About this position
2026 ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship
- A Postdoctoral Fellowship appointment at ITAMP is made each year to
- support a promising scientist who has recently received a Ph.D. degree
- to carry out research in all areas of theoretical atomic, molecular
- and optical (AMO) Physics. The Fellowship is for two years with the
- renewal for a third year depending on performance and funding. The
- successful applicant must demonstrate independence to pursue research
- in topical areas of interest in AMO physics, including ultracold
- atomic and molecular few- and many-body physics, quantum gases,
- quantum and non-linear optics, atoms and molecules in strong fields,
- atomic and molecular astrophysics, quantum information and quantum
- simulations, molecular astrophysics and laboratory cosmology.
- Applicants should state clearly why they believe that their
- professional goals would be furthered through the Fellowship.
- Applicants are expected to demonstrate capability for original
- research and for first-author refereed publications in major physics
- journals. The applicants should have received a Ph.D. degree no more
- than one year before the nominal start date of April 1, 2027. The
- deadline for submitting all application materials, including letters
- of reference, is Friday, October 30, 2026.
The ITAMP Fellowship offers the following benefits:
- Stipend of $80,000 with an annual cost-of-living adjustment
- Travel budget of $8,000 for each year of fellowship and a new laptop in the first year
- Health and dental benefits for the Fellow and eligible dependents
- One-time relocation allowance
- Opportunities for educational and scientific advancement and outreach and collaborations within the Center for Astrophysics (CfA, the Harvard Quantum Initiative (HQI), and the Center for Ultracold Atoms (CUA).
- Rigorous mentoring plan and oversight of research
Information about ITAMP and a list of previous fellows can be found at
itamp.harvard.edu.
- Applications are submitted through the AJO at
- https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo. The deadline for submissions,
- including letter of references is Friday, October 30, 2026. The
- applications must include an up to date CV, a list of publications, a
- statement of current and previous research and a research proposal not
- to exceed five pages. Three letters of recommendation are required.
- Short-listed candidates will be interviewed sometime in November with
- a final decision made in December.
- Questions about the ITAMP fellowship should be directed to the ITAMP
- coordinator, Jaclyn Girouard (formerly Donahue) at
- jaclyn.donahue@cfa.harvard.edu.
About the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA)
- The CfA is known for its leadership in theoretical, observational and
- laboratory astrophysics, and for its observational programs across the
- electromagnetic spectrum. The CfA also includes highly successful
- instrument development teams and facility operations expertise.
- Fellows are encouraged to use the combined resources and facilities of
- the CfA’s two collaborating observatories – the Smithsonian
- Astrophysical Observatory and the Harvard College Observatory.
- Through the CfA’s operational agreements with its partners, Fellows
- can propose for CfA-allocated observing time on the MMT in Arizona,
- the Magellan Telescopes in Chile, and the Submillimeter Array in
- Hawai’i. Fellows participate in ground- and space-based observing
- programs including but not limited to the Chandra X-ray Observatory,
- the Event Horizon Telescope, the TEMPO satellite instrument for
- pollution monitoring, the Parker Solar Probe, the James Webb Space
- Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey
- Satellite, Kepler K2, the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and the Atacama
- Large Millimeter Array. The CfA is a founding member of the Giant
- Magellan Telescope project and operates a world-class engineering
- program that develops leading ground and space telescope
- instrumentation. The CfA has emerging programs in artificial
- intelligence and data science. The CfA also offers a number of
- specialized laboratories and numerous research initiatives open to
- Fellows that focus on a particular research area (for example in black
- holes, theoretical astrophysics, and the origins of life), where
- interdisciplinary, cross-institutional collaborative research is the
- central organizing principle.
- Currently led by Director Lisa Kewley, the CfA provides a dynamic
- range of weekly luncheons, colloquia, journal clubs, daily coffees,
- and divisional events. The CfA also supports many other formal and
- informal opportunities for the exchange of ideas and professional
- development in a diverse scientific community. Fellows have access to
- institution-wide funding for organizing workshops, conferences, and
- visitor programs.
- The CfA is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a vibrant community in
- the Boston metropolitan area, known for excellent universities,
- colleges, and public schools, world renowned medical facilities and
- teaching hospitals, a dynamic technology hub, a lively art scene,
- passionate sports fans, and diverse cultures. Cambridge is also a two
- to three hour drive to downhill and cross-country skiing, cycling, and
- hiking in the White, Green and Berkshire mountains, and many Atlantic
- Ocean beaches and craggy coastlines are nearby.
- The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Fellowships do not
- discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender
- identity, gender stereotyping, pregnancy, and sexual orientation),
- national origin, age, disability, genetic information, parental
- status, or marital status of any applicant.
How to apply
- Read the full advert on the source site — it carries the authoritative terms.
- Email the contact below with your CV and a short, specific message. See Emailing Professors.
- Prepare your SOP, CV, transcripts and referees before the deadline.
- Apply through the university's own portal. Never pay a fee to a third party.