INSTAR Fellowship
INSTAR Lab's open citizen-scientist program — for curious researchers at every level. There is no minimum degree requirement; fellows range from bachelor's to master's to PhD holders. Selection is based on fit with INSTAR's research culture and the depth of your intellectual curiosity.
Apply NowAbout the Fellowship
The INSTAR Fellowship is an open, unpaid citizen-scientist research appointment. There is no minimum degree requirement — fellows include bachelor's, master's, and PhD holders alike. Selection is based on fit with INSTAR's research culture and genuine intellectual curiosity. Fellows dedicate 20 or more hours per week to supervised original research with publication as the expected output.
Duration
Appointments are made on a rolling basis. Renewal is at the host organization's sole discretion.
Who Can Apply
Open to anyone with curiosity and a fit for our research culture. No minimum degree — fellows range from bachelor's to master's to PhD holders.
Fields
Physics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, computer science, mathematics, and related computational disciplines.
Research Output
Publication is expected — arXiv preprints, peer-reviewed journals, or conference proceedings appropriate to the field.
Time Commitment
Minimum 20 hours per week dedicated to supervised research and professional curriculum activities.
Compensation
This is an unpaid volunteer appointment. There is no wage, salary, stipend, or promise of future compensation.
Program Structure
The fellowship combines original research with a year-long professional development curriculum, culminating in hands-on experience drafting and submitting real federal and foundation grant proposals.
Research Home
Each fellow is matched to a research home within the INSTAR Consortium. Research is conducted under the supervision of that host organization, which also serves as the applying entity for any grant proposals drafted during the fellowship.
Curiosity Research Corporation
A 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to cultivating innovative thinking and curiosity-driven research. Fellows work within the SPARK pedagogical framework and Curiosity Coaching methodology.
INSTAR Lab
An independent 501(c)(3) research organization advancing science through interdisciplinary collaboration, technology transfer, and open publication. Fellows contribute to active research programs across computational and physical sciences.
Tao Learning
A 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on research-driven learning innovation. Fellows engage in applied research that bridges education, cognition, and computational methodology.
Professional Curriculum
Alongside research, fellows complete a structured professional development track covering:
- Research Design — hypothesis formation, experimental design, and rigorous methodology across computational fields.
- Scientific Writing & Publishing — manuscript preparation, peer-review navigation, arXiv submission, and conference abstract writing.
- Applied AI Tooling — practical use of machine learning frameworks, large language models, and AI-assisted research workflows.
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals — secure research computing, data governance, and responsible AI practices.
- Agile Project Management — sprint-based research planning, milestone tracking, and collaborative tool use.
- Deep-Work & Focus Practice — structured techniques for sustained intellectual output and research productivity.
- Public Communication & Networking — presenting research to non-specialist audiences, science communication, and professional relationship-building.
- Research Funding Acquisition (Centerpiece) — fellows draft and submit real federal and/or foundation grant proposals. The host non-profit serves as the applicant organization. Fellows gain direct experience with NIH, NSF, DARPA, DOE, and/or private foundation funding mechanisms appropriate to their research area.
US-Based Remote, with Optional In-Residence Placement
The Consortium Fellowship is conducted remotely within the United States. Fellows must reside and work within the U.S. for the duration of the appointment. All research, curriculum activities, and supervisory meetings are conducted via remote collaboration tools.
Optional in-residence placement: A limited number of merit-based in-residence placements are available, with furnished housing provided in West Virginia. In-residence placement is not guaranteed and is awarded separately based on research fit, housing availability, and other factors at the host organization's discretion.
Arm's-Length Affiliation with Ravonics
The Consortium maintains an arm's-length affiliation with Ravonics, a HUBZone-certified federal AI contractor. This affiliation may expose fellows to federal contracting environments, applied AI problems, and industry research contacts.
Important: This is exposure and affiliation only. There is no guaranteed job offer, career pathway, visa sponsorship, or any other outcome associated with this affiliation. Ravonics is a separate private entity; any interaction with Ravonics during the fellowship is incidental and not part of the fellow's duties or compensation.
After the Fellowship
Completion of the fellowship does not guarantee any specific next step. The following paths are possible — not promised — for fellows who complete the program in good standing.
- Grant-funded position at the host non-profit — if the fellow's grant proposal is awarded, the host non-profit may offer a paid research role contingent entirely on the grant funds received. The non-profits are E-Verify employers; for eligible STEM degree holders, such a role may support a 24-month STEM OPT extension. This is not guaranteed and depends on external funding outcomes.
- SBIR/STTR subaward role — fellows who develop commercially relevant research may be positioned as subawardees on Small Business Innovation Research or STTR proposals, subject to eligibility and funding agency rules.
- Role at Ravonics — Ravonics may, independently and at its own discretion, consider fellows for open positions. No placement or preference is implied by participation in this fellowship.
- External academic postdoc or research position — the fellowship's publication output and professional curriculum are designed to strengthen candidates for traditional academic postdoctoral appointments and research roles elsewhere.
Eligibility & Inclusivity
The INSTAR Fellowship is open to anyone — there is no minimum degree requirement. Fellows include bachelor's, master's, and PhD holders alike. What matters is your intellectual curiosity and your fit with INSTAR's research culture.
No minimum credential required. We select fellows based on fit with INSTAR's research culture — curiosity, rigor, and genuine commitment to the work — not on the degree letters after your name. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents are equally welcome and encouraged to apply. This fellowship is not limited to international students. We are committed to equal access for all eligible researchers regardless of national origin, citizenship status, or immigration background.
What We Look For
- Genuine intellectual curiosity and a desire to contribute to original research — at any educational level.
- Demonstrated engagement with your field, whether through coursework, thesis work, publications, preprints, independent projects, or professional experience.
- Ability to commit 20 or more hours per week to fellowship activities while residing in the United States.
- Fit with INSTAR's interdisciplinary, citizen-scientist research culture.
Work Authorization
- F-1 students: Eligible for F-1 post-completion OPT (or pre-completion OPT if applicable) and seeking to use OPT authorization for this volunteer research appointment. Each F-1 student is solely responsible for maintaining valid immigration status. See the Disclosures section below.
- U.S. citizens: Fully eligible. No immigration considerations apply.
- U.S. permanent residents (green card holders): Fully eligible. No OPT or visa considerations apply.
- Other statuses: Individuals otherwise authorized to perform unpaid volunteer work in the United States under applicable law are welcome to apply. Applicants are responsible for confirming their authorization with qualified immigration counsel.
Application Requirements
Prepare the following materials before completing the form below. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed.
- CV or Résumé — a current summary of your background, including any relevant research, coursework, projects, publications, preprints, or professional experience. There is no required format.
- Research Statement (1–2 pages) — describe your area of interest, what you hope to investigate, and how this fellowship fits your goals. Explain how your background and curiosity make you a strong fit for INSTAR's research culture.
- Two References — provide contact information for two individuals who can speak to your intellectual engagement and research potential (e.g. a professor, mentor, supervisor, or senior colleague). References may be contacted at the committee's discretion.
Apply Now
Complete the form below to begin your application. You will receive a confirmation once your submission is received.
Important Disclosures & Legal Compliance
Unpaid volunteer appointment. This is a bona fide volunteer position with 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organizations (Curiosity Research Corporation, INSTAR Lab, and Tao Learning). It is unpaid. There is no wage, salary, stipend, or promise of future compensation of any kind. Volunteers serve freely, for civic, charitable, and educational purposes, and do not displace paid employees. This arrangement is structured to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act's bona fide volunteer exemption applicable to non-profit charitable organizations.
F-1 students and OPT. Unpaid volunteer research of 20 or more hours per week that is directly related to a student's degree program may qualify as OPT employment under SEVP/USCIS regulations, but each F-1 student is solely responsible for their own immigration status. Applicants must consult their Designated School Official (DSO) and, if applicable, report any OPT activity in the SEVP Portal/SEVIS before beginning the fellowship. Remote participation must comply with current SEVP guidance (the fellow must reside and work within the United States). Nothing on this page constitutes legal or immigration advice.
No guarantees. There is no guarantee of employment, salary, grant funding, STEM OPT extension sponsorship, visa sponsorship, or any immigration benefit or outcome arising from participation in this fellowship. Any future paid role is contingent on securing external grant funding and is not promised, implied, or contingent upon fellowship performance alone.
Organizational independence. Curiosity Research Corporation, INSTAR Lab, Tao Learning, Ravonics, and USIVA are private entities. They are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any U.S. government agency, including but not limited to USCIS, SEVP, the Department of Labor, the National Science Foundation, or the Department of Energy.
Equal opportunity. The Consortium Fellowship program welcomes applications regardless of national origin, citizenship status, race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, consistent with applicable law. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive research community.
Institutional Partnerships
Become an INSTAR Partner
INSTAR Lab works with universities, government agencies, and enterprises on joint research programs, sponsored projects, and technology transfer. Build science together.
OUR PARTNERS
