Funder: The Brinson Foundation
Due Dates: November 5, 2026 (Applications) | November 19, 2026 (Reference letters)
Funding Amounts: Up to three years of salary and independent research support, including an annual research stipend
Summary: Supports early-career astrophysicists and cosmologists pursuing bold, independent research in observational cosmology.
Key Information: Fellowships are tenable only at participating U.S. institutions, and research must link clearly to ground- or space-based observations.
Description
The Brinson Prize Fellowship Program supports early-career astrophysicists and cosmologists pursuing creative, nimble, and innovative research in observational cosmology. The Brinson Foundation administers the program and sets fellowship conditions, with logistical assistance from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). Projects particularly complement and capitalize on space science, addressing topics such as the first stars, the cosmic distance scale, dark matter, and the development of large-scale structure.
Fellows receive support for independent postdoctoral research at participating U.S. institutions. Research may include theoretical or instrumental components and analysis of large survey datasets, provided it has a clear connection to observational activities. The program also offers customized professional development workshops and science communication training to help Fellows communicate with scientists, educate and engage the public, and connect science with society.
