Brian J. and H. Catherine Skinner Postdoctoral Fellowship, Earth & Planetary Sciences

The Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Yale University ( announces a competition annually for the Brian J. and H. Catherine W. Skinner Postdoctoral Fellowship. The department welcomes applicants from all fields with research interests across the full range of disciplines within Earth and planetary sciences, including studies of geophysics, planetary sciences, tectonics, oceans, atmosphere, climate dynamics, geochemistry, paleoclimatology, paleontology, geobiology, and the evolution of life.

The Postdoctoral Associate position is awarded for one year, subject to renewal for a maximum of two years, contingent upon satisfactory performance and available funding. This position provides a monetary stipend ($75,000/yr) and research funds ($7,000/yr) plus health-care benefits and limited funds for relocation expenses. Applicants are asked to contact a sponsor in the Department to discuss potential research projects and to arrange for an endorsement letter (max 1 page) from the faculty sponsor. Successful candidates are expected to begin their program at Yale between July 1 and December 31, 2027.

Applicants should have a recent PhD (within three years at the time of application) or should be a 2027-degree candidate. Documentation of degree completion is required by the start date of this award.

Information on salary ranges and benefits is available here.

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae with a full list of publications, and a short two- or three-page statement of research interests and proposed research, including potential broader impacts. Broader impacts may include, for example, public education and outreach activities, efforts to strengthen academic communities, and other positive societal benefits. Applicants should arrange for three confidential letters of reference and a letter from a sponsoring faculty member; letters are due with the application. To arrange for letter submission, applicants should enter the names and email addresses for your letter writers in Interfolio; the system will then request the letters directly from your letter writers. Proof of degree completion is required prior to being awarded the fellowship. Applications should be submitted online at The deadline for receipt of all application materials is December 31, 2026 and successful candidates are expected to begin their program at Yale between July 1 and December 31, 2027.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Additionally, in accordance with this Policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions; race; color; national or ethnic origin; religion; age; disability; protected veteran status, or other protected classes as set forth in federal and Connecticut law.

The final candidate, upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment/faculty appointment, may be required to disclose whether they are, or have been, the subject of any disciplinary proceeding (investigation, hearing, etc.) at previous institutions or employers, and may also be subject to a background screening. Candidates who materially misrepresent information on their resume or other application materials are ineligible for hire/appointment. Final candidates may also be required to sign a release to allow Yale to solicit information regarding any substantiated conduct violations from current and/or past employers.