Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability in United States

Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability is inviting applications for its Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability. This is a strong opportunity for recent PhD graduates whose research connects to sustainability, environmental science, and related interdisciplinary work, especially for social scientists studying environmental issues and candidates interested in collaborating with a non-academic partner.

The fellowship funds highly motivated postdocs to conduct projects under the mentorship of a Cornell faculty host and an external partner organization advisor. Fellows hold appointments at Cornell University for up to three years. The program also includes individualized and cohort-level support through the Sustainability Leadership Program, including workshops in professional development, career strategy, communications training, and collaborative leadership.

Research themes highlighted by the program include food security, climate risk reduction, energy transitions, and One Health. The broader Cornell Atkinson portfolio also shows strong connections to environmental governance, conservation, ecology, sustainability policy, and interdisciplinary social-environmental research.

Eligibility: applicants must have received, or will receive, their PhD within two years prior to the start date of the research. Research must align with Cornell Atkinson’s four thematic areas. The post also notes that fellows must reside in Ithaca for the duration of the fellowship, except for fieldwork time.

Funding: the fellowship provides generous research funding and does not require teaching. This is a postdoctoral opportunity rather than a scholarship for degree study.

Deadline: the 2027 cycle is open, with applications and letters of recommendation due on October 20, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET.

Interested applicants should review the official Cornell Atkinson fellowship page, identify a suitable Cornell faculty host and external partner alignment, and submit the application materials before the deadline. The announcer, Jenny Elaine Goldstein, is an Associate Professor at Cornell University and invites potential applicants to reach out if they may be a suitable supervisor or need help identifying others on campus.