Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowships support a cohort of creative, exceptionally talented, and highly motivated scholars committed to discovery that contributes directly to solving the most pressing sustainability challenges facing our planet.

The Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability offers a unique opportunity for early career scholars to engage at the nexus of highly rigorous academic research and real impact in sustainability.

ELIGIBILITY:

The postdoctoral program is no longer open to Cornell Ph.D. graduates or current Cornell postdocs, as its purpose is to bring outstanding scholars from outside Cornell to enrich the university’s academic community.

Postdocs must maintain primary residency in Ithaca for the duration of the appointment. Hybrid and remote appointments for Cornell Atkinson postdocs are not permitted.

Applicants must have received their Ph.D. in a field relevant to the proposed research by the start of the fellowship, but no earlier than two years prior to the start date (for this application cycle, no earlier than May 1, 2025).

All applicants meeting the requirements are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants requiring visa sponsorship will be referred to Cornell International Services for guidance on obtaining the appropriate visa to enter and be employed in the United States.

Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellows are full-time, non-faculty, benefits-eligible staff at Cornell University. Policies that govern employment at Cornell University apply. Accordingly, while field research, including non-US field research, is a common part of many Fellows’ research plans, the Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship is US-based for employment purposes.

Please use this online form to submit your application before 5 p.m. ET on October 20, 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applicant Background (maximum 250 words)
Provide a brief summary of your doctoral research and future career goals, explaining how the postdoctoral fellowship will enhance your career in sustainability research and impact.

Description of Proposed Project (maximum 1,000 words; not including any references placed at the end of the description)
The proposal must offer a concise statement of context, objectives, methods, and significance of the proposed research.

Letters of Recommendation (submitted via email separately by the recommender): Your application packet should include four letters of recommendation. Your recommenders should email their letters directly to atkinson-postdoc@cornell.edu. Because letters of recommendation are due on the same day as the application deadline, we strongly encourage applicants to communicate early with their recommenders.

Up to four postdoctoral fellows are selected each year.

Postdoctoral Fellows must secure one PI-eligible Cornell faculty mentor and one external partner at the time of application. Cornell faculty mentors may support only one fellowship applicant per cycle.

Fellowships are three-year, 12-month appointments at Cornell University. Second- and third-year support is contingent upon satisfactory progress in the first and second years, respectively, along with the availability of funding.

BENEFIT:

Fellowships provide a salary of $65,000 per year, full Cornell University employee benefits, and $12,000 per year for research- and travel-related expenses. Allowable research expenses are governed by Cornell University policies applicable to all academic staff.

The start date for the fellowship is flexible between June 1 and September 1, 2027.