Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability

Created through the generous support of David and Patricia Atkinson, the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability enables transdisciplinary and translational research that advances a more sustainable, 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.

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. Fellows work with both a Cornell faculty mentor and a partnering external organization, which encourages Fellows to drive real-world impact through their research. Through the Sustainability Leadership Program, Fellows join a cohort of early-career scholars that receives curated support in science communication, strategic career planning, and collaborative leadership.

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

Timeline

• July 8: Application form opens
• August 5, 3 p.m. ET: Information Session #1 (Video, Slides)
• September 10, Noon ET: Information Session #2 (Register)
• October 20, 5 p.m. ET: Applications and letters of recommendation due (Apply)
• January 2027: Applicant notifications
• June 1 – September 1, 2027: Fellowships start

Program Details and Benefits

• 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.
• 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, 2027.
• 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, and spend the majority of their time on campus 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 are required to 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 Affairs.

Eligibility Requirements

• The postdoctoral program is no longer open to Cornell Ph.D. graduates or 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.

How to Apply

• 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.