SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships | 23 500

Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 500

The SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (Funding Opportunity Number 23-500) are a National Science Foundation grant program run through the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE). The purpose of the fellowship is to help early-career scholars build research independence soon after the PhD by providing focused support for a well-defined research and training plan. In practice, the program is designed to give a postdoctoral fellow the time, resources, and structured professional development needed to establish a distinct scholarly trajectory, deepen expertise, and strengthen longer-term career prospects in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences.

A central requirement is that each proposed fellowship includes an integrated research and training plan that tackles important scientific questions clearly aligned with the scope of the SBE Directorate and with the specific rules laid out in the solicitation. The emphasis is not only on producing strong research, but also on showing how the fellowship period will intentionally develop the fellow as an independent researcher. That typically means the proposal needs to articulate what new capabilities, methods, collaborations, or conceptual expertise the fellow will gain, and how the training activities are tied directly to the proposed research agenda rather than being generic professional development.

The program offers two distinct tracks. Track I, Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR), focuses on advancing core, field-defining research questions in SBE disciplines. This track is oriented toward pushing forward foundational knowledge and theory, improving methods, or generating insights that contribute broadly to social, behavioral, and economic science. Track II, Broadening Participation in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-BP), emphasizes research and training plans that meaningfully engage with increasing participation and strengthening pathways into SBE fields for individuals and groups that have been historically underrepresented, underserved, or otherwise excluded. While both tracks require strong science, the BP track adds an explicit focus on participation-related goals and outcomes as a central component of the fellowship plan.

Administratively, this opportunity is a discretionary, competitively awarded grant in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA/Assistance Listing 47.075). The listed award ceiling is $170,000, and the agency anticipated making about 20 awards under the solicitation. The opportunity was posted with a creation date of October 8, 2022, and the original closing date was January 10, 2023. Eligibility is indicated as "Others" with additional eligibility details provided in the full solicitation text, meaning applicants need to rely on the official program guidelines for the precise degree timing, appointment status, citizenship or residency rules (if any), and any other applicant or host-institution requirements.

Overall, the SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are structured to fund a carefully planned postdoctoral experience that combines high-impact SBE research with deliberate training aimed at accelerating the transition to research independence. Applicants are expected to select the most appropriate track, demonstrate strong alignment with SBE priorities, and present a coherent plan for both the science and the professional development outcomes that will result from the fellowship period.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.075.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 08, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 10, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $170,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 23 500

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: