Job Description

At the University of Notre Dame, the Society of Science Fellows is a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program to support highly motivated and accomplished individuals who represent the best of the next generation of scientists.

These prestigious fellowships support early-career scientists pursuing research-intensive careers in universities, institutes, or industry. Society Fellows are appointed for three years, receive a stipend at or above the NRSA NIH postdoctoral pay scale , and benefit from individualized guidance from the College of Science Assistant Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Applicants must identify a primary research mentor from one of the College of Science’s five departments. The primary mentor is responsible for providing research space, supplies, and travel support, including funding the fellow’s third year of the fellowship; should the fellowship continue beyond three years, the mentor is responsible for funding those additional years as well. Additional co-mentors may be appointed, provided they hold an appointment at the University of Notre Dame.

Monetary support will be coupled with faculty mentoring, professional development, and networking opportunities. Society Fellows will meet regularly with the Assistant Dean of Graduate and Postdoc Scholars to review their progress and discuss future plans every six months. Society Fellows also meet with one another regularly, forming a cohort through social and professional development activities. A sum of $10,000 will be placed under the control of the fellow to cover expenses related to training, professional development, and independent research endeavors. Specific advice on how to apply for and obtain jobs, and how to develop short- and long-term plans for career success will be an integral part of the program.

Our goal is to train postdoctoral fellows through a university-wide curriculum of workshops, panel discussions, seminars, and networking opportunities designed to advance research and lab management skills, grantsmanship, communication, academic and industry career exploration, as well as work/life and cultural considerations throughout the year. The Society Fellows are encouraged to apply for both internal and external funding to continue their research at Notre Dame.

The Society of Science Fellows program is part of Notre Dame’s broader Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Initiative, which gives fellows the flexibility to pursue ambitious, long-term projects that bridge multiple disciplines and to collaborate with colleagues at leading institutions worldwide. Fellows also become active contributors to their host departments, often introducing new research directions and mentoring graduate students along the way.

Eligibility:
Preference will be given to applicants who have successfully completed (or plan to complete) a doctoral degree after June 2025 (or earlier dates if maternity or paternity leave, or Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave occurred within the past two years).

Application Instructions:
Applicants should submit the following via the Interfolio website:
A cover letter including: the motivation for your application, how this fellowship will further your career goals, and your research interests at Notre Dame.
Your curriculum vitae.
A statement describing your previous research accomplishments and what research you propose to do under the fellowship. This statement must include the identification of primary mentor and co-mentors, and rationale for selecting mentors. Please see the following links for more information on faculty: Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy. The research statement should not exceed 5 pages (not counting the bibliography).

Candidates must also arrange for at least three letters of recommendation to be submitted via Interfolio. (Do not ask your letter writers to e-mail their letters directly.)

The application deadline is December 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST. Decisions around Feb 15th, 2027.
For questions or concerns about the submission process, please email [email protected].

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace. We strongly encourage applications from female and minority candidates and those candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and requires affirmative action by covered contractors to employ and advance veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a).