Postdoctoral Research Scholar - Exploration Fellowship

Employer: Arizona State University, School of Earth and Space Exploration

Location: Tempe, Arizona (US)

Salary: Competitive stipend with health benefits, plus discretionary research funds

Closing date: Feb 20, 2026

Discipline: Physical Sciences, Astronomy/Astrophysics, Engineering, Geoscience, Geology/Soil Science/Geography, Other Earth Science

Position Type: Full Time

Job Type: PhD Fellowship

Organization Type: Academia

Job Details

The School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University invites applications for its Postdoctoral Research Scholar Exploration Fellowship.

The mission of the postdoctoral fellowship is to foster SESE’s interdisciplinary research program by attracting and supporting outstanding early-career scientists and engineers to pursue independent research in collaboration with SESE faculty. Research areas within SESE encompass astrobiology, astrophysics, biogeoscience, cosmology, Earth surface processes, geology, geophysics, instrumentation and systems engineering, planetary science, and science education.

The anticipated start date for the position is July 2026. Incoming Fellows will receive a competitive stipend with health benefits, plus discretionary research funds. A relocation allowance will also be provided. The initial appointment is for one year with subsequent annual renewal for up to a total of three years, contingent upon satisfactory performance, the needs of the university, and the availability of resources.

Interested candidates should discuss potential collaborative research topics with SESE faculty members and propose research that will garner mentoring support from Exploration Fellow mentors. Preference will be given to proposals that include interdisciplinary research spanning multiple research areas (and faculty) within SESE and that address important questions that will have a significant impact.

The School of Earth and Space Exploration

SESE is a vibrant community that combines the strengths of science, engineering, and education to set the stage for a new era of exploration. Research in SESE includes, but is not limited to, geology, geophysics, biology, and geochemistry of Earth and other planetary bodies, exploration systems design and instrumentation, exoplanets, astrobiology, astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and Earth and space science education. A central part of SESE’s mission is to develop and deploy new technologies that enable scientific exploration, building on half a century of ASU faculty, staff, and student participation and leadership in Earth and Solar System exploration. SESE maintains world-class shared facilities and expertise to support the development and operation of space missions. More information about the school can be found here.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Arizona State University, committed to improving communities on a local, national and global scale. We support the professional development and growth of our faculty and staff in their cutting-edge research to advance these aims. Within The College, our faculty engage with a large and curious student body, guiding them as they grow into socially aware, critical thinkers and writers able to succeed in a wide range of careers and to address the challenges of the twenty-first century. Advancing the success of our students remains our top priority. To learn more about The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, please visit thecollege.asu.edu.

Arizona State University

ASU exemplifies a new prototype for the American public research university. As articulated in the ASU Charter, ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

Essential duties of the position:

The successful applicant will:

• conduct original, independent research into scientific and/or engineering areas pertinent to earth and space exploration
• document research results
• write journal articles and publish results in high-quality academic journals or other publications
• disseminate findings through presentations at national and international conferences and workshops

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. by the time of appointment in a field relevant to Earth and Space exploration, including (but not limited to) astrophysics, biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, physics, and planetary science.
• Candidates must be within five years from receipt of the doctoral degree.

Desired Qualifications

• Record of prior achievement and experience demonstrating the potential to accomplish proposed research objectives
• Demonstrated interest in conducting research with relevance, interdisciplinary merit, and/or the potential to impact the overarching "big picture" research questions within the field, aligning with the mission of SESE
• Evidence of strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with faculty, staff, students, and communities, to advance the principles of the ASU Charter.

Application Instructions

The deadline for initial review of complete applications will be February 7, 2026. Letters of reference will be requested as needed after that date. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. Candidates will be asked to create or use an existing Interfolio Dossier to submit application materials.

Please include the following application materials:

• A cover letter identifying the proposed research topic and the names of two SESE faculty mentors who could serve as research mentors
• A current curriculum vitae
• A research proposal that demonstrates relevance, interdisciplinary merit, and/or potential impact of the proposed research activities to the overarching “big picture” research questions in the field and to the mission of SESE. No longer than five pages (including figures and references)
• One paper that exemplifies the applicant’s research
• Contact information for three references

Postdoctoral benefits can be found at: https://cfo.asu.edu/new-employee-orientation

More information about the Exploration Fellowship can be found at: http://sese.asu.edu/exploration-fellowship