Four Harvard Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 are now open at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, with opportunities in astrophysics, theoretical and computational research, atomic and molecular physics, instrumentation and related fields. Depending on the fellowship, researchers can receive a stipend of up to $87,500, annual research or travel funding, and multi-year support. The open opportunities include the CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship, SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship, ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship and ITC Fellowship. The first application deadline is October 15, 2026, followed by deadlines on October 30 and November 1.
Each fellowship targets a different research profile and has its own eligibility rules, post-PhD experience limits, funding and application requirements. This guide compares all four so you can quickly identify which Harvard & Smithsonian fellowship best matches your research background.
Harvard & Smithsonian Fellowships 2027: Quick Overview
| Fellowship | Main Focus | Funding / Pay | Duration | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship | Broad astrophysics research | $84,600 stipend + $18,000 annual research budget | 3 years* | October 15, 2026 |
| SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship | Astrophysics, instrumentation, observation, theory and experimental research | $87,500 stipend + $18,000 annual research budget | 4 years* | October 15, 2026 |
| ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship | Theoretical atomic, molecular and optical physics | From $80,000 + $8,000 annual travel budget | 2 years + possible third | October 30, 2026 |
| ITC Fellowship | Theoretical and computational astrophysics | Based on current NASA NHFP guidelines | Up to 3 years | November 1, 2026 |
*Later years are subject to the conditions specified by the respective fellowship.
Exploring more funded research opportunities? See our latest fully funded postdoctoral fellowships for international researchers and compare funding, eligibility, deadlines and research destinations.
1. CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027
The CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship is one of the broadest opportunities in this group.
It supports independent researchers working across areas including theoretical and observational astrophysics, instrumentation, engineering, and laboratory or experimental astrophysics.
The fellowship is particularly attractive because fellows receive substantial research independence rather than being recruited simply to execute a predefined project.
The appointment runs for three years, with the third year contingent on satisfactory progress. The starting stipend is $84,600, with an annual cost-of-living adjustment, plus an $18,000 research budget for each year.
Health and dental benefits for the fellow and eligible dependents are funded, and a one-time relocation allowance is also provided.
Who can apply?
Candidates must have 24 months or less of equivalent full-time post-PhD research experience when the fellowship begins on September 1, 2027.
Career interruptions including qualifying family leave and other career gaps are handled separately from the full-time research-experience calculation.
Applications close at 5:00 PM Boston time on October 15, 2026.
What you need to submit
Applicants need a CV containing an ORCID identifier and up to three Unified Astronomy Thesaurus keywords, a publication list, short impact descriptions for up to three publications, and a five-page Research Overview covering previous/current research and the proposed project.
CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 Call for Applications
A useful detail is easy to miss: applicants should not add a cover letter, preprints, reprints or other unrequested documents.
Looking for more research opportunities after a PhD? Explore the Careers Help Desk’s guides to fully funded postdoctoral fellowships and international research fellowships for researchers across science, engineering and emerging technologies.
2. SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027
The SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship has considerable overlap with the CfA Fellowship, but there are important differences.
It is designed for researchers showing strong potential across theory, observation, instrumentation, engineering, and laboratory or experimental astrophysics.
Clay Fellows receive substantial research independence and access to CfA researchers and facilities.
The fellowship provides a starting stipend of $87,500, adjusted annually for cost of living, plus an $18,000 research budget every year.
Health and dental coverage for the fellow and eligible dependents is funded, and a one-time relocation allowance is included.
The appointment can extend to four years, with the fourth year contingent on satisfactory progress.
Eligibility
The post-PhD experience window is wider than for the CfA Fellowship.
Applicants can have up to 42 months of equivalent full-time post-PhD research experience at the September 1, 2027 start date.
This distinction matters. Someone outside the CfA Fellowship’s 24-month window may still fall within Clay’s 42-month limit.
Applications opened on August 17 and close at 5:00 PM Boston time on October 15, 2026.
Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 Call for Applications
The research submission follows a similar five-page structure, but Clay applicants may provide impact and relevance descriptions for up to four publications.
Comparing opportunities outside the United States? You can also explore our latest postdoctoral fellowships in Europe including Georg Arnhold Senior Fellowship 2028 in Germany, MOPGA Fellowship 2027 in France, University of Konstanz Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 and other funded research opportunities for international applicants.
3. ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027
Researchers in theoretical physics should look separately at the ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship.
ITAMP stands for the Institute for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. Its fellowship covers theoretical AMO physics broadly, including ultracold atoms and molecules, quantum gases, quantum optics, strong-field physics, quantum information, quantum simulations, molecular astrophysics and laboratory cosmology.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate an ability to conduct original research, including through first-author refereed publications.
The fellowship starts at $80,000 per year and provides an additional $8,000 annual travel budget. The successful fellow also receives a new laptop during the first year.
Health and dental benefits extend to the fellow and eligible dependents.
The initial award lasts two years, with possible renewal for a third year depending on performance and funding.
ITAMP application requirements
Applicants submit a cover letter, CV, publication summary, research statement of no more than five pages and three reference letters.
ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 Call for Applications
The application deadline is Friday, October 30, 2026.
International applicants should also notice a practical difference: the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory states that international exchange scholars selected for this fellowship are issued J-1 visas.
Working specifically in AI or computational research? You may also want to explore Careers Help Desk’s coverage of AI research fellowships, such as Harvard Kempner Research Fellowship 2027 postdoctoral opportunities in artificial intelligence, and international programs combining computing with scientific research.
4. ITC Fellowship 2027
The Institute for Theory and Computation Fellowship targets researchers working in theoretical and numerical astrophysics.
ITC aims to connect conceptual theory with computational modelling, making this opportunity particularly relevant to researchers using simulations, numerical methods and large-scale computational approaches to astrophysical questions.
The nominal start date is September 1, 2027, although earlier appointments may be possible.
The appointment begins for one year and can be renewed for a second and third year depending on performance and funding. Pay is based on current NASA NHFP guidelines.
Applications require a cover letter, CV, publication list, research proposal and contact information for three references.
Unlike the CfA and Clay application process, all three ITC reference letters must arrive by the application deadline.
ITC Fellowship 2027 Call for Applications
The deadline is November 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM Eastern time.
Final-year PhD candidates can apply, but they must complete all PhD requirements before beginning the fellowship.
Why the Center for Astrophysics Matters
These opportunities provide more than a Harvard affiliation.
The Center for Astrophysics combines the Harvard College Observatory and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, bringing researchers into a large scientific environment spanning observational astronomy, theoretical astrophysics, laboratory research, engineering, instrumentation, AI and data science.
Researchers may interact with programs connected to major facilities and missions including the James Webb Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, Event Horizon Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, Parker Solar Probe, ALMA and other ground- and space-based programs.
That breadth creates an important application advantage: candidates can build proposals around scientific questions while identifying researchers, facilities and collaborations that make CfA a logical place to pursue them.
Considering other major research destinations? Compare these opportunities with Careers Help Desk’s guides to European postdoctoral fellowships and fully funded research fellowships in Germany and the UK before deciding where to concentrate your applications.
Careers Help Desk Counter Angle: Do Not Send the Same Research Pitch to All Four
Applying to several fellowships at the same institution can make them look like variations of the same application. They are not.
Start with the research problem, then ask which program gives that project the most natural home.
A broad independent astrophysics proposal may align with CfA or Clay. A project centred on theoretical AMO physics belongs much more naturally in the ITAMP conversation. Computational or theoretical astrophysics has an obvious route through ITC.
The second mistake is treating institutional fit as a final paragraph added after writing the proposal.
Reverse that process.
Identify the people, facilities, methods or research groups that genuinely strengthen your project first. Then design the proposal so the connection appears naturally throughout the research plan.
There is another practical issue if you apply to multiple programs: do not assume recommendation letters transfer between CfA fellowships. The programs have separate application procedures, and ITC explicitly states that its letters are not shared with other CfA fellowship applications.
Your referees therefore need to know exactly which fellowships you are targeting and when each letter is due.
What Applicants Should Do Next
Start by checking your post-PhD experience against the eligibility window of each fellowship.
Then shortlist the programs that genuinely match your research. Read the research profiles of potential collaborators, identify the CfA resources relevant to your proposal and prepare a separate application checklist for each fellowship.
Pay particular attention to the October 15 deadlines for the CfA and Clay Fellowships. ITAMP follows on October 30, while ITC closes November 1.
Researchers applying to more than one program should not wait for the final deadline. Research statements, publication-impact summaries and reference requests can take considerably longer to prepare well than the online application itself.
For researchers seeking independent postdoctoral work in astrophysics, theoretical physics or computational science, the 2027 CfA fellowship cycle offers several distinct routes. The strongest application will not simply show an impressive publication record. It will make a convincing case for why this research, why this fellowship and why CfA now.
Official Sources for Open Harvard CfA Fellowship 2027
Check the official Center for Astrophysics fellowship pages before submitting your application:
- CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship
- SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship
- ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship
- ITC Fellowship
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Harvard Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 open now?
Yes. Four opportunities covered in this guide are currently accepting applications for the 2027 cycle: the CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship, SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship, ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship and ITC Fellowship. Their deadlines fall between October 15 and November 1, 2026.
What is the deadline for Harvard Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027?
The CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship and SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship close on October 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM Boston time. The ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship closes on October 30, 2026, while the ITC Fellowship closes on November 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM Eastern time.
How much is the Harvard postdoctoral fellowship stipend?
Funding depends on the fellowship. The CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship starts at $84,600 and includes an $18,000 annual research budget. The SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship starts at $87,500 with an $18,000 annual research budget. The ITAMP Fellowship starts at $80,000 and provides an $8,000 annual travel budget. ITC states that its fellows’ pay rate follows current NASA NHFP guidelines.
Can international researchers apply for these Harvard postdoctoral fellowships?
The CfA and Clay fellowship information states that the opportunities are open to qualified English-speaking citizens from any nation. International applicants considering ITAMP should note that the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory states that selected international exchange scholars receive J-1 visas.
What is the difference between the CfA and Clay Postdoctoral Fellowships?
One important difference is the post-PhD experience limit. For the 2027 CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship, applicants must have 24 months or less of equivalent full-time post-PhD research experience at the September 1, 2027 start date. The SAO Clay Fellowship allows up to 42 months. Clay also offers a four-year appointment, with the fourth year contingent on satisfactory progress, while the CfA Fellowship is a three-year appointment with the third year contingent on satisfactory progress.
Can final-year PhD students apply?
For the ITC Fellowship, candidates may apply during the final year of their doctoral program, but they must complete all PhD requirements before beginning the fellowship. Applicants should check the specific eligibility and degree-timing requirements of the fellowship they plan to apply for rather than assuming that all four follow identical rules.
Which fellowship is suitable for theoretical and computational astrophysics?
The ITC Fellowship specifically targets researchers working in theoretical and/or numerical astrophysics and aims to connect conceptual theory with computational modelling. Researchers with broader independent astrophysics projects may also find the CfA or Clay fellowships relevant depending on their research and eligibility.
Which Harvard fellowship is for atomic, molecular and optical physics?
The ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship is specifically designed for theoretical atomic, molecular and optical physics. Its scope includes areas such as ultracold atomic and molecular physics, quantum gases, quantum optics, strong-field physics, quantum information, quantum simulations, molecular astrophysics and laboratory cosmology.
What documents are required to apply?
Requirements vary by fellowship. Depending on the program, applicants may need a CV, publication list, research statement or proposal, publication-impact summaries, cover letter and reference information or recommendation letters. Applicants should follow the instructions for their chosen fellowship carefully because the required materials are not identical.
Can I apply for more than one CfA fellowship?
Researchers whose background and proposed work fit multiple programs can consider the relevant fellowships, but the applications should be treated separately. In particular, applicants should not assume that recommendation letters or other application materials will automatically transfer between fellowship programs.
Do the Harvard postdoctoral fellowships provide research funding in addition to the stipend?
Several do. The CfA Prize Postdoctoral Fellowship and SAO Clay Postdoctoral Fellowship each provide an $18,000 research budget per year in addition to their stipends. ITAMP provides an $8,000 annual travel budget and a new laptop in the first year.
Where are these fellowships based?
The fellowships covered here are associated with the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which brings together the Harvard College Observatory and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and supports research across astronomy, astrophysics, instrumentation, computation and related scientific fields.
Stay connected with Careers Help Desk for the latest international fellowships, scholarships, research opportunities and jobs abroad to empower your future!
0 Comments