Postdoctoral Earth and Planetary Sciences Fellowship

Name: Postdoctoral Earth and Planetary Sciences Fellowship, National Air and Space Museum

Award Amount: $74,950 plus up to $5,000 health allowance

Information And Eligibility:
The Postdoctoral Earth and Planetary Sciences Fellowship is a competitive research fellowship hosted by the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. This fellowship supports advanced scientific research focused on understanding planetary geologic and geophysical processes across the solar system. It is designed for early-career researchers who are prepared to conduct independent, high-impact research while collaborating with Smithsonian scientists and leveraging world-class institutional resources.

CEPS plays an active role in multiple NASA and European Space Agency planetary missions, providing fellows with a uniquely collaborative research environment that bridges museum-based science, space mission data, and academic scholarship. Research supported through this fellowship commonly focuses on planetary landscape evolution, volcanism, tectonics, impact processes, surface-atmosphere interactions, and the interpretation of spacecraft and remote sensing data. Fellows are encouraged to develop projects that contribute to current or upcoming planetary missions and advance fundamental understanding of planetary surfaces and interiors.

Applicants must demonstrate strong expertise in relevant areas such as planetary geomorphology, tectonophysics, volcanic processes, geophysics, or remote sensing analysis. Proposals should clearly outline research objectives, methodology, anticipated outcomes, and the broader scientific significance of the work. A key component of the application is a justification for the use of Smithsonian collections, data, facilities, or collaborative opportunities, showing how the fellowship environment is essential to the proposed research.

The fellowship appointment is offered for a term of one to two years, depending on project scope and performance. The annual stipend provides $74,950 in salary support, along with a health insurance allowance of up to $5,000. This funding structure allows fellows to devote full-time effort to research, publication, and professional development without teaching or administrative obligations.

Fellows are expected to participate actively in the intellectual life of the National Air and Space Museum and the broader Smithsonian research community. This includes presenting research findings, engaging in seminars, and contributing to collaborative discussions with scientists across disciplines. The fellowship is widely regarded as a prestigious opportunity for postdoctoral researchers pursuing careers in planetary science, space research, or academia.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must hold a PhD in planetary science, geology, geophysics, or a closely related field.
• Must be at the postdoctoral career stage.
• Must demonstrate expertise in planetary geologic or geophysical research.
• Proposed research must align with CEPS focus areas and justify the use of Smithsonian resources.

Application Requirements:

• Completed Smithsonian fellowship application.
• Detailed research proposal outlining objectives, methods, and significance.
• Justification for use of Smithsonian collections, data, or facilities.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Letters of recommendation.

Additional Details:

• Fellowship term is one to two years.
• Funding includes salary support and a health insurance allowance.
• Fellows are expected to engage in collaborative research and scholarly activities.

Deadline: March

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