Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025
- Omran Aburayya
- Jun 4
- 3 min read
If you're an early-career researcher with a passion for pioneering science and engineering, the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships offer a unique opportunity to conduct independent research that aligns with the U.S. Army's mission. Applications are now open for this prestigious program, which allows fellows to work alongside leading scientists and engineers at ARL, contributing to advancements in areas such as quantum information science, synthetic environments, and autonomous systems.
📝 Fellowship Summary
Location: Adelphi, Maryland, USA
Host Institution: U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL)
Level: Postdoctoral
Target Group: Early-career researchers within five years of earning a Ph.D. or Sc.D.
Fields of Focus: Physical sciences, life sciences, computational sciences, behavioral sciences, engineering
Value & Coverage:
Annual stipend of $115,000
Health insurance (including dental and vision)
Paid relocation
Professional travel allowance
Duration: One-year appointment, renewable for up to three years based on performance
Application Deadline: July 13, 2025, at 5 PM Eastern Time
Start Date: October 1, 2025
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals (subject to Department of Defense clearance)
🎖️ Fellowship Overview
The ARL Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship program is designed to attract exceptional early-career researchers to pursue independent research that supports ARL's mission. Fellows are expected to have demonstrated extraordinary ability in scientific research and show clear promise of becoming outstanding leaders in their fields. Candidates should have successfully tackled significant scientific or engineering problems during their thesis work or provided new approaches or insights with recognized impact in their field.
ARL offers several named fellowships honoring distinguished researchers and contributions to Army science and technology:
Harry Diamond Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship: Recognizes work in inventing the proximity fuze.
George F. Adams Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship: Honors early work in computational chemistry.
Robert J. Eichelberger Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship: Acknowledges contributions to detonation physics and electromagnetic phenomena.
ENIAC Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship: Commemorates the development of the first operational, general-purpose electronic digital computer.
Brad E. Forch Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship: Celebrates achievements in ballistics and energetic materials.
Frances Elizabeth (Betty) Snyder (Holberton) Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship: Recognizes groundbreaking work in computer programming.
Fellows will conduct their research on-site at ARL and may, in some cases, be temporarily located at collaborating facilities to meet specific research needs. They are required to submit annual progress reports and a final report at the end of the appointment.
🎁 Fellowship Benefits
Stipend: $115,000 per year
Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage, including dental and vision
Relocation: Paid relocation expenses
Professional Travel: Allowance for travel related to research activities
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Degree Requirements: Applicants must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. or Sc.D. in the physical sciences, life sciences, computational sciences, behavioral sciences, or engineering by October 1, 2025. Those intending to defend their dissertation after this date are not eligible.
Time Since Degree: Applicants may not be more than five years beyond the award date of their Ph.D. or Sc.D. by the application deadline.
Citizenship: There are no citizenship requirements; however, selected fellows must successfully complete a Department of Defense clearance process, requiring a background security investigation. Foreign nationals must obtain further DoD approval.
Research Excellence: Applicants must demonstrate exceptional qualifications in academic and scholarly achievement, as evidenced by research and publication.
Research Impact: Candidates 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.
📝 Application Procedure
Applicants must complete each section of the online application and ensure all materials are submitted by the deadline. The application package includes:
Curriculum Vitae: Maximum of 10 pages, including education, academic employment history, honors and awards, professional experience, and publications.
Statement of Previous Research: Up to 4 pages detailing research conducted over the past five years, including outcomes and impacts.
Research Proposal: Up to 10 pages describing the proposed research project, including the problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, significance, and relevance to ARL's mission.
Ph.D. or Sc.D. Transcript: An unofficial transcript is acceptable for application; however, an official transcript will be required if selected for an award.
Letters of Recommendation: Four letters from nationally recognized scientists in relevant disciplines, at least one of whom should have personal knowledge of the candidate's doctoral research.
Applicants should register and submit their application materials through the National Academies' online portal by July 13, 2025, at 5 PM Eastern Time.
🔗 OFFICIAL LINK
