The 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship provides an opportunity for early-career scientists to develop innovative instrumentation and/or to conduct novel theoretical and observational research in planetary astronomy. Planetary scientists who study surfaces, atmospheres, and interiors of the planets, moons, and small bodies in the solar system with telescopes, spacecraft, or models, are encouraged to apply. The program supports postdoctoral fellows who will advance our fundamental understanding of exoplanets, planet formation and evolution, protoplanetary disks, or other closely related topics such as brown dwarfs.
The fellowship recognizes early-career investigators of significant potential and provides them with the opportunity to conduct independent research. Each recipient will receive a three-year grant of up to $430,000 to cover salary, benefits, highly-flexible discretionary spending (e.g., travel, family care, moving expenses, research equipment, computers, etc.), and indirect costs. Awarded postdoctoral fellows are expected to carry out a strong, coherent research program in planetary astronomy at one of twenty-two host institutions listed here: https://www.hsfoundation.org/programs/science/51-pegasi-b-fellowship/guidelines-and-application/
Assuming satisfactory progress, fellows will have the option to apply for an additional year of funding that they can use to continue their postdoc for a fourth year or apply toward faculty startup.
The Heising-Simons Foundation is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Women, persons with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, and others who belong to groups that have been historically underrepresented in planetary sciences and astronomy are encouraged to apply.