News Release 04-095

Awards honor promising early career U.S. scientists and engineers

July 27, 2004

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

ARLINGTON, Va.— What do solar cells based on dye-sensitized nanoparticles, disaster preparedness and response in Central Mexico, and the long-wattled umbrellabird all have in common?

All are among the diverse research topics 34 new recipients of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) International Research Fellowships for 2004 have chosen to study. Awarded to promising and talented American postdoctoral scientists and engineers, the fellowships enable budding researchers to conduct leading-edge research for up to two years in biology, physics, engineering, geosciences, computer science, and social and behavioral sciences. The work is done with international collaboration, use of overseas instrumentation or through unique research environments available abroad.

Each year, NSF awards approximately 35 of these highly competitive international fellowships that often lead to multinational collaborations.

“Discovery is a global enterprise,” says NSF’s acting director, Arden L. Bement, Jr. “For the U.S. to remain in the forefront of world science and technology (S&T), it needs scientists and engineers from all disciplines who can operate and lead international teams and track international discoveries in some of the most challenging research arenas. These fellows, and those who have preceded them, are helping ensure that America continues to be the world’s S&T leader.”

This year’s International Research Fellowship awardees come from more than 20 states and 25 universities. Their overseas host institutions include universities and research centers in Europe, South America and Australia.

The average award for each fellow in 2004 is about $100,000, which enables these young scientists and engineers, with no more than three years experience after earning their doctoral degree, to spend from three to 24 months at foreign host institutions.

-NSF-

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Media Contacts
Bill Noxon, NSF, (703) 292-7750, email: wnoxon@nsf.gov

Program Contacts
Susan Parris, NSF, (703) 292-7225, email: sparris@nsf.gov

Related Websites
General IRFP information: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/int/int_postdocs.htm#postirfp
List of 2004 IRFP awardees, research topics and host institutions: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/int/irfp_2004.htm

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The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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