). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,009,920,000 | |
| 2025 | $1,013,630,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $374,350 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this NSF postdoctoral fellowship?
Applicants must have recently earned a Ph.D. (typically within the last 3-5 years) or equivalent doctorate in atmospheric, Earth, or space sciences. Applicants must have a sponsoring host institution in the United States and be either U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or eligible foreign nationals with proper visa status.
What types of research projects are supported?
The program supports research in atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, weather systems, climate science, solar physics, magnetospheric physics, aeronomy, and upper atmosphere dynamics. Projects should demonstrate innovation and have clear scientific merit.
What is the typical funding amount and duration?
Fellowships typically provide 2-3 years of support including salary, research expenses, and professional development. Exact award amounts vary but commonly range from $100,000-$200,000+ per year depending on host institution location and circumstances.
How competitive is this fellowship?
This is highly competitive. NSF postdoctoral fellowships typically have acceptance rates of 15-25%. Strong applications include novel research ideas, excellent mentorship arrangements, and clear career development plans.
When are applications due and what is the application process?
This program operates on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline, allowing continuous submission. Applications are submitted through NSF's FastLane or Research.gov portal and must include a project narrative, budget, references, and host institution sponsorship letter.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Secure a strong mentoring team at your host institution before submitting; reviewers heavily weight the quality of supervision and institutional support for your research.
- Craft a clear, compelling research narrative that demonstrates intellectual merit, broader impacts (e.g., training outcomes, public engagement), and how the fellowship enables independence from your Ph.D. advisor.
- Align your proposed research with current NSF priorities in atmospheric or geospace sciences; review recent funded projects on the NSF website to understand reviewer expectations.
- Include specific, measurable research goals and a realistic timeline; vague proposals or overly ambitious plans are common rejection reasons.
- Detail your professional development plan, including mentoring, collaboration opportunities, and career trajectory toward research independence.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail due to unclear articulation of how the fellowship enables research independence rather than remaining an extension of Ph.D. work. Weak institutional support or mentoring arrangements—evidenced by vague sponsor letters or lack of dedicated resources—significantly reduce competitiveness. Reviewers also penalize proposals that lack clear intellectual merit, are poorly aligned with geospace/atmospheric science priorities, or fail to adequately address broader impacts beyond academic publications.
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