Life on a Sustainable Planet Fellowships

The Smithsonian is committed to advancing and inspiring global engagement and environmental stewardship. In 2022, we introduced “Life on a Sustainable Planet” to foster dialogue between scientists, students, policymakers, and communities on today’s most pressing challenges. Renowned for our museums, the Smithsonian is equally vibrant in scientific discovery and education. With over 800 esteemed scientists researching Earth and beyond, we tackle questions as broad as the cosmos’ mysteries and as complex as ecosystem resilience. Our collaborative efforts are shaping the future as we work to preserve biodiversity, champion sustainable practices, and offer solutions to the effects of our changing climate. We offer three in-residence Life on a Sustainable Planet Fellowship opportunities – the Smithsonian Climate Change Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, the Smithsonian Environmental Justice Fellowship, and the Resilience and Sustainability Science Postdoctoral Fellowship. Each program will support a cohort of fellows for a period of two years. Fellows will receive a stipend to conduct independent research that utilizes Smithsonian resources (e.g., data, facilities, expertise). Fellows are especially encouraged to apply if they have research projects that have the potential to produce rapid results and impact.

Deadline: October 15, 2024. 
Notification Date: Fall 2024.
Eligibility: See detailed program descriptions. No employee or contractor of the Smithsonian Institution may hold a Smithsonian fellowship during the time of his/her employment or contract, nor may an award be offered to any person who has been employed by or under contract to the Institution in the previous year, without the prior approval of the Office of Academic Appointments and Internships.
Eligible Locations: The use of SI collections, data, labs, and resources is a central component of this fellowship. The research location should align with the scope of one of the research projects, and fellows are expected to spend a significant amount of time in residency.
Term: 24 months (in residence)
Stipend: Recipients will receive a stipend of $62,000 per year. Stipends are prorated for periods of less than 24 months. A research allowance is also available. Please see details specific to each program.
Criteria for Selection: Applications are evaluated, and fellows are selected by scholars in appropriate fields on the basis of the proposal’s merit, the applicant’s ability to carry out the proposed research and study, the likelihood that the research could be completed in the requested time, and the extent to which the Smithsonian, through its resources, could contribute to the proposed research.