Postdoctoral Fellowship in Environmental Health and Sustainability at Smithsonian Smithsonian Institution in United States

The Smithsonian Institution is inviting proposals for two postdoctoral fellowship opportunities: the George E. Burch Jr. Fellowship and the Life on a Sustainable Planet (LSP) Fellowship. These are two-year, employee-based research appointments hosted within the proposing unit and funded by the Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Research (OUSSR).

For selected proposals, OUSSR will fully fund salary and benefits at the IS-9 level for the duration of the fellowship, plus a modest research stipend. The host unit will be responsible for recruiting and managing the fellow.

The Burch Fellowship supports a scholar in residence at the Smithsonian in theoretical medicine and affiliated theoretical sciences. Relevant fields include medicine, biology, physics, chemistry, and also social sciences and humanities when they bear on human health and social wellbeing. The post highlights research on the impact of biotic and abiotic environmental factors on the health of animal populations and human communities.

The LSP Fellowship is intended to support a scholar in residence at the Smithsonian in any discipline, with the goal of advancing bold research, strengthening communities, and shaping a thriving future. The initiative emphasizes environmental stewardship, ecosystem preservation, resilience, climate solutions, and education.

Previous tracks mentioned for reference include Climate Change, Community and the Environment, and Resilience. Proposals should include a description of the proposed research opportunity (no more than two pages) and clearly explain how the project advances the unit’s strategic goals and priorities.

Deadline: June 5, 2026.

How to apply: Submit proposals to [email protected]. More than one fellowship proposal may be accepted for recruitment and placement.