Description

Overview:

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 problems facing our planet.

Unique among postdoctoral fellowships, the Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral  Fellowship positions scholars to work with a Cornell faculty mentor and an external partner organization. Each Fellow receives individualized and cohort-level support in professional development, including career strategy, communications training, and collaborative leadership.

Created through the generous support of David and Patricia Atkinson, the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability enables transdisciplinary and translational research  that advances sustainability to create a healthy and resilient future. By supporting  research across all of Cornell’s colleges and schools, and partnering with governmental, non-governmental, and private entities, Cornell Atkinson directly  supports the radical collaboration necessary to transform knowledge to action.

We invite research proposals from early career scholars in any of Cornell Atkinson’s four primary research areas.

Key Dates:

• October 20, 2025: Completed applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time 
• Early January 2026: Applicant notifications
• June 1-September 1, 2026: Fellowships start

Program Details and Benefits:

• Up to four Postdoctoral Fellows are selected each year. 
• 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.
• 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.
• Start date for the fellowship is flexible between June 1 and September 1, 2026.
• Field work and site visits are typical components of research. In addition, Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellows are a critically important part of the community of scholars that comprises the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Accordingly, Fellows must have primary residency in Ithaca, New York in order to participate in Cornell Atkinson activities.
• Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellows are afforded professional development support via the Sustainability Leadership Program (SLP). As part of SLP, Fellows complete a minimum of two long (approx. two-day, in-person) and four short (one- to two-hour, online) workshops during each year of their appointment. SLP workshops are tailored to advance participants' professional position at the intersections of academic research, public engagement, and impact.
• Fellows are additionally supported by Cornell's Office of Postdoctoral Studies.

Please visit https://www.atkinson.cornell.edu/cornell-atkinson-postdocs-rfp-2026/ to access the complete 2026 Call for Applications, including required application materials. We encourage prospective applicants to read through these guidelines carefully before beginning an application.