Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship in Engineering

At the University of Notre Dame, the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship in Engineering is a competitive fellowship program established to support highly motivated and accomplished individuals who are committed to Notre Dame’s mission — to be powerful forces for good and to advance research solutions for the challenges facing society and our world. These prestigious fellowships are designed for early-stage scientists and engineers who are bound for research careers. The principal selection criteria for Fellows are scientific excellence and a clearly expressed plan to investigate problems at the forefront of engineering and applied sciences. Plans to investigate problems relevant to the University’s 2033 Strategic Framework and Initiatives are especially welcome.

Fellowships are supported institutionally for 24 months, with a renewal at 12 months, carry a $75,000/year stipend, and include a $15,000 allowance to cover expenses related to independent research endeavors, training, and professional development.

All Fellows will receive individualized professional development support from the College of Engineering’s Director of Postdoctoral Studies. Each fellow will work with a primary research mentor from the College of Engineering. Additional co-mentors can also be selected but must have an appointment at the University of Notre Dame. Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact potential mentors as early as possible. To find prospective mentors, read about the research conducted by our faculty. The University also sustains outstanding research programs distributed across 30 University-wide interdisciplinary centers and institutes.

In addition to individualized mentoring, all fellows will participate in the College of Engineering Postdoctoral Training program, which provides career development training to enhance independent research and leadership skills within a cohort of other post-doctoral scholars.

Qualifications Applicants should have successfully completed (or plan to complete) all requirements for a doctoral degree between June 2025 and September 2027. Earlier dates can be accepted if maternity/paternity leaves or Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leaves occurred within the past two years. Current postdoctoral scholars at the University of Notre Dame are not eligible.

Application Instructions Applicants Should Submit The Following

• Your curriculum vitae.
• A statement describing your career goals, previous research accomplishments, teaching/mentoring experience, and the research you propose to do during the fellowship. This statement must include the identification of primary mentor and co-mentors and rationale for selecting mentors. Candidates are highly encouraged to contact potential mentors early to discuss their research plans before submission. The research statement should not exceed 5 pages, excluding citations.
• Up to 5-slide presentation (attached as PDF) following this template.

Candidates must also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be submitted via Interfolio by the deadline below. (Do NOT ask your letter writers to e-mail their letters directly.)

The application deadline is December 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST . Decision expected by March 31, 2027.

If you have identified a potential mentor with a primary appointment in the College of Science, please apply to the College of Science Society of Science Fellowship.

For questions or concerns about the submission process, please email [email protected].

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement 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. Dual Career Assistance To support relocating families, Notre Dame’s Dual Career Assistance Program helps spouses and partners pursue local career opportunities.

Background Check 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 an individual from employment. Each case will be examined separately to determine the appropriateness of employment in the particular position. Failure to be forthcoming or dishonesty with respect to felony disclosures can result in the disqualification of a candidate. The full procedure can be viewed at https://facultyhandbook.nd.edu/?id=link-73597.