U.S. National Science Foundation
SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Nov 4, 2026 · 28 days left
- Award size
- $160K – $170K
- Total available
- $3M · about 20 awards
- Cost share / match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Other (see eligibility)
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. The deadline is in 28 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Grant-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- No cost share required
- Tennessee recipients since 2023: 41
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
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Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/6057e668-8e43-40b4-8eca-c7f037995b28 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/d0daa0b0-d07e-4b4b-b2d6-7e99759225dc
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About this grant
The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) offers Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to encourageindependence earlyin the fellow'scareerby supporting his or herresearch and training goals.The research and training plan of each fellowship must address important scientific questions within thescope of the SBE directorate and the specific guidelines in this solicitation. The SPRF program offers two tracks: (I) Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR) and (II) Broadening Participation in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-BP). See the full text of the solicitation for a detailed description of these tracks.
Eligibility (from the notice)
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
-
Proposals must be submitted by the individual and not the host institution.
NSF SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship proposals are submitted directly by the postdoctoral fellow to NSF and the award is made directly to the postdoctoral fellow. Awards are not made or transferred to the host institution under any circumstance. Each postdoctoral fellow must identify one sponsoring scientist and host institution (with whom the sponsoring scientist is affiliated) at the time of proposal submission. Fellowship proposers may propose to hold the fellowship at:
• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.
• Nonprofit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.
*Who May Serve as PI:
Fellowship candidates must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:
• The proposer must be a U.S. citizen, national or legally admitted permanent resident alien of the United States as of the proposal deadline.
• The proposer must have obtained a doctoral degree in the SBE scienceswithin the 3 years prior to the proposal deadline or will obtain a doctoral degree within 12 months after the proposal deadline but before the anticipated start date.
• The proposer cannot already hold a full-time tenure-track faculty appointment.
• The proposer cannot submit the same research to another NSFprogram.
Proposals must be submitted by the individual and not the host institution.
NSF SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship proposals are submitted directly by the postdoctoral fellow to NSF and the award is made directly to the postdoctoral fellow. Awards are not made or transferred to the host institution under any circumstance. Each postdoctoral fellow must identify one sponsoring scientist and host institution (with whom the sponsoring scientist is affiliated) at the time of proposal submission. Fellowship candidates may propose to hold the fellowship at:
• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US,...
Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Oct14
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters. - Oct28
Finish a complete draft for a final review
University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs - Nov2
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Nov4
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.
Who in Tennessee has won this program
24 awards to Tennessee recipients in 3 counties since federal FY2023. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $2.8M | 2022 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $2M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $925K | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $673K | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $627K | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $557K | 2019 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $508K | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $475K | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $450K | 2022 |
| University Of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | $450K | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $446K | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $415K | 2023 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another grantee
This federal money also reaches local groups as subawards. 17 subawards on file. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Through | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | Arizona State University | $638K | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Florida | $396K | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Regents of the University of Michigan | $274K | 2025 |
| University Of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | Arizona State University | $238K | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Trustees of Dartmouth College | $155K | 2024 |
| University Of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | $77K | 2025 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | Iowa State University of Science and Technology | $55K | 2023 |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, Washington County | University of Tennessee | $50K | 2023 |
| University Of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | $47K | 2024 |
| University Of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | University of North Carolina At Wilmington | $44K | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. | $39K | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | University of Alabama | $38K | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov subaward reports (prime recipients report subawards of $30,000 or more).
About the program (47.075)
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences — (SBE)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.