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OpenDeadline extended (was Sep 29, 2026)Research announcementOpportunity 26-504

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)

U.S. National Science Foundation

At a glance

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) is an open federal grant opportunity from U.S. National Science Foundation. Applications are due September 28, 2027. Individual awards are listed as from $220K, with $16.5M in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include others (see notice). Cost sharing is not required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 47.074 (Biological Sciences).

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

  1. Feb 5, 2026Posted
  2. Sep 28, 2027Application deadlinenext date
  3. Oct 28, 2027Archived
Posted
Feb 5, 2026
Close date
Sep 28, 2027
Archive date
Oct 28, 2027
Award floor
$220,000
Award ceiling
Not specified
Est. total funding
$16,500,000
Original deadline (extended)
Sep 29, 2026
Expected awards
Not specified
Cost sharing
Not required
Funding instrument
Grant
Opportunity category
Discretionary

Who can apply

  • Others (see notice)

Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Proposals must be submitted by the individual, not the host institution, and awards are made directly to Fellows. Each postdoctoral Fellow must identify a sponsoring scientist(s) and must affiliate with an appropriate U.S. or international host institution at the time of proposal submission. Appropriate U.S. organizations include institutions of higher education, private nonprofit institutes and museums, government agencies and laboratories, and, under special conditions that require prior approval from a Program Officer, for-profit organizations. Appropriate international institutions include institutions of higher education and many government or non-profit research organizations. *Who May Serve as PI: The PRFB awards are intended primarily for graduate students who are seeking independent support for their first postdoctoral position, or postdoctoral Fellows early in their careers. An individual is eligible to submit a proposal if all the following criteria are met: Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident, i.e., have a "green card," at the time of submission. Must present a research plan that falls within the purview of BIO and that focuses on the research area described in this solicitation. Must earn the doctoral degree in an appropriate field prior to beginning the fellowship. Must select sponsoring scientists, departments, and institutions that offer a significant opportunity to broaden the proposer's research focus and training. Must not have submitted the same research to another NSF postdoctoral fellowship program. Must not have worked in any position that requires a doctoral degree for a combined total of more than 15 full-time months prior to the deadline. Must not have submitted proposals to the PRFB program more than once in previous years, i.e., you are limited to a maximum of two submissions, regardless of the outcome. Proposals that fail to meet the above eligibility requirements will be returned without review. By signing and submitting the proposal, the proposer is certifying that they meet the eligibility criteria specified in this program solicitation. Willful provision of false information in this request and its supporting documents or in reports required under an ensuing award is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).

Also named in the notice's eligibility text
  • Public colleges & universities
  • 501(c)(3) nonprofits
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status
  • Private colleges & universities
  • For-profit organizations (not small businesses)
Matched from the wording above by GrantsJunction — confirm in the full announcement.

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Biological Research has the potential to pave the way for breakthroughs in biotechnology and bio-system design that will create innovations, new industries, and jobs. To capitalize on this promise, the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) will make awards for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent doctoral degree recipients, for proposals with a research and training focus at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Biological Sciences to Strengthen and Safeguard Biotechnology Innovations. Applying AI to highly complex biological systems will reveal unknown mechanisms in the natural world that hold promise for technological developments.

Candidates with AI and/or biology experience will develop deep expertise in both by proposing additional training in both areas. These combinations of current expertise and new cross-training will produce scientists who work seamlessly at the intersection of AI and biology. The fellows are expected to become field leaders who use AI capabilities to extrapolate from biological data to technological advances.

Proposers are encouraged to consider how to leverage the nation’s diversity of existing biological data, and biological infrastructure, such as Biofoundries, Programmable Cloud Labs, Manufacturing USA Institutes, and NEON, to accelerate discovery, innovation and the biotechnology that improves human lives, promotes the U.S. economy, and benefits the nation. 

Additional information from the agency ↗

How to apply

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Assistance Listing

What is an ALN?

Reported obligations under ALN 47.074

Historical data · not a prediction
FY24$813M
FY25$789M
FY26$221M est.
Source: SAM.gov Assistance Listing 47.074. Program-wide totals, not awards from this specific opportunity.

Agency contact (as published)

U.S. National Science Foundation
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
703-292-4203

Quick answers

When is the deadline for “Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)”?

According to the official notice, applications are due September 28, 2027. Confirm the deadline and submission time on Grants.gov before applying.

Who is eligible to apply for “Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)”?

The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible: Others (see notice). Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.

How much funding is available through “Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)”?

Per the notice, individual awards are listed as from $220k and total estimated program funding is $16,500,000.

How do I apply for “Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)”?

Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity 26-504), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.

Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.

OpenResearchALN 47.074

Plant Genome Research Program

U.S. National Science Foundation
Award range
Amount not specified
Closes
See notice
Who can apply
Others (see notice)
Source: Grants.govVerified today