The Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
Transforming Scientific Discovery into National Security Advantage
Where Intelligence Innovation Meets Mission Impact - Apply Your Experience to Americas Most Critical Challenges
Launched in 2000, the IC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program is dedicated to funding transformative unclassified research that aligns with the strategic interests of the Intelligence Community (IC). To ensure the research agenda remains responsive to the pressing needs of effective intelligence operations, senior scientists within the IC annually pinpoint vital research topics spanning diverse disciplines from artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and sensing, biotechnology, and energy and power.
Program Overview
Primarily supported by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the IC Postdoc Program bridges the research community and the IC by mobilizing top-tier researchers to tackle challenges crucial to IC objectives. Through collaboration among IC Advisors, Postdocs, and Research Advisors, the program not only advances essential scientific inquiry but also nurtures the next generation of intelligence science and technology leaders while strengthening ties with academia.
Accelerate Your Research Impact in the Intelligence Community
The Intelligence Communitys Postdoctoral Research Program offers elite scientists an unprecedented opportunity to gain experience conducting fundamental scientific investigations that lay the groundwork for future breakthroughs - often becoming the foundation for commercial solutions that evolve into mission-critical IC capabilities. Do you have what it takes to join a select cohort of brilliant minds researching the national securitys most pressing challenges?
2026-2027 Focus Areas
Our Cohort of 12 postdocs will focus on areas of science and technology to include:
• Artificial Intelligence • Biotechnology • Energy and Power • Microelectronics and Quantum Technologies
Selected postdoctoral fellows will gain experience researching high-priority challenges under the guidance of experienced IC mentors. The 2026 Topics can be found on the ORISE ODNI Program website under IC Research Opportunities.
What Youll Experience
Youll participate in:
• Quarterly research reviews with direct IC feedback • IC Community research results showcase • Research related conferences • Collaborative opportunities with fellow IC Postdocs
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible, you must:
• Be a U.S. citizen • Hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field, completed before beginning the appointment and within five years of the appointment start date • Have a proposal associated with an accredited U.S. university, college, or U.S. government laboratory • Not receive more than one award from the ORISE Research Participation Programs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Research Advisor Eligibility
Must be an employee of an accredited U.S. university, college, or U.S. government laboratory. Not required to be a U.S. citizen.
Program Benefits
The program offers:
• An annual stipend ranging from $87,000 to $91,000 • A health insurance stipend • Travel allowance for conference attendance • Laboratory budget allowance • Relocation allowance up to $3,500 for participants who relocate more than fifty miles one-way to the assigned hosting site • Direct mentorship from IC subject matter experts • Opportunity to gain experience researching problems at the forefront of national security
About the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a U.S. Department of Energy asset dedicated to enabling critical scientific research and health initiatives of the department and its laboratory system by providing world-class expertise in STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination.
ORISEs Mission
ORISE accomplishes its mission by providing superior integrated solutions to:
• Recruit and prepare the next generation of our nations scientific workforce • Promote sound scientific and technical investment decisions through independent peer reviews • Facilitate and prepare for the medical management of radiation incidents in the United States and abroad • Evaluate health outcomes in individuals exposed to chemical and radiological hazards • Ensure public confidence in environmental cleanup through independent environmental assessments
Connections Working at Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
More Jobs from This Employer: https://careers.awra.org/jobs/22019605/intelligence-community-postdoctoral-research-fellowship-program