Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
Last verified: August 16, 2026, against the official program site, npp.orau.org, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) for NASA. Deadlines, stipend figures and eligibility rules can change between cycles — always confirm against the live opportunity listing and the FAQ page before applying.
NPP at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), on NASA’s behalf |
| Application platform | Zintellect |
| Application cycles | Three per year — deadlines March 1, July 1 and November 1 (6:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time) |
| Who can apply | Anyone who will hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent doctorate) by the fellowship start date; you do not need the degree in hand to apply |
| Two tracks | NPP Postdoctoral Research Program (research with a NASA scientist) and NPP Management Program – NPMP (program/mission management at NASA HQ; requires 1+ year already completed as an NPP research fellow) |
| Starting stipend | From $70,000/year for Postdoctoral Fellows, plus cost-of-living and specialty supplements at some locations; Senior Fellow stipend varies by location, years post-Ph.D. and career achievement |
| Appointment length | Initial term of 24 months, reviewed annually; total appointments capped at 3 years (a funded, Center-approved 3rd year) |
| Applications per cycle | One application, for one research opportunity, per cycle |
| Notification | Typically 2–3 months after the application deadline |
What the NASA Postdoctoral Program Is
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) places early-career and senior Ph.D. researchers in residence at a NASA Center or NASA-affiliated program institute to work directly with a NASA scientist on a proposed research project. NASA does not run the competition or the appointment logistics itself — ORAU administers NPP end to end, from the application portal through stipend payment, on NASA’s behalf. This is the same administrative pattern used across several other federal postdoctoral and fellowship programs ORAU or its peer organizations run (for example, ORISE for DOE and several health agencies).
NPP has two distinct tracks, and applicants don’t choose between them freely:
- NPP Postdoctoral Research Program — the standard track. Fellows work closely with a NASA research advisor on a specific proposed research project, typically at a NASA Center, a NASA institute, or a NASA-affiliated facility.
- NASA Postdoctoral Management Program (NPMP) — a smaller track focused on the management of scientific programs rather than bench or theoretical research. NPMP Fellows generally work with NASA program scientists at NASA Headquarters on programmatic activities: tracking progress against a science division’s research objectives, and participating in mission feasibility studies. NPMP eligibility requires having already completed at least one year of an NPP research fellowship — it is not an entry point for someone applying straight out of graduate school.
Related concept: see CASRAI’s Postdoctoral fellowship and Research fellowship dictionary entries for how NPP compares to the broader category of mentored postdoctoral awards.
Application Cycles and Deadlines
| Cycle | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Spring | March 1 |
| Summer | July 1 |
| Fall | November 1 |
All three deadlines fall at 6:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the stated date. If a deadline lands on a weekend, NPP has historically kept the date rather than shifting it to the next business day (confirmed for the November 2026 cycle, which fell on a Sunday) — don’t assume a weekend deadline moves; check the current cycle’s exact date and time on the opportunities portal before you plan around it.
Applications left in pending status (not selected, not rejected) remain eligible for award consideration for one additional cycle beyond the deadline they were submitted under — ORAU does not require you to resubmit from scratch to stay in contention for that next cycle.
Eligibility Requirements
- Degree status: you must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree before the fellowship begins. You may apply before the degree is conferred, but you must provide proof of completion before your appointment starts.
- Citizenship/status — one of the following: U.S. citizen; U.S. lawful permanent resident (LPR); a foreign national who is eligible for a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa (the visa itself is not required at application, only before the appointment begins — see CASRAI’s J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for Postdocs guide for what that process involves); or an LPR applicant, asylee, or refugee holding a valid EAD card with a pending Form I-485 or I-589.
- Per-opportunity citizenship limits: individual NPP research opportunities can carry their own, narrower citizenship restrictions on top of the program-wide rules above (for example, excluding citizens of specific designated countries) — check the specific opportunity listing, not just the general eligibility page.
- PRC affiliation exclusion: researchers currently affiliated with an institution in the People’s Republic of China, or who intend to collaborate with PRC-based researchers on the proposed work, are not eligible for an NPP award.
- Prior NPP history: you cannot hold a new NPP appointment within five years of a previous NPP appointment ending.
- Relocation: fellows must relocate to the specific NASA Center or program institute hosting the fellowship.
- Security clearance: some NASA Centers require a clearance before the appointment can start; this is Center-specific, not a universal NPP requirement.
How the Advisor Match Works
This is the step that distinguishes NPP from a conventional federal fellowship competition: NASA does not assign advisors after selection. You identify and secure interest from a NASA research advisor as part of putting the application together, before you submit anything.
- Search the opportunity portal. Every open NPP research opportunity is posted with a specific NASA research advisor (or point of contact) already attached to it, along with the proposed research area and host Center. Browse the current listings on the NPP opportunities search.
- Contact the advisor directly. Reach out to the NASA advisor or point of contact named on the opportunity to discuss your background and a possible research plan. This is a real scientific conversation, not a formality — the advisor needs to be genuinely willing to host and mentor you.
- Co-develop the research proposal. NPP explicitly expects the research plan to be developed in collaboration with the prospective advisor before you submit, not drafted independently and handed over afterward. The advisor’s own assessment of mission alignment (the “Center Review” stage below) depends on a proposal they’ve already helped shape.
- Build your Zintellect account and application. Applications go through the Zintellect portal: create an account, enter contact, education, work and research background, and reference names/emails; upload transcripts; search for and formally select the opportunity you’ve been discussing with your advisor; then upload your proposal and submit. You can revise the application up until the cycle deadline.
Because the advisor relationship has to exist before submission, start this process well before the deadline — a compelling proposal that a Center-based scientist hasn’t actually agreed to sponsor is a weak application regardless of its scientific quality.
Application Materials
- Research proposal — maximum 15 pages including figures and citations; double-spaced; 12-point font; one-inch margins.
- Abstract of the proposed research.
- Letters of reference.
- Academic and research record documentation (transcripts, publication/CV material as requested).
- NPMP applicants only: a statement of purpose and career-goals documentation, in place of the standard research-focused proposal.
- Generative AI disclosure: NPP does not prohibit the use of AI writing tools or professional editors, but any content in the proposal that isn’t the applicant’s own original work must be cited — either the name of a professional writer and which sections they contributed to, or, for AI tools, the tool name, version, date/time used, and a description of how it was used. Undisclosed use can result in denial of the application.
Review Process and Scoring
NPP applications go through two linked review stages:
| Stage | Who reviews | What they assess |
|---|---|---|
| Center Review | The named NASA advisor | Alignment of the proposed research with the Center’s and agency’s mission (weighted 20% of the overall score) |
| External Review | At least three independent peer reviewers | Scientific merit (40%), quality of references (20%), and the applicant’s academic/research record (20%) |
An overall score of roughly 75 out of 100 or higher is typically needed to remain competitive for an award. Passing review doesn’t guarantee an offer: each NASA Center makes its own final selections from the reviewed pool, based on the Center’s needs and available funding, and communicates its decisions to ORAU through the Center’s NPP representative. ORAU then formally notifies applicants, usually within two to three months of the deadline. A selected applicant receives an offer letter and terms of appointment from ORAU by email.
Stipend, Benefits and Appointment Length
- Stipend: starts at $70,000/year for Postdoctoral Fellows (held the doctorate under 5 years), with supplements for high-cost-of-living locations and certain specialties. Senior Fellows (doctorate held 5+ years at time of application) receive a stipend that varies by location, years beyond the doctorate, and career achievement rather than a single published starting figure.
- Health insurance: NASA/ORAU covers approximately 85% of the premium for an individual or family plan purchased through ORAU; the fellow covers the remainder, and NASA’s contribution is treated as taxable income.
- Professional travel funds: $10,000 per appointment year for conferences, meetings, field work and training; unused funds carry over to the next appointment year.
- Relocation: transportation, household-goods shipment, temporary lodging and per diem are reimbursed based on origin location, dependents and federal travel regulations. Relocation reimbursements have been taxable income since 2018.
- Appointment length: the initial term is 24 months. Continuation is reviewed annually and depends on continued mutual interest and available funding; a possible third year must be funded by the advisor and separately approved by the Center. Total NPP appointments cannot exceed three years.
Postdoctoral Fellow vs. Senior Fellow
Applicants don’t self-select this designation — it’s determined entirely by how long you’ve held the doctorate at the time of application:
| Designation | Time since Ph.D. at application |
|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellow | Less than 5 years |
| Senior Fellow | 5 years or more |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply before I finish my Ph.D.?
Yes. You may apply before completing your degree, but you must finish all doctoral requirements and provide proof of completion before the fellowship start date.
Can I apply to more than one NPP opportunity in the same cycle?
No. NPP limits applicants to one application, for one research opportunity, per cycle.
What happens if my application is placed in pending status?
It stays eligible for an award for one additional cycle beyond the deadline it was submitted under, without requiring a fresh submission.
Who actually employs an NPP fellow — NASA or ORAU?
ORAU administers the appointment (stipend, benefits, offer paperwork) on NASA’s behalf; the day-to-day research is conducted in residence with a NASA advisor at a NASA Center or affiliated institute.
Is NPP open to non-U.S. citizens?
Yes, subject to the citizenship pathway rules above and to any narrower restrictions listed on the specific opportunity — some opportunities exclude particular nationalities, and PRC-affiliated researchers are excluded program-wide.
How NPP Compares to Other Postdoctoral Funding Routes
NPP sits within a broader landscape of mentored postdoctoral fellowships that CASRAI covers in more depth elsewhere. Researchers weighing NPP against other options may find these useful for comparison:
- F32 (NIH Postdoctoral Individual NRSA Fellowship) — the closest U.S. federal analogue for biomedical researchers, structured around a mentor rather than a Center advisor.
- Royal Society University Research Fellowship and British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship — UK equivalents in the sciences and humanities/social sciences respectively.
- J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for Postdocs and Visiting Researchers — relevant background for the majority of non-U.S.-citizen NPP applicants, who enter on this visa category.
For the broader landscape of mentored research-training and career-development awards this program sits within, see CASRAI’s grants management hub.
Sources
- NASA Postdoctoral Program — official site, ORAU: npp.orau.org (home, eligibility, benefits, application process and applicant FAQ pages), verified August 16, 2026.
