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Program Administration

Strengthening STEM workforce development is essential to the United States' economic growth, national security, and global leadership. STEM professionals drive innovation, boost productivity, and ensure competitiveness in critical industries such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and public health. ORAU contributes to these efforts by administering workforce development programs that maximize the impact of federal investments and advance the nation’s economic and societal progress.

Our experience includes the successful management of programs for various government agencies, including NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army. In 2005, NASA awarded ORAU the contract to administer the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP), and ORAU successfully operated this effort until 2016, delivering excellence in performance, professionalism, and quality of care for a decade. ORAU began managing this NASA program again in 2022.

Impact Areas

Our impact

Since 1951, ORAU has been deeply involved in the implementation and operation of career-launching programs in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines, including postdoctoral research programs. This commitment has enabled and enhanced career paths for those just launching their scientific careers to senior scientists who are building experience while furthering the missions of research organizations around the country.

Group of people in a laboratory setting

Why choose ORAU?

We believe investing in STEM workforce development is fundamental to America’s continued success, ensuring economic vitality, security, innovation, and the capacity to tackle emerging challenges both nationally and globally. ORAU is proud to play a role in contributing to our nation’s economic and societal benefit though its administration of workforce development programs. We are a purpose-driven team that has developed program specific platforms and implements best-in-class processes to maximize the value of the investments being made by our Federal partners.

Why choose ORAU?

What we offer

ORAU maintains a robust technical infrastructure and experienced education and operations staff to professionally administer every aspect of a premier internship, fellowship, research, or contractual program, including:

  • Marketing and communication
  • Full immigration services
  • Applicant recruiting and development
  • Award administration
  • Administration of benefits
  • Travel support services
  • Program evaluation and assessment/impact and tracking
  • Expert merit review capabilities
  • Training and enrollment
  • Full payroll capability for administering stipends, tax withholding and documentation, and fellow expenses

NASA Postdoctoral Program

The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers unique research opportunities to engage in ongoing NASA research projects with top scientists at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These fellowships are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

NASA Postdoctoral Program

Army Research Laboratory

Scientists and engineers at the Army Research Laboratory support Army forces in meeting future operational needs by pursuing scientific research and technological developments in diverse fields. The Research Associates Program includes opportunities for students at all levels, including undergraduate students, graduates at all degree levels, and postdoctoral researchers with up to five years of experience, to work alongside U.S. Army scientists.

A participant explains his research with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory

EPA National Student Services Contract

For 10 years, ORAU managed the EPA National Student Services Contract. The program, under the EPA's Office of Research and Development, supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and helps EPA achieve its environmental goals. Research was conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country. The program was retired in 2025. 

A person conducts research in a laboratory setting

Meet a few NPP Fellows

  • NASA Postdoctoral Fellow Ricardo Branco, Ph.D., is building tomorrow’s eyes in space

    NASA Postdoctoral Program participant Ricardo Branco, Ph.D.

    Ricardo Branco, Ph.D., is a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His research focuses on the development of detectors that can detect infrared or thermal radiation from very cold bodies throughout the solar system – think Uranus or the moon.

    Read Branco's story

  • Where are they now? Former NASA Postdoctoral Program participant Rika Anderson, Ph.D.

    Former NASA Postdoctoral Program participant Rika Anderson, Ph.D.

    Rika Anderson, Ph.D., who now serves as an assistant professor in the biology department at Carleton College, shares the skills and research network she developed as a fellow in the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) with her students. Photo credit: Carleton College

    Read Anderson's story

 

  • Where are they now? Former NASA Postdoctoral Program Participant Hyunju Connor, Ph.D.

    Former NASA Postdoctoral Program Participant Hyunju Connor, Ph.D

    Hyunju Connor, Ph.D. is a research astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and a former faculty member at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She specializes in heliophysics and space physics, focusing on how the solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere. Photo credit: Dr. Jennifer Carter

    Read Connor's story

  • Where are they now? Former NASA Postdoctoral Program Participant Gioia Massa, Ph.D.

    Former NASA Postdoctoral Program Participant Gioia Massa, Ph.D.

    After a successful experience as an NPP Fellow, Gioia Massa pursued multiple opportunities in route to becoming a project scientist at NASA where she contributes to the development of NASA’s strategic plan for space crop production while mentoring the next generation of NPP Fellows. Photo credit: NASA

    Read Massa's story

Whether exploring NASA's missions in planetary science or developing a better understanding of human exploration and space operations, Fellows in the NASA Postdoctoral Program are contributing to national priorities in scientific exploration and fundamental research.

Read more fellow feature stories

Contact us

If you have questions about contracting options, contact the ORAU Contracts Administration Office at (865) 576-7618 or angela.holmberg@orau.org.