The National Research Council announced that the 2001 Postdoctoral and Senior Research Associateship Programs will award about 300 full-time associateships. Areas of study include chemistry; earth and atmospheric sciences; engineering, applied sciences and computer science; life and medical sciences; mathematics; space and planetary sciences; and physics.

The programs give scientists and engineers an opportunity to perform research largely in the field of their own choosing. Annual stipends for recent PhD recipients for the 2001 program range from $34,000 to $55,000 and will be higher for senior award recipients. Applications are to be submitted to the research council in Washington.