The University of Notre Dame is accepting applications for its 2027 Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships in Engineering, offering a $75,000 annual stipend for two years and an additional $15,000 allowance for research, training, and professional development. The fellowship is open to researchers of all nationalities who have completed, or expect to complete, their doctoral degree between June 2025 and September 2027. Applicants must propose an ambitious research project in engineering or applied sciences and identify a suitable faculty mentor at Notre Dame.
The application deadline is December 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). Successful applicants are expected to receive a decision by March 31, 2027. Notre Dame also offers a separate Society of Science Fellows programme for researchers whose primary mentor belongs to the College of Science. Both programmes have the same application deadline, but their funding arrangements, eligibility conditions, and application requirements differ.
University of Notre Dame Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027: Overview
| Detail | Provost’s Engineering Fellowship |
|---|---|
| Host institution | University of Notre Dame |
| Country | United States |
| Academic level | Postdoctoral research |
| Fellowship duration | 24 months |
| Annual stipend | $75,000 |
| Additional research allowance | $15,000 |
| Nationality | All nationalities |
| Eligible PhD completion | June 2025–September 2027, with stated leave exceptions |
| Application deadline | December 15, 2026, 11:59 PM EST |
| Expected decision | March 31, 2027 |
| Application platform | Interfolio |
Notre Dame’s university-wide Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship initiative describes an annual allocation of up to 18 two-year appointments, including six for the College of Engineering. This is the programme’s stated allocation, not a separately confirmed count of awards available in the current 2027 Engineering competition.
What Does the Notre Dame Engineering Fellowship Cover?
The Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship in Engineering provides institutional support for 24 months, allowing early-career researchers to develop independent research projects while receiving faculty mentorship.
Selected fellows receive:
- $75,000 per year in stipend support, equivalent to $150,000 over the two-year appointment.
- $15,000 research and professional development allowance to cover eligible expenses associated with independent research, training, and career development.
- Individualized professional development support from the College of Engineering’s Director of Postdoctoral Studies.
- Research mentorship from a Notre Dame College of Engineering faculty member.
- Participation in the College of Engineering Postdoctoral Training programme, which supports research independence and leadership development.
The $15,000 allowance is separate from the stipend and should not be treated as additional personal salary. The university describes it as funding for research-related and professional development expenses.
Although the fellowship provides institutional support for 24 months, Notre Dame’s university-wide programme specifies a renewal after the first 12 months. Applicants should therefore understand the award as a two-year appointment with a renewal stage, rather than assume that both years are unconditional. The published Engineering Fellowship announcement does not explain the detailed renewal criteria.
The official announcement does not specify housing, relocation assistance, airfare, visa sponsorship arrangements, or health insurance benefits. International applicants should clarify these matters with the university before making financial commitments.
Research Areas and Faculty Mentorship
The Engineering Fellowship supports research addressing important challenges in engineering and applied sciences.
Applicants can explore faculty research across Notre Dame’s engineering departments:
- Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
Research proposals connected to the university’s 2033 Strategic Framework and Initiatives are especially welcome. However, applicants should establish a genuine connection between their proposed research and the university’s research priorities rather than adding strategic terminology without a clear scientific rationale.
Every applicant must identify a primary research mentor with an appointment in the College of Engineering. Additional co-mentors may be proposed, provided they hold appointments at Notre Dame.
The university strongly encourages applicants to contact prospective mentors early and discuss their proposed research before submitting an application.
Researchers working in advanced materials may also consider the Rice University RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 in the United States. It offers a $75,000 annual salary for interdisciplinary materials research, although applicants must obtain a nomination from an eligible Rice faculty member.
Who Is Eligible for the 2027 Fellowship?
The Engineering Fellowship is intended for early-stage scientists and engineers preparing for research careers.
Applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
- Have completed, or expect to complete, all doctoral degree requirements between June 2025 and September 2027.
- Demonstrate strong scientific accomplishments and a clear research direction in engineering or applied sciences.
- Identify a suitable primary mentor from Notre Dame’s College of Engineering.
- Not currently hold a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Notre Dame.
Researchers from all countries may apply. The published eligibility requirements do not restrict applications to US citizens or permanent residents.
The university also permits earlier doctoral completion dates when qualifying maternity, paternity, or Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave occurred within the preceding two years.
Applicants relying on this exception should contact the programme to confirm how their circumstances will be assessed.
A doctoral degree does not necessarily need to have been awarded when the application is submitted. Candidates expecting to complete their degree by September 2027 are included in the published eligibility window.
Applicants whose research is more closely connected to synthetic biology, biochemistry, or molecular sciences can also explore the SynCell-nExUs Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 in Europe. The programme offers 20 funded research positions, with different doctoral and mobility eligibility requirements.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must prepare the following materials.
1. Curriculum vitae (CV)
Provide an academic CV documenting your education, research experience, publications, presentations, and relevant professional achievements.
Your CV should clearly document your research experience, publications, technical expertise, and academic achievements. If you need help preparing it, see our guide to writing an academic CV for PhD and postdoctoral applications, which includes practical formatting advice and examples.
2. Research and career statement
Submit a statement of no more than five pages, excluding citations, covering:
- Your career goals and previous research accomplishments.
- Your teaching and mentoring experience.
- The research you propose to undertake during the fellowship.
- The identity of your primary mentor and any co-mentors.
- Your reasons for selecting those mentors.
The statement should explain the scientific questions you intend to investigate, the proposed approach, and how the selected faculty members’ expertise supports the project.
3. Five-slide presentation
Applicants must prepare a presentation of no more than five slides using Notre Dame’s official Engineering Fellowship presentation template.
The completed presentation must be attached as a PDF. Follow the provided template and check the exported file before submission..
4. Three recommendation letters
Three recommendation letters must be submitted through Interfolio by the application deadline.
Applicants should coordinate with their referees early. The university explicitly states that recommendation letters must not be emailed directly to the programme.
How Are Applicants Selected?
Notre Dame identifies two principal selection criteria: scientific excellence and a clearly expressed plan to investigate problems at the forefront of engineering and applied sciences.
Scientific excellence can be demonstrated through the applicant’s research accomplishments and evidence of their ability to conduct rigorous research.
The proposed research plan is equally important. Applicants should clearly explain the problem they intend to investigate, why it matters scientifically, and how the proposed work could advance the field.
The university particularly welcomes research relevant to its 2033 Strategic Framework and Initiatives.
Although identifying a mentor is an application requirement, the announcement does not state that obtaining a mentor’s formal acceptance guarantees selection.
Careers Help Desk Counter Angle: Choose Your Mentor Before Finalizing the Proposal
One of the most important decisions in this application is selecting the appropriate Notre Dame faculty mentor.
The Engineering Fellowship requires a primary mentor from the College of Engineering. Applicants whose intended primary mentor has a primary appointment in the College of Science are instead directed toward the Society of Science Fellows programme.
This distinction matters for interdisciplinary researchers, especially those working in computational science, materials research, environmental science, biotechnology, or other fields spanning engineering and science.
Before writing the final research statement, review the prospective mentor’s departmental appointment and recent research. Contact the faculty member with a concise description of your proposed project, explaining its connection to their expertise.
Then use the discussion to refine the research plan and justify the mentorship arrangement in your application.
A scientifically strong proposal can still be poorly matched to the programme if the applicant selects a mentor from the wrong college.
Researchers comparing faculty-hosted opportunities across countries may also find the C4W Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 in Belgium and Finland relevant. This programme supports cleantech research and has different supervisor, mobility, and application requirements.
Engineering Fellowship vs Society of Science Fellows
Notre Dame operates two related postdoctoral fellowship programmes, but applicants should not assume they offer identical financial support or appointment conditions.
| Feature | Engineering Fellowship | Society of Science Fellows |
|---|---|---|
| Primary mentor | College of Engineering | College of Science |
| Duration | 2 years | 3 years |
| Stipend | $75,000/year | At or above NIH NRSA postdoctoral pay scale |
| Research allowance | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| Third-year funding | Not applicable to the two-year award | Provided by primary mentor |
| PhD eligibility | June 2025–September 2027, with leave exceptions | Preference for PhD completion after June 2025, with leave exceptions |
| Deadline | December 15, 2026 | December 15, 2026 |
| Expected decisions | March 31, 2027 | Around February 15, 2027 |
The Society of Science Fellows programme requires a primary research mentor from one of the College of Science’s five departments. Its stipend is linked to the NIH NRSA postdoctoral pay scale rather than the Engineering Fellowship’s fixed $75,000 annual amount.
The Science Fellowship also has a different funding structure: the primary mentor is responsible for research space, supplies, travel support, and the third year of fellowship funding.
Applicants should select the programme based on the proposed research and the primary mentor’s appointment, not simply the advertised stipend.
How to Apply for the Notre Dame Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027
Applications for the Engineering Fellowship are submitted through the university’s official Interfolio application system.
Step 1: Review the Engineering Fellowship eligibility requirements and research priorities.
Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships in Engineering Program
Step 2: Identify a potential primary mentor within the College of Engineering.
University of Notre Dame Engineering Faculty
Step 3: Contact the prospective mentor to discuss research alignment.
Step 4: Prepare your academic CV, five-page research and career statement, and five-slide PDF presentation using the official template.
Step 5: Arrange for three recommendation letters to be submitted through Interfolio.
Step 6: Complete the online application and confirm that all materials are submitted by December 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.
Apply Here for Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships in Engineering
For applicants interested in the College of Science programme:University of Notre Dame – Society of Science Fellows
Engineering Fellowship application inquiries can be directed to eng-postdocs@nd.edu. Society of Science Fellows inquiries should be sent to sciencepostdocs@nd.edu.
For researchers considering opportunities outside the United States, the AToUT Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 in France offers 15 funded positions across interdisciplinary research areas, including health, environmental change, and sustainable transitions.
Ready to Apply for Postdoc in the United States
The University of Notre Dame’s 2027 Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship in Engineering offers two years of institutional support, a $75,000 annual stipend, and dedicated funding for independent research and professional development. For international researchers planning an academic or research-intensive career, the key preparation is to develop a strong research proposal and establish a suitable mentorship arrangement. Applicants should review the official requirements, contact prospective mentors early, and ensure that their complete application, including all three recommendation letters, reaches Interfolio before December 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.
Official Source:
- Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships in Engineering Program
- University of Notre Dame’s Society of Science Fellows
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can international researchers apply for the Notre Dame Engineering Fellowship?
Yes. The University of Notre Dame explicitly states that scholars of all nationalities may apply. International applicants should separately confirm immigration and employment documentation requirements with the university.
2. Is the Notre Dame Engineering Postdoctoral Fellowship fully funded?
The fellowship provides a $75,000 annual stipend for 24 months, together with a $15,000 allowance for research and professional development. It is a funded postdoctoral appointment, although the published announcement does not specify every potential employment or relocation benefit.
3. Can I apply before completing my PhD?
Yes. Applicants expecting to complete their doctoral degree requirements by September 2027 are eligible under the published Engineering Fellowship conditions.
4. Is contacting a Notre Dame professor mandatory before applying?
The university strongly encourages early contact with potential mentors but does not explicitly describe prior faculty agreement as a mandatory eligibility condition. Applicants must identify their proposed primary mentor and explain their choice in the research statement.
5. Can I apply to both the Engineering and Science fellowships?
The published programme descriptions direct applicants toward the fellowship corresponding to their primary mentor’s college. They do not clearly establish whether simultaneous applications are permitted. Applicants considering both should seek clarification from the relevant programme offices.
6. Is IELTS or TOEFL required for the Notre Dame Engineering Fellowship?
The published Engineering Fellowship application instructions do not specify a mandatory IELTS or TOEFL score. However, Notre Dame does not explicitly advertise a general English-language test waiver for this fellowship. International applicants who need clarification should contact eng-postdocs@nd.edu before submitting their applications.
7. When will the 2027 fellowship results be announced?
Engineering Fellowship decisions are expected by March 31, 2027. Society of Science Fellows decisions are expected around February 15, 2027.
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