The Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability 2027 | Paid is now accepting applications from highly motivated early-career scholars interested in using research to address major sustainability challenges. Hosted by Cornell University in the United States, the fellowship combines rigorous academic research with practical engagement through a Cornell faculty mentor and an external partner organization.
The 2027 fellowship provides a $65,000 annual salary, full Cornell University employee benefits, and $12,000 per year for research- and travel-related expenses. Up to four postdoctoral fellows are expected to be selected for the programme. Applications must be submitted by October 20, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Background and Fellowship Description
The Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability is designed for exceptional early-career researchers whose work can contribute directly to solving pressing environmental and sustainability challenges.
Unlike a conventional postdoctoral position focused exclusively on academic research, the programme requires fellows to work with both a Cornell faculty mentor and an external partner organization. The external partner can be a governmental, non-governmental, or private-sector organization, creating an opportunity for research to move beyond academic publication toward practical impact.
The programme supports research across Cornell Atkinson’s four primary sustainability research areas and encourages transdisciplinary collaboration. Fellows also become part of a cohort of researchers receiving professional-development support through the Sustainability Leadership Program.
Research Areas
Applicants may propose projects aligned with any of Cornell Atkinson’s four primary research areas:
- Accelerating Energy Transitions
- Reducing Climate Risk
- Increasing Food Security
- Advancing One Health
These broad themes allow scholars from different academic backgrounds to develop sustainability research addressing environmental, technological, health, agricultural, and societal challenges.
The proposal should demonstrate a clear connection between the research problem, proposed methods, available resources, and expected real-world impact.
Fellowship Benefits
The Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship provides substantial financial and professional support.
Selected fellows receive:
- $65,000 salary per year
- Full Cornell University employee benefits
- $12,000 annually for research and travel expenses
- A three-year, 12-month appointment
- Flexible fellowship start date between June 1 and September 1, 2027
- Professional-development opportunities through the Sustainability Leadership Program
- Support from Cornell’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
- Access to a multidisciplinary community of sustainability researchers
Up to four postdoctoral fellows are selected each year. Continued support during the second and third years depends on satisfactory progress and availability of funding.
The $65,000 is a salary rather than a scholarship stipend, meaning fellows are appointed as full-time, non-faculty, benefits-eligible Cornell University staff.
Eligibility Requirements
The fellowship is specifically intended to attract researchers from outside Cornell University. Cornell Ph.D. graduates and current Cornell postdocs are no longer eligible for this programme.
Applicants must have received, or be on track to receive, a Ph.D. in a field relevant to their proposed research by the fellowship start date.
For the 2027 cycle, the Ph.D. must have been awarded no earlier than May 1, 2025. This means the programme is targeted toward recent Ph.D. graduates and researchers who will be completing their doctorate within the relevant period.
Applicants requiring U.S. visa sponsorship may apply. Successful international candidates requiring sponsorship will be referred to Cornell International Services for guidance regarding the appropriate visa.
Cornell Mentor and External Partner
A central requirement of the fellowship is the establishment of a two-part mentorship structure.
Each applicant must secure:
- A PI-eligible Cornell faculty mentor who is currently a Cornell Atkinson Faculty Fellow.
- An external partner organization that will collaborate on the proposed research.
The Cornell faculty mentor can support only one applicant per fellowship cycle, making early communication with potential mentors particularly important.
The external organization may be governmental, nongovernmental, or private-sector, but it cannot be another university or higher-education institution. The proposed partnership should have a meaningful role in the research rather than simply serving as a nominal affiliation.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit an online application before the deadline. The application includes several components designed to demonstrate the candidate’s academic background, research ability, and potential sustainability impact.
The required materials include a 250-word project abstract explaining the proposed project, methods, and anticipated impact.
Applicants must also submit a single PDF containing:
- Applicant background statement of up to 250 words
- Proposed project description of up to 1,000 words
- Impact statement of up to 300 words
- Curriculum vitae
The project description should explain the research context, objectives, methods and significance. It must also clearly describe the role and contribution of the external partner.
The impact statement should explain how the research could influence behaviour, practices, procedures or policy at the relevant scale.
Letters of Recommendation
The application requires four letters of recommendation.
One must come from the proposed Cornell faculty mentor, while another should come from the primary advisor at the external organization. Two additional references are also required.
One of the additional references should normally be the applicant’s doctoral advisor. The other may be an academic or non-academic professional who can provide substantial insight into the applicant’s work and proposed research.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all four recommendation letters reach Cornell by the application deadline. Cornell strongly recommends communicating with referees well in advance because the letters are due on the same day as the application.
Location and Work Arrangement
The fellowship is based at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Fellows must maintain their primary residence in Ithaca throughout the appointment and spend the majority of their time on campus. The programme does not permit hybrid or remote appointments.
Field research and international site visits can form part of a fellow’s research plan, but employment under the fellowship remains U.S.-based.
Sustainability Leadership Program
Professional development is an important component of the fellowship.
Through Cornell Atkinson’s Sustainability Leadership Program, fellows receive training in areas such as science communication, career strategy, and collaborative leadership.
Each year, fellows are required to complete at least two longer, approximately two-day, in-person workshops and four shorter online workshops. The programme is designed to help researchers communicate effectively beyond academia and work at the intersection of research, public engagement and practical impact.
Application Timeline and Deadline
The 2027 application cycle opened on July 8, 2026.
Important dates include:
- July 8, 2026: Application opens
- September 10, 2026: Second information session
- October 20, 2026, 5 p.m. ET: Applications and recommendation letters due
- January 2027: Applicant notifications
- June 1–September 1, 2027: Fellowship start window
Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Selection Process
Applications are initially assessed for completeness and eligibility. Eligible applications are then reviewed by Cornell Atkinson faculty directors and postdoctoral programme leadership.
Reviewers consider the alignment of the proposed research with Cornell Atkinson’s priorities, academic merit, potential impact, and the applicant’s background and experience.
Applications receiving further consideration undergo a more comprehensive review involving multiple Cornell Atkinson Faculty Fellows. A select group of candidates is subsequently invited for interviews, after which up to four fellows are selected.
How to Apply
Interested researchers should first identify a suitable Cornell Atkinson Faculty Fellow who can serve as their faculty mentor and develop a strong partnership with an eligible external organization.
The research proposal should clearly demonstrate why the project matters, how it will be conducted, what resources are required, and how the external partner will contribute.
Applications must be submitted through the official Cornell Atkinson online application form by 5 p.m. ET on October 20, 2026. Applicants should also make sure their four recommenders submit their letters before the same deadline.
Final Thoughts
The Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability 2027 | Paid offers recent Ph.D. researchers an opportunity to combine academic research with real-world sustainability impact.
With a $65,000 annual salary, full employee benefits, and $12,000 per year for research and travel, the fellowship provides strong financial and professional support. Its distinctive requirement for collaboration between a Cornell faculty mentor and an external organization also allows fellows to connect research with policy, practice, and implementation.
The programme is open to eligible researchers from outside Cornell, including international scholars who can obtain the appropriate U.S. employment authorization. However, the fellowship is campus-based in Ithaca and does not allow remote or hybrid appointments.
Researchers interested in the 2027 cohort should begin preparing their proposal, mentor relationship, external partnership, and recommendation letters well before the October 20, 2026 deadline.
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