Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability
The Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship funds interdisciplinary, solution-focused sustainability research at Cornell, with mentorship from faculty and external partners, in four key sustainability areas.
Funder: Cornell University
Due Dates: October 20, 2026: Full application and letters of recommendation due (by 5:00 p.m. ET)
Funding Amounts: $65,000/year salary + full benefits and $12,000/year research/travel allowance; up to 3 years
Summary: Supports recent PhDs to conduct interdisciplinary sustainability research at Cornell with faculty and external partner mentorship, plus leadership development.
Key Information: Applicants must have received their PhD by fellowship start and no earlier than May 1, 2025; Cornell PhD graduates and current postdocs are ineligible.
Description
The Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability offers early-career scholars the opportunity to conduct impactful, interdisciplinary research addressing urgent sustainability challenges. Fellows are embedded at Cornell University for up to three years, working closely with both a Cornell faculty mentor and an advisor from an external partner organization (government, NGO, or private sector). The program emphasizes solution-oriented research aligned with one or more of Cornell Atkinson’s four thematic areas: Reducing Climate Risk, Accelerating Energy Transitions, Increasing Food Security, and Advancing One Health.
In addition to research support, fellows participate in the Sustainability Leadership Program, which provides professional development, career strategy, communications training, and collaborative leadership workshops. The fellowship aims to prepare postdoctoral scholars for transformative careers in sustainability across academia, policy, and the private sector.
