Note to PIs: The following program summary is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It does not replace the sponsor’s actual funding opportunity announcement. Always review the most recent version of the sponsor’s full announcement to verify that the deadline has not changed and to identify the most current program requirements.

About the program

The purpose of the Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) is to support future leaders in mathematics and statistics by facilitating their participation in postdoctoral research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development. There are two options for awardees: Research Fellowship and Research Instructorship. Awards will support research in areas of mathematics and statistics, including applications to other disciplines.

Eligibility requirements:

An individual is eligible to submit a proposal to this program if all the following criteria are met:

• Must, at the time of submission, be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a legally admitted permanent resident alien of the United States;
• May not have held the doctoral degree more than 2 years as of January 1 of the year of the award;
• Must propose research in an area of mathematics or statistics;
• May not have previously been a principal investigator or co-principal investigator of an NSF award (other than a graduate research fellowship or an award in support of a conference or workshop);
• May not submit a research plan duplicated in another NSF proposal;
• Must not have previously been offered an award by the MSPRF program; and
• Must have a doctoral degree conferred before the postdoctoral appointment start date.

Award amount

The total Fellowship amount is $150,000 and consists of three separate types of payments.

1. A monthly stipend of $5,000 for full-time support or $2,500 for half-time support is paid directly to the Fellow as an electronic funds transfer into a personal account at a financial institution.
2. A research allowance of $12,000 is paid as a lump sum to the Fellow in the same manner for expenses directly related to the conduct of the research, such as materials and supplies, subscription fees and recovery costs for databases, travel, and publication expenses. The Fellow should keep records to document the expenditures.
3. An annual benefit allowance of $9,000, paid in the first two years of the award, in support of fringe benefits, including health insurance provided through either a group plan offered by the host organization or an individual plan secured by the Fellow, dental and/or vision insurance, disability insurance, retirement, dependent care, and moving expenses.

Award period

48 months.

Application deadline

October 19, 2019.

Learn more

Visit https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5301.

Last updated: August 1, 2019.