President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

In 2021, Penn State joined in a collaborative partnership with the University of California and other leading universities to offer postdoctoral fellowship opportunities for promising scholars. In this program, Penn State now offers postdoctoral research fellowships in most academic disciplines, coupled with faculty mentoring, professional development, and academic networking opportunities.

Penn State views these postdoctoral fellowships as providing exceptional opportunities to recruit potential new faculty members to academia. Candidates may apply separately but concurrently for open faculty positions at the University, and fellows will be encouraged to pursue such opportunities during their tenure in this postdoctoral program.

The University seeks applicants whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. The program is particularly interested in scholars with the potential to bring to their research and teaching the critical perspective that comes from a non-traditional educational background or an understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in higher education.

For academic year 2024-25 (applications round fall 2023), the University welcomes applications from potential fellows who aim to work with faculty mentors in the following areas:

• College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Geosciences
  • Energy and Mineral Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
• Eberly College of Science
  
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Statistics
• College of Arts and Architecture
  • Assessment of arts and design research: We seek a post-doctoral candidate who will be located in the Office of Research, Creative Activity and Graduate Studies. The ideal candidate will work with the Dean of the College and the Associate Dean for Research, Creative Activity and Graduate Studies in developing an assessment framework for arts/design research and programs (including those in the Center for Performing Arts and the Palmer Museum) in the College.
• College of Health and Human Development
• College of Agricultural Sciences

For more information about Penn State’s fellowship program, navigate using the links for Candidates, Faculty Mentors, and Host Departments at the top of this page. Note that applicants will need to identify a faculty mentor at Penn State and arrange for a letter of support. For assistance in identifying potential mentors, please use the “Contact Us” button above.

Applications open on September 1 and are due November 1. A common application portal for the partnership is maintained by the University of California, which is also accessible via the "Apply" button above.