S Society of Science Fellows

Overview

University of Notre Dame's Society of Science Fellows is a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program to support highly motivated and accomplished individuals who represent the best of the next generation of scientists. These prestigious fellowships support early-career scientists pursuing research-intensive careers in universities, institutes, or industry. Fellows are appointed for up to three years, receive a stipend at or above the NRSA NIH postdoctoral pay scale, and benefit from individualized guidance from the College of Science Director of Postdoctoral Studies.

Fellows select a primary research mentor from one of the College of Science’s five departments; additional co-mentors may be appointed, provided they hold an appointment at the University of Notre Dame. The primary research mentor is responsible for providing research space, supplies, and travel support.

Monetary support will be coupled with faculty mentoring, professional development, and networking opportunities. The Society Fellows will have an independent mentoring committee to review their progress and discuss future plans every six months. A sum of $10,000 will be placed under the control of the fellow to cover expenses related to training, professional development, and independent research endeavors. The Fellows will participate in a university-wide postdoctoral training program, a curriculum that enhances research skills, career development, and social and personal skills.

Specific advice on how to apply for and obtain jobs, and how to develop short- and long-term plans for career success will be an integral part of this program. The Fellows are encouraged to apply for both internal and external funding to continue their research at Notre Dame if they so desire. Our goal is to train our postdoctoral fellows through workshops, panel discussions, seminars, and networking opportunities designed to advance lab management skills, grantsmanship, communication, academic and industry career exploration, as well as work/life and cultural considerations throughout the year.

Moreover, the fellows will participate in a rigorous grant writing workshop for transition awards and fellowships. The Society Fellows also have opportunities to teach at the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College, Saint Mary’s College, or Indiana University South Bend.

Preference will be given to applicants who have successfully completed (or plan to complete) a doctoral degree after June 2024 (or earlier dates if maternity or paternity leave, or Family and Medical Leave Act leave occurred within the past two years).

Applicants Should Submit The Following Via The Interfolio Website:

• A cover letter including the motivation for your application, how this fellowship will further your career goals, and your research interests at Notre Dame.
• Your curriculum vitae.
• A statement describing your previous research accomplishments and what research you propose to do under the fellowship. This statement must include the identification of primary mentor and co-mentors, and rationale for selecting mentors. Please see the following links for more information on faculty:
  Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy. The research statement should not exceed 5 pages (not counting the bibliography).

Candidates must also arrange for at least three letters of recommendation to be submitted via Interfolio. (Do not ask your letter writers to e-mail their letters directly.)

The Final date to receive applications is December 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST. Decision by Feb 15th, 2026.

For questions or concerns about the submission process, please email sciencepostdocs.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a).

We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.

This appointment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Applicants will be asked to identify all felony convictions and/or pending felony charges. Felony convictions do not automatically bar employment; each case will be examined separately to determine appropriateness of employment. Failure to be forthcoming or dishonesty with respect to felony disclosures can result in disqualification. The full procedure can be viewed at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..