Applications accepted from Thursday, August 13, 2026, through Friday, September 25, 2026.
About the Fellowship
The Department of Energy (DOE) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) sponsors the Gertrude and Maurice Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowships Program. These prestigious Fellowships are awarded to candidates with exceptional talent and credentials who have a strong desire for independent research at the frontiers of their fields. The fellowships are three-year appointments and carry a starting annual salary of $108,000.
Candidates seeking a Goldhaber Fellowship must have a commitment of support from a prospective mentor here at the Lab. Before an application is submitted, prospective mentors must have an opening and be able to support the candidate at the standard starting salary for postdoctoral research associates for three years. The Fellowship program provides the additional funds to increase the salary to the stated level as well as a modest amount of independent funds for materials and supplies.
Candidates can not be more than three years past receipt of the Ph.D. at the time of the application. The intention of the program is to select individuals who would qualify for research staff positions at BNL upon completion of the appointment. For inquiries about the program, please contact Kathi Barkigia, barkigia@bnl.gov or Jennifer Froehlich, jfroehlich@bnl.gov.
Consideration will be given to excellent candidates with training in any discipline pertinent to the Lab's mission to deliver expertise and capabilities that drive scientific breakthroughs and innovation for today and tomorrow.
If selected for the Fellowship, the candidate will be required to submit an LDRD proposal within 30 days of their start date. The Office of Policy and Strategic Planning will provide the candidate with the required LDRD proposal template and instructions for completion. The candidate will be responsible for completing and submitting the proposal. The sponsor may assist the candidate with the development and preparation of the LDRD proposal. It is important to remember that R&D conducted under the LDRD Program cannot duplicate or directly augment research presently funded at the Laboratory. In other words, the scope of work needs to be distinct from the candidate's other efforts.
How to Apply
Candidates seeking to apply for this Fellowship must submit an online application using the links below, and attach the following items to the online application as a single PDF document. A cover letter is not required.
To be considered for the Goldhaber Fellowship, candidates must complete an application in Workday:
- A well-organized research proposal outlining your research interests, not to exceed three pages (literature references don't count toward the three-page limit). Use: Research Proposal Template
- A CV including a list of publications.
- Three letters of recommendation are required to complete the application. The mentor letter is in addition to the three letters of recommendation. Candidates must request that their references send their letters of recommendation directly via email to fellowships@bnl.gov. In the subject line, please request that they include the full name of the candidate. Submitting more than three letters does not confer competitive advantage. Only the first three letters received will be included with the application package to the selection committee for review. *All letters must be received by the application closing date of Friday, September 25, 2026.
The application is complete when all items have been received. Applications will be accepted from Thursday, August 13, 2026 until Friday, September 25, 2026. We will select up to a total of two recipients in response to this solicitation.
About Brookhaven
Brookhaven National Laboratory is a multi-program laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries and nearly 80 years of pioneering research. Brookhaven's staff work together to advance the Lab's mission - to drive fundamental science by conducting R&D to understand the building blocks of the universe; leading in discovery with light-enabled science; developing next-generation information science and capabilities; and advancing energy security and essential resources independence. Brookhaven is home to a suite of premier user facilities that include the National Synchrotron Light Source II, the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, and the Accelerator Test Facility, as well as underpinning capabilities, such as high-performance computing and advanced instrumentation. Brookhaven is the site of the future Electron-Ion Collider, a one-of-a-kind nuclear physics research facility that will keep America at the forefront of nuclear physics research. Candidates should refer to our website for more information about the Lab and postdoctoral employment opportunities.
