We invite expressions of interest for nomination to postdoctoral fellowships in astrophysics. The positions have an initial term of two years, with extensions dependent on development of additional funding.

Fellowships may be available in all topics of interest to the Department, including: theoretical and computational modeling of planet formation (including meteoritics), star formation, stellar cluster dynamics, the interstellar medium, and galaxy formation; all aspects of exoplanet and brown dwarf science, including instrumentation, observation, theory, atmospheric structure, and populations; fundamental stellar parameters including age and kinematics; debris disk chemistry; astrometric surveys; and surveys for/characterization of cataclysmic binaries and Wolf-Rayet stars in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies. Opportunities may exist for collaboration with outreach and education efforts of the Museum as well.

The Department has a share in the Southern African Large Telescope, guaranteed access to the Condor Array low surface brightness telescope, an instrumentation laboratory on site developing instruments for Palomar and Keck Observatories, and access to the Museum’s parallel computational facilities. Roughly ten postdoctoral fellows and graduate students reside in the department on average. We maintain close ties with Columbia, CUNY, CCA, and other research institutes in the NYC area.

To express interest, please send a CV, research statement, and cover letter indicating the regular staff member(s) you wish to work with to administrator Ms Cheryl Mayefsky at the email address astrodept@amnh.org . These must be in PDF format. Consideration of materials begins on October 19, 2023. 

A small number of candidates will be individually requested to develop applications for submission by November 15 to the Museum-wide Fellowships competition.  References will only be requested for those nominated.

The American Museum of Natural History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.