How Postdoctorates Apply to the NASA Jack Eddy Fellowship
There are no Jack Eddy Postdoctoral Fellowship positions available for 2025.
Please check back in 2025.
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UCAR postdoctoral positions are generally for two years with the second year based on continued program funding. Successful applicants in this program work under the mentorship of host scientists in areas of mutual interest.
Partial relocation costs paid per UCAR’s relocation policy.
Basic Job Function
To conduct research in the emerging field of Heliophysics (the broad field of Sun-Earth connections). The program is sponsored by the NASA Living With a Star (LWS) Program.
Duties Include
- Conducts independent or collaborative research under a proposed plan related to the goals of the program.
- Documenting the results of the research in scientific publications, and presents these results at seminars and conferences.
- Pursuing outside activities that advance professional growth, which may include contributing to educational programs, serving on committees, and attending workshops.
- Work on Sun-Earth questions from a truly interdisciplinary perspective.
- Get the freedom and support to pursue your research.
- Establish a relationship with a new mentor at the start of your career.
- Benefit from engagement in the preeminent fellowship available to the astrophysics community.
Requirements
Education and Experience:
- PhD in a related science
- Preference is given to those who are seeking their first fellowship and have held a PhD for no more than three (3) years from the application deadline.
- Applicants must have a PhD degree granted in an area related to Heliophysics, or must be able to complete such a degree and finish all thesis revisions and defense to be able to start the Fellowship by the first Monday in December of the award year.
- Awardees must change institutions from which their PhD was earned, in the absence of compelling circumstances. Please contact Kate Rodd: krodd@ucar.edu, with any questions.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to work independently and conduct research with minimal supervision.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to navigate complex instructions.
- Skill in oral and written communication.
How to Apply
Application Instructions:
STEP 1. Prepare, collect, and organize documents in the order listed below and combine all documents into one (1) PDF.
- Here are two resources for combining multiple documents into a single PDF: How To Combine Files into One PDF; How To Combine PDFs into One File.
STEP 2. You must apply online at the UCAR Career Opportunities Page - this will require you to submit your application through Workday, including attaching/uploading your Application Documents from Step 1. You are able save at each stage in Workday, so be sure to have all materials included before submitting your application.
Please prepare your application into one (1) PDF document, including all of the following documents, in the order listed below:
You will also be completing a Questionnaire in Workday, in which you will be asked for contact information for your PhD Advisor and two individuals to provide recommendations on your behalf.
Application Documents (Compiled into one (1) PDF)
1) Personal Statement (2-page limit, 12 pt. type size) addressing the questions below:
- Why are you specifically interested in a NASA Jack Eddy Postdoctoral Fellowship?
- How did you demonstrate leadership and service in your community, and how would you bring and grow this experience during a Jack Eddy Fellowship?
- Describe the relevance of your proposed research project to the NASA Living With a Star program.
- Please also add a justification statement, if applicable, to explain any breaks in your career path.
2) Resume/Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications. For all publications that are not yet published, please indicate the stage the paper is at, i.e., In Development, Submitted, Under Review, or Accepted.
3) Research Proposal (Must be titled, 5-page limit, 12 pt. type size) including figures and appendices.
- NOTE: Bibliography/Citations/Literature References are NOT included in this 5-page limit.
- Proposals must describe an actual, novel research project.
- Proposals must be original to the applicant and cannot be sourced from a previously funded proposal to a different funding agency.
- Proposals must address the broader impact of your research on the community at large.
4) Host Institution Materials
The following documents are needed from the Host(s) with whom you intend to work. Applicants are responsible for collecting these materials from their Host(s) and must submit these documents as part of the application packet. If you intend to have Co-Hosts, the Letter of Intent should be co-written by both Hosts. We also require separate documents for the remaining material (Resumes, Mentoring Plans, and Current and Pending Research Support) from each Co-Host. *Note that you can work with a host institution not listed on the UCAR Database of Hosts.*
- Letter of Intent – in the case of specific laboratory needs, a letter should accompany the application from the specific institution willing to provide the resources.
- Host(s) Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Host(s) proposed Mentoring Plan
- Host(s) list of current and pending research support
Recommendations
You will be asked in the Workday application to provide the names and contact information for TWO individuals who could provide recommendations on your behalf. Your PhD advisor does not have to provide a reference/recommendation for you. If you would like your PhD Advisor to serve as a reference, you need to provide their name in both the Advisor and Reference boxes.
No recommendations are required at the time of application. Ensure that you inform your TWO references that they can expect a request from CPAESS|UCAR in the last week of January/first week of March of the award year to complete a questionnaire that will serve as a Recommendation.
Online Application Instructions
You must apply online at the UCAR Career Opportunities Page. Here is a Step-by-Step guide for applying to the Jack Eddy Postdoctoral Fellowship in Workday.
Step 1.
To begin the application process select the "Apply" button. When prompted, create a new account. If you have applied to a different position within UCAR, please sign in to your existing account.
Step 2.
You will then be prompted to submit your current résumé. At this point, you will upload your complete application document (i.e., all your application materials as outlined above, including your résumé) as a single PDF document. Click “Select File” to find your file on your computer, and then select “Next”.
Step 3.
Add any missing information and/or edit and verify any pre-populated information on the "My Information" and "My Experience" pages. Continue the application process as prompted.
NOTE: Pertaining to Recommendations
You will be asked in the Workday application to provide the names and contact information for TWO individuals who could provide recommendations on your behalf. Your PhD advisor does not have to provide a reference/recommendation for you. If you would like your PhD Advisor to serve as a reference, you need to provide their name in both the Advisor and Reference boxes.
No recommendations are required at the time of application. However, ensure that you inform your TWO references that they can expect a request from CPAESS|UCAR in the last week of January/first week of March of the award year to complete a questionnaire that will serve as a Recommendation.
UCAR Career Opportunities Page
U.S. citizenship is not required to participate in this program, but the selected postdoctoral fellows must be hosted at a research institution within the U.S. Appointed scientists are employees of UCAR. The two-year fellowships include a fixed annual salary and benefits: health & dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, mandatory participation in TIAA retirement fund, and life insurance. A relocation allowance is provided as well as an allowance for travel to scientific conferences and other support costs.
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer that strives to develop and maintain a diverse workforce. UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy.
Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). We are committed to inclusivity and promoting an equitable environment that values and respects the uniqueness of all members of our organization.
Questions
Questions on the Workday application process may be addressed to HR Recruiting at hrrecruiting@ucar.edu.
General questions regarding this fellowship program may be addressed to Kate Rodd at krodd@ucar.edu.
U.S. citizenship is not required to participate in this program, but the selected postdoctoral fellows must be hosted at a U.S. research institution. NASA Jack Eddy fellows are UCAR employees and receive a fixed annual salary plus UCAR's benefits (health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, TIAA retirement fund, and life insurance). A relocation allowance and an allowance for travel during the appointment are provided. See Stipend & Benefits for details.
NASA Living With a Star, Heliophysics Division sponsors this program.
UCAR is an EE/AAE who values and encourages diversity in the workplace.