Fellowships

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) works with several partners to administer fellowship opportunities to promising postdoctoral scientists working in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, or planetary science. STScI administers the NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) on behalf of NASA in collaboration with the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI) at the California Institute of Technology and the Chandra X-ray Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. In this program, promising postdoctoral scientists may select their host institutions to pursue independent research in any area of NASA Astrophysics, using theory, observation, experimentation, or instrumental development.  

The Giacconi, Lasker, and Exoplanet Science Fellowships are hosted at STScI in Baltimore, Maryland. These fellowships recognize passionate and self-motivated postdoctoral researchers for their exciting research proposals, which include theoretical and observational research, the analysis of large astronomical databases and massive data processing, and innovative research in exoplanets. These fellowships are for 100% independent research.

The STScI Postdoctoral Fellowships are also hosted at STScI and are awarded to early career researchers to enable their independent research while providing them with great training opportunities in the operations of our space-based astronomical missions. These fellowships combine 50% independent research with 50% support of the science operations mission of the Institute.

STScI and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) jointly sponsor the Arthur Davidsen Graduate Student Research Fellowship to incoming JHU astronomy/astrophysics graduate students of exceptional promise.

STScI collaborates with the Brinson Foundation to support the Brinson Prize Fellowship Program. These fellowships are awarded to early career astrophysicists whose area of research is cosmology, with a particular emphasis on space science. Brinson Fellowships are hosted at specific U.S. host institutions.

We do not seek applications for all STScI-hosted Fellowships every year.

STScI is eligible to host NHFP and ESA Research Fellows —anyone interested in coming to STScI on one of these fellowships should apply through those programs.