Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Fellowships
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The Smithsonian Institution offers several Postdoctoral Fellowships annually to outstanding early career scientists. The Smithsonian’s distinctive combination of field research facilities, museum archives, and expertise in ecology, biological conservation, systematics, and paleobiology provides opportunities for synthetic, big-picture insights into some of the most profound issues challenging our world today, including habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species.
Smithsonian Fellows often stay for two years, with the second year of funding contingent upon satisfactory progress. Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with a SERC scientist prior to submitting an application for this competitively-awarded fellowship.
Appointment term: 1 Year
Stipend: $57,000 plus health, relocation and research expenses
Application deadline: October 15
How to Apply
- Choose the fellowship program(s) you are interested in from the Smithsonian Fellowships Homepage
- Provide your current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Provide your graduate transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)
- Two letters of reference
- Bibliography of published, in press, or in prep manuscripts
- Provide research abstract (maximum 1 page)
- Provide your research proposal
- Maximum 6 pages double-spaced text
- Including the importance and justification of the proposed research
- Identify SERC sponsor
- Include work plan and budgetary needs
- Upload all application materials to Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment system (detailed instructions are located on the lower half of the Smithsonian Institution Fellowships Program page)
- For more information, visit the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Internships
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The most often awarded fellowships programs include:
- Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (deadline: October 15)
- George E. Burch Fellowship (deadline: October 15)
- Smithsonian Biodiversity Genomics Fellowship (deadline: October 15)
- Smithsonian Mpala Postdoctoral Fellowship (deadline: October 15)
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Applicants currently working at SERC should dedicate one page of the proposal to describing their research progress. This progress report should include publications and presentations at conferences and meetings. In a brief paragraph, applicants should include the following components:
- State your affiliation with SERC
- The nature of the work
- Provide evidence of progress (i.e. publications, presentations, etc.)
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In addition to the Smithsonian Fellowship program, SERC scientists sometimes hire postdoctoral researchers to work on externally funded research projects. Check out Current Employment Opportunities at SERC or contact individual scientists for more information on such opportunities.
