Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
NSF funds individual postdoctoral fellowships in mathematics or statistics, including applications to other disciplines, for eligible U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who affiliate with a host institution.
RESTRICTED TO: INDIVIDUALS FELLOWSHIP
⚑ Individual fellowship; proposal is submitted by the postdoctoral fellow, not the university. · Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident. · Doctoral degree must be within 2 years of Jan. 1 of the award year. · Prior NSF PI/Co-PI status generally disqualifies, except GRFP or conference/workshop awards.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 65 good | technical depth: substantial; funds basic research |
| IPPRA | 38 weak | outside portfolio topics; social/behavioral work is minor; funds basic research; university can only partner, not lead |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 10 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
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 thatwill 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
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - The Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are awards to individuals, and proposals are submitted directly by the fellowship proposer to NSF. Fellows must affiliate with institutions or organizations(e.g., Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), government and national laboratories and facilities,privately sponsored nonprofit institutes and museums, and for-profit organizations under certain conditions).
*Who May Serve as PI:
An individual is eligible to submit a proposal to this program if all the following criteria are met:
<ul> <li>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;</li> <li>May not have held the doctoral degree more than 2 years as of January 1 of the year of the award;</li> <li>Must propose research inan area of mathematics or statistics;</li> <li>May not have previously been a principal investigator or co-principal investigator of an NSF award (other than a graduate research fellowship <span>or an award in support of a conference or workshop</span>);</li> <li>May not submit a research plan duplicated in another NSF proposal;</li> <li>Must not have previously been offered an award by the MSPRF program; and</li> <li>Must have a doctoral degree conferred before the postdoctoral appointment start date.</li> </ul>
Proposals that fail to meet the above eligibility requirements will be returned without review.
By signing and submitting the proposal, the fellowship candidate 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).
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: U.S. National Science Foundation <grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · National Science Foundation conventions SEE AN NSF EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — National Science Foundation's document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.