The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) has resources to help individuals achieve their academic and professional goals. This page includes tips for strengthening award applications, finding career opportunities and more.
On this page
How to get funded
NSF supports research and education opportunities across geoscience disciplines.
Navigating NSF & GEO
Credit: National Science Foundation
How to be a reviewer
The NSF peer review process relies on qualified reviewers to share their time and expertise. Not only do reviewers advance science, but they also gain valuable insight into the proposal process.
How to work for GEO
A career with GEO supports groundbreaking research and education across the world. Employees at various entry levels work closely with science and engineering communities to support and foster cutting edge innovation and discovery.
Opportunities for high school, undergraduate and trade school students
Opportunities for graduate students
- Summer Scholars Internship Program: Focuses on developing the potential of undergraduate and graduate students interested in gaining professional experience working in science administration.
- Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN): Provides graduate students with experiential learning opportunities through research internships in non-academic settings.
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP): Aims to ensure the quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. This five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000.
Opportunities for postdoctoral students
- Postdoctoral fellowships: Postdoctoral fellowships within GEO provide early-career scientists with up to two years of financial support to develop their research. Proposals for these fellowships must address scientific questions within the scope of the relevant disciplinary program.
- Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (Contact: earpf@nsf.gov).
- Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (Contact: OCE_PRF@nsf.gov).
- Polar Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (Contact: opp-prf@nsf.gov).
- Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (Contact: chihuang@nsf.gov and sedgerto@nsf.gov).
Opportunities for early-career scientists
Hosted by NSF:
- Science Assistants: These positions support senior directorate and division management and develop an understanding of key aspects of the science and engineering enterprise that will be valuable to a future professional scientific career. This is a temporary position for up to two years.
- Program and Science Analysts: These positions provide comprehensive analytical and administrative support with an emphasis on logistics, data management and input toward the continuous improvement of the overall proposal review and management process. These are permanent positions.
- Pathways Program: This program is open to current students in an accredited high school, college (including four-year colleges/universities, community colleges and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.
Hosted by outside organizations:
Fellows in each of these programs can be assigned to a specific NSF directorate or office.
Opportunities for career scientists
- Rotator positions: NSF offers a chance for scientists, engineers and educators to join us as temporary program directors, called rotators. Rotators make recommendations about which proposals to fund; influence new directions in the fields of science, engineering and education; support cutting-edge interdisciplinary research; and mentor junior research members.
- STEM positions: Program directors are the main type of position in this category and carry out NSF's core mission by administering programs across the fields of science that NSF supports.
- Senior executive/leadership positions: Executive and managerial positions lead and manage the NSF workforce.
- Program administration positions: These positions provide administrative support for the NSF core mission.
- I-Corps: I-Corps supports researchers interested in entrepreneurial education and mentoring, with the goal of reducing the time it takes to bring technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace.