Early-Career Research Fellowships

Stored: Early-Career Research Fellowships

Early-Career Research Fellowships

Type	Program
Sponsor Organization	National Academy of Sciences
Top Organization	National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Creation Legislation	None
Website	Website
Purpose	Early-Career Research Fellowships fund new scientists for innovative Gulf of Mexico safety and health research, fostering leadership and collaboration over two years.
Program Start	2015
Initial Funding	$2.5 million
Duration	Ongoing
Historic	No

The Early-Career Research Fellowships program, launched by the National Academy of Sciences in 2015 under its Gulf Research Program (GRP), fosters the next generation of scientific leaders by awarding $76,000 two-year fellowships to early-career researchers tackling Gulf-specific challenges in offshore energy safety, human health, and environmental stewardship.

With over 200 fellows supported by 2025 across tracks like Environmental Protection and Human Health—e.g., 35 fellows announced in October 2024 for the 2025 cohort—it draws from GRP’s $500 million Deepwater Horizon endowment, funding projects from ecosystem restoration to climate resilience. Open to U.S.-based, non-federal-employed scientists within 10 years of their doctorate, it continues to evolve, with 2025 deadlines set for March 12 and June 18.

Official Site

Goals

• Fund bold, untested research to advance Gulf safety and resilience.
• Build a collaborative network of early-career scientists for long-term impact.
• Enhance leadership and innovation in Gulf-focused science.

Organization

The Early-Career Research Fellowships are managed by NAS’s Gulf Research Program division, led by Executive Director Lauren Alexander Augustine, operating independently without a federal parent agency. A selection committee oversees awards, funded through GRP’s endowment, supporting fellows at U.S. research institutions.

Partners

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• University of Southern Mississippi
• Louisiana State University
• Texas A&M University

History

Initiated in 2015 as part of GRP’s post-Deepwater Horizon mission, the program began with $2.5 million, awarding its first fellowships to tenure-track faculty for innovative Gulf research. It expanded with tracks like Human Health in 2019, surpassing 200 fellows by 2025, with the latest cohort (35 fellows) announced October 22, 2024, for 2025-2027 terms. It remains active, supporting GRP’s 30-year vision through 2043.

Funding

Initial funding of $2.5 million in 2015 came from GRP’s $500 million endowment, with over $15 million disbursed by 2025—e.g., $76,000 per fellow for 200+ awards. Ongoing support continues via the endowment, with no fixed end until 2043, tied to GRP’s timeline.

Implementation

The program awards fellowships via annual calls—e.g., 2025 deadlines March 12 and June 18—delivering $76,000 grants through nas.edu applications, supporting research like coastal resilience and energy safety. It progresses through cohort cycles (e.g., 2025-2027), remaining ongoing to build Gulf-focused science capacity.

Related

• Gulf Research Program
• Energy Earthshots

External links

• https://www.nationalacademies.org/gulf/fellowships/early-career-research-fellowship
• https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2024/10/national-academies-gulf-research-program-announces-early-career-research-fellowships-for-2025
• wikipedia:Gulf Research Program

Social media

• https://twitter.com/NAS_GRP
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-academies-of-sciences-engineering-medicine