Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellowships Starting in 2026 at the Earth and Planets Laboratory en Carnegie Institution for Science

The Earth and Planets Laboratory (EPL), a division of the Carnegie Institution for Science, invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships at its campus in Washington, DC. Multiple independent research fellowships are available in our interdisciplinary basic research laboratory covering a wide range of fields.  EPL scientists engage in observational, experimental and theoretical research in fields including astronomy, cosmochemistry, data science, experimental petrology, geobiology, geochemistry, geodynamics, geophysics, mineral physics, planetary science, physics and chemistry of materials (including materials at extreme conditions, superconductors and ferroelectrics at the atomic scale), seismology, and volcanology.  Applicants’ primary field of research should overlap with one or more of these areas. Interdisciplinary research and collaboration with multiple research areas on campus is encouraged.

Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded once a year, with allowed start dates between July 1st  and December 31, 2026. New fellows will join a supportive community of about 25 postdoctoral scientists and 30 staff and research scientists engaged in understanding the origin and evolution of Earth and planets and materials under extreme conditions. More information about our research and facilities can be viewed at https://carnegiescience.edu/epl and about our postdoctoral fellowships and postdoctoral experience at https://carnegiescience.edu/about/working/postdocs/epl. 

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in a relevant field at the time of the start of the fellowship. The principal selection criteria will be research accomplishment, promise of future achievement, originality and achievability of the research proposal, independence, and relevance to the ongoing scientific pursuits at EPL. Advice for crafting a compelling application and sample applications are available on our postdoctoral website.

Only complete applications submitted online via Interfolio will be considered and must include: 1) a cover letter (1 page max), 2) curriculum vitae, 3) list of publications; 4) research plan / proposal (4 pages max, inclusive of figures and references), 5) a brief description of previous research (3 pages max, all inclusive); and 6) three references familiar with the applicant’s work. Note and adhere to the page limits given here.

Applicants may use the cover letter to describe why EPL is a great fit for their research including how they will contribute to a positive research atmosphere, and should not use it to repeat what is in the other documents. The deadline for all application materials including reference letters is November 3rd, 2025. Address any questions to [email protected]. 

Please note, after you enter Interfolio by pressing "Apply Now," you may submit your application once you have provided all the required documents including the contact information for your references. You may edit your application up until the close date. Interfolio will send instructions to your references and attach the submitted letters to your application automatically. 

Need help submitting your application? Interfolio Application Submission Guide 

Other postdoctoral opportunities will be posted as they arise at https://apply.interfolio.com/36568/positions.