Postdoctoral Fellowship - Chicago Center for the Origins of Life

About this position

• The Chicago Center for the Origins of Life at the University of
• Chicago invites applications for the Origins of Life Research
• Fellowship program. We seek exceptional early-career scientists to
• join our interdisciplinary research environment focused on
• understanding how life developed on Earth and the potential for life
• elsewhere in the universe. Successful applicants will be appointed to
• renewable, one-year terms for up to four years. Fellows will receive a
• competitive salary and benefits, along with an independent fund to
• support their research and professional development.

• The Chicago Center for the Origins of Life brings together scientists
• of all career stages across the University of Chicago – primarily from
• the Departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chemistry, the
• Geophysical Sciences, and Physics – to promote, encourage, and support
• fundamental research in these origins-related fields, train
• early-career scientists in cross-disciplinary scientific exploration,
• and foster a community of innovative thinkers that will push
• traditional disciplinary boundaries to answer questions regarding the
• history and future of life in the universe.

• This Fellowship is designed to support early-career scientists who
• wish to carry out cutting-edge research in collaboration with our
• existing groups and programs. Ongoing research activities include
• studies in the broad areas of prebiotic chemistry, the development and
• evolution of the first protocells on Earth, and the formation and
• characterization of potentially habitable environments in our Solar
• System and beyond. While we support work in these general areas, we
• are particularly interested in scientists who are interested in
• expanding their expertise by working at the intersection of different
• research programs. To submit an application, click the "Apply" button
• above.

Requested materials include:

• Cover letter
• Research statement describing previous work and plans (5 pages maximum, including figures, tables, and references)
• Curriculum vitae
• List of publications
• Three reference letters (to be submitted online by the reference writers on this site)

• In preparing the Research Statement, the applicant should include a
• discussion of how the work intersects with ongoing efforts within the
• Center. In doing so, applicants should identify which faculty in the
• Center they would like to have serve as their mentor(s). Applicants
• are highly encouraged to contact those faculty to ensure that the
• resources and facilities necessary for the proposed work will be
• available for use. Those applicants proposing work at the intersection
• of two or more existing research programs should engage with the
• collective faculty who would be involved.

If you have any questions, please contact Fred Ciesla at

fciesla@uchicago.edu

Review of complete applications will begin on November 20, 2026. The

position will remain open until filled.

Start dates are negotiable but targeted for Fall 2027.

• Salary: $80,000/year. Additionally, research funds will be available
• that can be used for conference travel, publications, and research
• costs.

• This position is benefits-eligible. The University of Chicago offers a
• wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees,
• including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the
• benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

• The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does
• not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual
• orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic
• origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a
• disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other
• protected classes under the law. For additional information please see
• the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

• Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the
• application process should call 773-834-3988 or email
• equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.

• The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and
• augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make
• hiring decisions.