NASA Postdoctoral Program 2026

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About NASA Postdoctoral Program

If you're an early-career or senior scientist, apply to the NASA Postdoctoral Program to help pursue NASA's mission and experience the world's most diverse technology and expertise. Become a part of the NPP and experience this unique educational program that is preparing future leaders for NASA and the academic community!

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented U.S. and non-U.S. scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These fellowships, awarded annually up to three years, are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Scientists within five years of receiving their degrees are eligible to apply as a postdoctoral Fellow; scientists who have received their doctorates more than five years previously may apply as a Senior Fellow. After the first year as a Postdoctoral Fellow, scientists interested in management may apply to the Postdoctoral Management Program at NASA Headquarters.

 

 

• Sponsor Organisation: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Benefits of NASA Postdoctoral Program

• A Postdoctoral Fellow has held the doctoral degree for less than five years at the time of application. Stipend rates for Postdoctoral Fellows start at $70,000 per year. Supplements are provided for high cost of living areas and certain academic specialties.
• A Senior Postdoctoral Fellow has held the doctoral degree for five or more years at the time of application. The stipend amount for a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow is based on the location of the appointment, experience (number of years beyond the doctoral degree), and career achievement (academic rank and professional title).
• All NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellows are required to have health insurance. If you do not already have a health insurance policy, NASA will pay approximately 85% of the premium for an individual or family coverage policy purchased through ORAU, and the Fellow will pay the remainder. The amount of insurance contributed by NASA is considered taxable income by the IRS.
• Fellows receive $10,000 per appointment year to support travel to conferences, meetings, and other activities (i.e., travel to field sites or observatories to collect data or for required training) that directly support their research projects. The funds that are not used during a 12-month appointment period will carry over to the following appointment period.
• Expenses associated with relocation, including transportation, the shipment of household goods within the United States or unaccompanied baggage from a foreign country, temporary lodging, and per diem may be reimbursed

NASA Postdoctoral Program Requirements

Eligibility

• You must have completed the requirements for a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree before beginning the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) Fellowship.
• You must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible to apply to the NPP:
  1. U.S. Citizenship
  2. U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status
  3. Foreign national eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 Visa status
     Foreign nationals are not required to hold the J-1 Visa at the time of application, but if selected for the fellowship, they must obtain the J-1 Visa before starting the NPP appointment. Foreign nationals who are not eligible for a J-1 visa should not apply.
  4. Applicant for LPR, asylee, or refugee in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status
• Since each NPP Fellowship is tied to a specific research opportunity located at a NASA Center or program institute, you must relocate to the Center or program institute that supports the opportunity to which you were accepted. In the case of virtual centers such as the NASA Astrobiology Program, you must relocate to the university location of your advisor as listed on the research opportunity. Establishing and maintaining residency at the Center or at the location of the advisor is required to begin the appointment and to remain in the program.
• You must not have held an NPP appointment for five years prior to applying. NPP Fellows are eligible for another award five years after the end of the previous appointment.
• Some NASA Centers may require a security or visitation clearance before you start your appointment. The NASA Center representative will notify you in advance if a clearance is required.
• You cannot start your NPP appointment until all appointment requirements are met. This includes completing and returning all required forms and documentation to ORAU. ORAU will not issue an advance stipend check, start stipend payments, or approve relocation travel until all requirements are met.

Requirements

• Fellows must have fulfilled all of the eligibility requirements in order to receive their award.
• Fellows are stipend recipients and not employees of either NASA or ORAU or of the host institution.
• Fellows must provide proof of health insurance, either through the health insurance plan offered by ORAU, or from another qualified plan. If insured under another qualified plan, the Fellow must provide ORAU with the insurer name, policy number, and copies of the front and back of the insurance card.
• Fellows are required to maintain all safety, security, IT security and other training requirements of the host Center at which they are residing.
• Relocation costs must be pre-approved by ORAU 60 days prior to travel.
• Fellows must commit to resident participation at an approved NASA site for the duration of the appointment, and avoid obligations that will interrupt the research during the appointment.
• Fellows are required to adhere to the host institution's requirements for prior review and approval of all material to be published. This includes material that will appear in print (including poster presentations at meetings) or material prepared for oral presentation.
• Fellows are required to report all inventions made as a result of the appointment promptly to the director or patent counsel of the host institution and also to ORAU.
• ORAU does not assert any rights to inventions made during the appointment.
• NASA requires that Fellows be fully involved in the research and educational opportunities available in the NPP appointment. Fellows may not provide services for compensation to a third party, or supplement their stipends through simultaneous employment, grants, or other sources of income that compete with the fellowship.

Application Date and Process

• Three letters of recommendation
• Research proposal
• Official Doctoral Degree Transcripts (for Postdoctoral Fellows only)

Note: You may submit only one application for one research opportunity per application cycle.

To apply, check out the application tips first

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Application Deadline

01 November, 2025

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