Funder: The Brinson Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2027 (Applications) | November 2027 (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. host 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. Projects often 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. Research may include theoretical or instrumental components or analysis of large survey datasets, provided it maintains a clear connection to observational activities.
The Brinson Foundation administers the program and sets fellowship conditions, with logistical assistance from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). Alongside independent postdoctoral research, the program emphasizes connections between science and society. Fellows are offered customized professional development workshops and science communication training to strengthen communication with other scientists and build skills for educating and engaging the public.
