Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships in Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences
The Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences supports exceptional early-career scientists with interests in the broad range of disciplines represented in the department. Fellows pursue independent research but are also encouraged to collaborate with one or more faculty in the department. A faculty mentor hosts each fellow. Applicants are encouraged to contact prospective faculty mentors. MIT postdoctoral researchers receive mentoring and opportunities for career development throughout the postdoctoral period.
The program appoints new fellows each year through a competitive process. Appointments are for two years. Each fellow receives an annual stipend of $64,000, full coverage of premiums for affiliate health and basic dental and vision insurance, and an allowance of $5,000 per year for research and relocation expenses.
Each selected fellow will be appointed to a named fellowship. Named fellowships include the Crosby Fellowship, the Houghton Fellowship and the Lorenz Fellowship. Houghton fellows are additionally invited to contribute to educational activities in the department, at a level to be determined in consultation with the faculty mentor.
Application Information
The submission period is now closed. Please check back next year for updated details on the application process.
MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.
Questions about the fellowship may be directed to eapsdpf@mit.edu.
Fellowship Details
Houghton Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Houghton Postdoctoral Fellowship was established in 2017.
About Henry Houghton
Henry Houghton served for 25 years as Head of the Department of Meteorology (predecessor of what has become the Program in Atmospheres, Oceans and Climate). During that long period, the Department established an unsurpassed standard of excellence in these fields. On his death, Prof. Houghton left the bulk of his estate to the new Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences to establish the Henry Houghton Fund.
Lorenz Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Lorenz Postdoctoral Fellowship was established in 2017.
About Edward N. Lorenz
Ed Lorenz, a founder of chaos theory, also developed revolutionary ideas about the energetics of stratified, rotating fluids and made important contributions to the understanding of atmospheric dynamics and weather prediction. He was on the faculty of MIT from 1955 to his retirement in 1988. Through his profound contributions to science as well as his quiet demeanor, gentle humility, and love of nature, he set a compelling example of what it means to be a gentleman and a scholar.
Crosby Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Crosby Postdoctoral Fellowship was established in 2012.
About W. O. Crosby
William O. Crosby joined the MIT faculty in 1878. He was a popular teacher, leading countless field trips that introduced MIT students and Boston residents to the geology of the Boston Basin. Crosby was considered the nation’s top expert on dams, consulted on the construction of the Charles River Dam and the excavation of subway tunnels in Boston, and investigated the foundation conditions for the new MIT campus in Cambridge.
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Past & Current Crosby Fellows |
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2017 Crosby Fellow PhD, Harvard University Current Position: Crosby Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MIT |
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2014 Crosby Fellow PhD, University of Arizona Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester |
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2016 Crosby Fellow PhD, University of Southern California Current Position: Crosby Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MIT |
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2013 Crosby Fellow PhD, Columbia University Current Position: Assistant Professor, Division of Marine Science, The University of Southern Mississippi |
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2015 Crosby Fellow PhD, University of Chicago Current Position: Crosby Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MIT |
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2012 Crosby Fellow PhD, Boston University Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University |
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