Associateship Programs at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
When to Apply
The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) participates in the February and August review cycles.
Eligibility
Citizenship Requirements: Opportunities at NIST are open only to citizens of the United States. Permanent residency status does not qualify as citizenship.
The Defense Authorization Act of 1986, Section 1622, prohibits any male born after December 31, 1959, from being appointed to a position in an executive agency if he is required to register with the Selective Service System but has knowingly and willfully not registered.
Level: Research Associateships at NIST are awarded only to persons who have held the doctorate less than five years at the time of application.
Research at NIST
This website contains abstracts, or opportunities for research that describe areas of research in which Associateships may be awarded at NIST, which includes the following laboratories:
NIST provides the funds for this program and furnishes all necessary support services, facilities, and equipment for the approved research program of each Associate.
While every effort has been made by NIST to provide opportunities of ample scope and relevance, the publication of any opportunity in this website does not guarantee that it will be available at the time awards are offered. Changes and/or deletions may occur because of temporary lack of equipment, laboratory renovation, staffing already sufficient to meet research goals, or a lack of funding.
Selection of Awardees
Following the NRC review, candidates for awards will be selected by NIST from the NRC panel's recommended list. Once all offers have been accepted, NIST will notify the remaining applicants that they were unable to be selected for an award.
Terms of the Award
A NIST NRC Research Associate is offered a two-year term civil service appointment. However, as with all civil service employees, an evaluation is conducted after one year to ensure that the Associate is making suitable progress.
Salary and Benefits
The annual base salary for a NIST Associate starting in calendar year 2009 is $63,400. It is expected that this salary will be adjusted for a cost of living increase for the 2010 calendar year. The exact amount of this increase is to be determined in fall 2009.
This base salary is subject to federal and state income taxes and Social Security deductions.
Sick leave and annual leave are accrued at the rate of 13 days per year, and retirement benefits and health and life insurance are included. Job-related death or injury is covered by the Federal Employees' Compensation Act.
The sponsoring division for each NIST Associate will provide support for expenses related to official travel, laboratory equipment, research support, and other items as deemed appropriate by that division.
Relocation Expenses
Costs of relocation and transportation of household effects to the duty station, within allowances prescribed by law, will be paid. Allowances for moves from overseas locations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Details will be provided to awardees by the appropriate NIST Administrative Officer.
Initiation of Tenure
For the August 2009 cycle, NIST will offer a limited number of awards beginning in November. Sufficient time must be allowed between the acceptance of an award and the beginning of tenure to enable the Associateship Programs office and NIST to complete all necessary administrative procedures. The date on which tenure may begin is from January to June 2010. If the deadline date of June 2010 cannot be met, a new application, including a newly approved research proposal, must be submitted to the Associateship Programs office and will be judged without prejudice in the next competition.
Final Report
Shortly before the end of the two year term, a NIST NRC Associate will receive a request for a Final Report on their postdoctoral tenure at NIST. The Associate must submit this report to the NIST Office of International and Academic Affairs (OIAA), no later than 15 days before the date on which tenure ends. Report forms may be found on the RAP Web site under Award-Related forms for Associates, at http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/RAP/PGA_047739, under Final Report Form.
Resignation and Early Departure
Associates who resign before tenure officially ends must inform the NIST Office of International and Academic Affairs (OIAA), in writing at least 30 days in advance.
Contacts for the NRC Research Associateship Program at NIST
The NRC Laboratory Program Representative is a professional staff member at the sponsoring federal laboratory who is responsible for managing the Research Associateship program and for assisting an Associate with all administrative aspects of tenure. The NRC Laboratory Program Representatives at NIST are:
Dr. Susan Heller-Zeisler
Office of International and Academic Affairs
National Institute for Standards and Technology
Mailstop 1090
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1090
Tel: 301-975-3111
Fax: 301-975-3530
Email: szeisler@nist.gov
Dr. Claire Saundry, Director
Office of International and Academic Affairs
National Institute for Standards and Technology
Mail Stop 1090
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-1090
Telephone: (301) 975-2386
FAX: (301) 975-3530
Email: claire.saundry@nist.gov
You may also contact:
Ms. Anna Coleman
National Institute for Standards and Technology
100 Bureau Drive
Mail Stop 1090
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-1090
Telephone: (301) 975-3076
Fax: (301) 975-3530
Email: anna.coleman@nist.gov
The NRC Program Administrator is a staff member of the NRC Fellowships Office who serves as the liaison for the NRC Research Associateship program. The NRC Program Administrator for NIST is:
Dr. Ray Gamble
Associateship Programs
Keck 570
National Research Council
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: (202) 334-2787
Email: rgamble@nas.edu
Please direct all application inquiries directly to the Research Associateship Programs at rap@nas.edu or by phone at (202) 334-2760.
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