Finding a Postdoctoral Position

This is your online resource for information on different types of postdoctoral positions, ecological postdoctoral positions, research fellowships, teaching fellowships, research positions and other useful links.

Different types of postdoctoral positions

Postdoctoral Research and Policy Fellowships

A postdoctoral fellowship typically provides a salary with benefits and provides additional monies for research. The host institution will differ from the granting agency. Many of these fellowships call for either partial or in-depth research proposals and also require that you partner with a post-doctoral advisor. Some (but not all) fellowships require that the institution in which your advisor is located differs from your current institution. It is a good idea to research these positions up to a year in advance of your application, since you will want to both contact potential postdoctoral advisors as well as develop and write a research proposal. Most of the listed postdoctoral fellowships have only one due date per year, with notice of your fellowship status following two to six months after the application due date.

Institution-Based Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

A postdoctoral fellowship typically provides a salary with benefits and provides additional monies for research. With this type of fellowship, the host institution is the same as the granting agency. You will need to contact potential advisors within the institution that is providing the fellowship. The application materials for this type of fellowship varies-some require detailed research proposals while others require a statement of research interests. Because of this, it is still a good idea to research these positions up to a year in advance of your application. Most of the listed postdoctoral fellowships have only one due date per year, with notice of your fellowship status following two to six months after the application due date. Also keep in mind that not all institutional postdoctoral fellowships are offered on an annual basis.

Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowships

Post-doctoral teaching fellowships provide funding to advance excellence in the classroom. They are similar to postdoctoral research positions except that you are provided a stipend to help further your advancement in teaching as opposed to research. These fellowships will require you to have an advisor as well as a host institution. There is typically one call for applications per year, so it is a good idea to be aware of the deadlines for teaching fellowships.

Postdoctoral Research Positions

Postdoctoral research positions provide a salary and funding to work on a specific project. This is a case where your postdoctoral advisor has written and received funding for a specified project and is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to conduct the bulk of the research and the analysis. Applications typically include your CV, a statement of research interests, and references. Calls for applications are typically posted 2 – 6 months in advance of the start date and lengths of positions vary depending on the project. The ideal way to look for postdoctoral research position announcements is by joining list-serves, checking society websites for your field of study, contacting potential postdoctoral advisors in your field, or through networking at conferences.

Ecological postdoctoral positions

If you have any positions that you would like to add to this list, please contact Lisa Wiggins, wiggins@umn.edu

Post-doctoral research and policy fellowships

Institution-based postdoctoral research fellowships

Postdoctoral teaching fellowships

Postdoctoral research positions

Society Listserves
Society Career Pages

Other useful sites for researching postdocs