NPA Announces 2025-2026 IMPACT Fellowship Program for Postdocs

Launched in 2021, the NPA IMPACT Fellowship Program (“IMPACT”) increases access to opportunities for early-career researchers based at U.S. institutions and from marginalized communities to build skills, understand strengths and develop networks. IMPACT provides participants with access to personal and career resources with a cohort of peers so that they can strategically build upon their existing skills and advance in their careers in the direction they choose. 

A central component of the Fellowship is funded Individual IMPACT Projects (IIPs) that allow Fellows to take skills learned during the Fellowship and apply them through a project in their home communities. Individuals completing the program may gain additional opportunities as IMPACT alums.

Each iteration of IMPACT provides a 16-month fellowship for six early-career researchers and includes components such as peer networking engagement; specialized interaction opportunities with NPA speakers;  IIP development and execution; external mentoring resources; individual strengths assessments and individualized interpretation; attendance at the NPA Annual Conference in San Francisco in March 2026.

After completing the IMPACT Fellowship Program, Fellows are expected to feel empowered and capable to use the knowledge, tools and resources that they gained from the program to implement IIPs at their institutions to contribute to their professional communities with particular attention to advancing the success of individuals from marginalized populations. (Note that "communities" often refers to the postdoctoral communities at host institutions; however, other communities are also allowable in this context.)

All data collected through the application process will be used to review applicants for the IMPACT Fellowship Program. Your data submitted will be evaluated based on a candidate rubric and shared with IMPACT Task Force members.

NOTE:

1. The NPA seeks a cohort that is diverse (e.g., gender, institutions, geography, race, etc.)

2. Applicants must serve in their postdoc positions through at least Dec 2026. 

3. This is an honorary fellowship. There is no stipend provided. There are, however, many other benefits (e.g., NPA pays costs of all programming, travel to NPA Conference, IIP seed grant).

4. Industry, government, national laboratory, and postdocs at other non-academic institutions are eligible to apply.

5. The NPA seeks leaders who are also in need. 

6. Applications completed entirely or primarily using AI without the ability of the review committee to understand more about you as an individual will not be successful. (If this raises accessibility issues, please contact us using the email below.)

7. Applicants must be based in the U.S.

Questions? Email IMPACT@nationalpostdoc.org