Office of the Vice President for Research

Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) invites exceptional early career researchers to apply for an ARL Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship that provides recipients the opportunity to pursue independent research of their own choosing that supports the mission of ARL. Candidates must display extraordinary ability in scientific research, show clear promise of becoming outstanding leaders, and are expected to have already successfully tackled a major scientific or engineering problem during their thesis work or to have provided a new approach or insight, evidenced by a recognized impact in their field.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Must have completed all the requirements for a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree in the physical sciences, life sciences, computational sciences, behavioral sciences, or engineering by October 1, 2025. Applicants who intend to defend their dissertation after October 1, 2025, are not eligible.

May not be more than five years beyond the award date of their Ph.D. or Sc.D. by the fellowship application deadline (July 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time). Must demonstrate exceptional qualifications with respect to academic and scholarly achievement, as evidenced by research and publication.

Are expected to have conducted research on a major scientific or engineering problem during their thesis work or have provided a new approach or insight, evidenced by a recognized impact in their field.

There are no citizenship requirements; however, selected fellows must pass a Department of Defense (DoD) clearance process, requiring a background security investigation. Foreign nationals must get further DoD approval, requiring a background investigation.

Fellowship benefits

Full-time, one-year in-residence appointment at ARL, renewable for up to three years based on performance Annual stipend of $115,000

Health insurance (including dental and vision)

Paid relocation and professional travel allowance

Interested candidates can find additional information and apply at https://arldpf.nationalacademies.org

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