The National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Fellowship (RF) Scheme is a globally competitive programme to attract, recruit and root young scientists and researchers to conduct independent research in Singapore. Together with other NRF initiatives such as the Competitive Research Programme (CRP) Funding Scheme, Research Centres of Excellence (RCEs) and Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE), the NRF RF scheme is a key initiative to develop and nurture R&D talent and build R&D capacity in Singapore.

Key Features of the NRF RF

The NRF Research Fellowship is open to all areas of science and technology with no quota on specific disciplines. Young, talented post-doctoral fellows of all nationalities are welcomed to apply.

Research Fellows will be given complete independence and freedom to pursue their own research directions. They will also be free to choose the host organizations, e.g. Singapore-based university, which they think will give them the best environment, in terms of access to relevant equipment and facilities and in building up the team for their research.

Each Research Fellow will be provided with a research grant of up to US$1.5 million over three years, with the option of a second round of three-year funding provided at the discretion of NRF, to support projects that exhibit high likelihood of a research breakthrough. This grant excludes the salary of the Research Fellow, and will adequately support a research team comprising at least 1 post-doctoral fellow and 2 PhD students, costs of incremental research facilities, consumables and travels for conferences and meetings.

The salary of the Research Fellow will be covered over and above the research grant awarded, and will be pegged to that of an Assistant Professor at a local university.

Identification and Selection Processes

NRF will invite applications to its Research Fellowships twice a year through open advertisements in prestigious scientific publications, as well as tap on local research organisations and other contacts to identify potential candidates.

A two-step selection process, comprising a shortlisting process and a final selection will evaluate and award the Fellowships. A Review Panel comprising representations of local research organisations will shortlist applicants who qualify. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to Singapore to present their proposals and visit local research organisations to identify potential collaborators and host-research entity.

Thereafter, the NRF Scientific Advisory Board will interview the shortlisted candidates and make the final selection of applicants for the awards. The number of fellowships awarded per year is determined solely by the quality of the applicants and their research. There is no pre-determined quota for the awards for any year.

Detailed Guidelines

Interested applicants should refer to the detailed NRF RF Guidelines on NRF's Research, Innovation and Technology Administration system (RITA).