The Rice University RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 2027 is accepting applications for interdisciplinary research positions in advanced materials at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA. Selected researchers will receive an annual salary of $75,000, with appointments intended to last up to two years. The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) expects to award two fellowships in this round. Eligible candidates must hold a relevant PhD awarded on or after July 1, 2025, or be completing their doctorate before the fellowship begins. International researchers may be considered if they qualify for J-1 Scholar visa status. The application deadline is December 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM Central Standard Time (CST).
One important requirement is that applicants must have a nomination from an eligible RAMI-affiliated Rice University faculty member. This is therefore not a conventional postdoctoral vacancy where candidates apply independently without faculty involvement. Rice Advanced Materials Institute
Rice University RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027: Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 2027 |
| Host institution | Rice University |
| Location | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Academic level | Postdoctoral research |
| Annual salary | $75,000 USD |
| Duration | Intended two years, subject to first-year review |
| Expected awards | 2 fellowships |
| Research fields | Advanced materials, energy, electronics, environmental materials |
| International applicants | Eligible if they meet the programme requirements and can obtain J-1 Scholar visa status |
| Faculty nomination | Required |
| Application deadline | December 11, 2026, 5:00 PM CST |
| Expected results | Approximately end of January 2027 |
| Expected start date | July 1, 2027 |
| Application status | Open |
What Does the RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship Fund?
The fellowship provides an annual salary of $75,000 for researchers working on advanced materials projects with Rice University faculty.
RAMI’s published funding structure includes:
- Annual fellow salary: $75,000.
- Total annual employment support: $94,350, including salary and fringe costs, using FY2027 rates.
- RAMI contribution: $75,480 annually, representing 80% of total employment support.
- Host faculty contribution: $18,870 annually, representing the remaining 20%.
Where two faculty members jointly host a fellow, their contribution may be divided into $9,435 each.
The $94,350 figure is the total institutional employment cost, not the fellow’s take-home salary or an additional research grant.
Appointments are intended to last two years, potentially structured as one year plus one year. Continuation into the second year depends on satisfactory performance and available funding. The programme does not separately specify a relocation allowance or travel grant.
Fellows and their faculty advisors must also participate in annual evaluations covering research outputs, planned or submitted funding proposals, collaborations, and wider research activities. RAMI requires annual reporting, participation in an institute-sponsored event or workshop no more than once a year, and acknowledgement of institute support in relevant scholarly work. Failure to meet the programme’s reporting and engagement obligations may result in termination of funding.
Research Areas Available Under the RAMI Fellowship
The fellowship supports projects that advance Rice University’s materials research capabilities, particularly those connecting different scientific disciplines.
1. Next-Generation Electronic and Photonic Materials
Research may address quantum and two-dimensional materials, semiconductors, electronic devices, advanced sensors, functional materials, and microelectronics.
Relevant approaches include materials synthesis, fabrication, characterization, device integration, and the development of energy-efficient electronic technologies.
Researchers interested in semiconductors, photonics, and advanced electronic materials may also explore the imec PhD Positions 2027 in Belgium. This is a doctoral programme rather than a postdoctoral fellowship, so it is primarily relevant to readers who have not yet completed their PhD. Applications close on December 2, 2026.
2. Energy Materials
This area covers materials for energy storage, conversion, and harvesting.
Potential research directions include solid-state batteries, sodium-based batteries, capacitive storage, thermal energy storage, materials recycling, and technologies for recovering otherwise wasted energy.
3. Materials for Environmental Stewardship
Researchers may develop materials and technologies addressing environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.
Examples include carbon capture, CO₂ reduction, catalysis, membranes, adsorption materials, water treatment, hydrogen-related materials, and circular materials systems.
Cross-Cutting Theme: AI and Automated Materials Discovery
RAMI also encourages research combining artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational materials science, high-throughput experimentation, and laboratory automation.
Applicants working in computational science or AI should demonstrate how their methods will contribute directly to materials discovery, design, manufacturing, or characterization rather than treating AI as a separate research topic.
Who Is Eligible for the RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027?
Applicants must satisfy the programme’s academic and career-stage restrictions.
Academic qualifications: Candidates need a PhD in a field relevant to RAMI’s advanced materials research priorities.
PhD completion date: Candidates must have received their PhD in July 2025 or later, with the detailed programme announcement specifying July 1, 2025, as the earliest eligible award date. Applicants who are completing their doctorate may also be considered, provided their degree is awarded before the fellowship begins on July 1, 2027. If your degree date is close to the eligibility cutoff, confirm your position directly with RAMI.
Previous postdoctoral experience: Applicants cannot have accumulated more than two years of postdoctoral experience at other institutions by July 1, 2027. RAMI also indicates that candidates with substantial previous postdoctoral training are generally less competitive.
Faculty employment: Candidates must not have been employed as an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor in any capacity by July 1, 2027.
International eligibility: Non-US citizens must demonstrate eligibility to obtain J-1 Scholar visa status for the fellowship period. The programme does not publish a nationality-specific exclusion list.
Faculty nomination: The nominating professor must be a full-time, tenure-track Rice faculty member with a primary appointment at Rice, RAMI membership, and relevant advanced materials research.
Faculty already hosting a RAMI fellow whose appointment continues beyond June 30, 2027, cannot submit an additional nomination for this round.
RAMI also gives priority, although not exclusive eligibility, to researchers who are new to Rice and projects that connect different areas of materials research.
Researchers who fall outside RAMI’s narrow PhD award-date window may wish to compare the TOGAS Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 in Belgium. TOGAS offers five-year research appointments in selected sustainability-related fields, with a different PhD experience limit and MSCA mobility requirements. Its application deadline is February 8, 2027.
Required Application Documents
Applications must include the following materials:
- Curriculum vitae: An academic CV covering research experience, achievements, and publications.
- Faculty nomination letter: A letter from the proposed Rice faculty advisor or advisors explaining the candidate’s research experience, achievements, and suitability.
- Research proposal: A structured proposal addressing research objectives, alignment with RAMI, scientific novelty, expected outcomes, and institutional impact.
The proposal must use 11-point font and single-spaced text, with these specified limits:
| Research proposal section | Maximum length |
|---|---|
| Research objectives and interdisciplinary goals | 350 words |
| Connection to RAMI research areas | 150 words |
| State of the art, challenges, novelty, and expected outcomes | 1,000 words |
| Impact at Rice and potential for future major research funding | 500 words |
The four research proposal sections have a combined maximum of 2,000 words. The official application form also specifies that the first section should include the project title. Follow each section’s individual word limit rather than treating 2,000 words as a flexible allowance. The programme does not clarify whether references count towards these limits, so applicants should seek confirmation if necessary.
Applicants who need help developing a focused research question, explaining a scientific gap, or describing feasible research methods can consult our research proposal writing guide. Although written primarily for PhD applicants, its guidance on research objectives, methodology, and feasibility is also relevant to postdoctoral proposals. RAMI’s own structure and word limits take priority.
The official application form also asks whether the CV includes a complete publication list and provides an upload field for a separate list. Applicants should prepare one if their CV does not already contain it.
Your CV should make it easy for reviewers to assess your doctoral research, publications, technical expertise, and scientific contributions. For guidance on organising these details, see our academic CV writing guide with examples. Follow any additional document requirements specified by RAMI.
For nominations involving multiple faculty advisors, the online form specifies that the nomination letter should be co-signed by the proposed mentors. Jotform
How Are RAMI Postdoctoral Fellows Selected?
RAMI leadership and qualified faculty reviewers assess proposals against published selection criteria.
These include the candidate’s academic achievements, publications, presentations, awards, and evidence of research potential.
Reviewers also evaluate the clarity and originality of the proposed research, the scientific challenges being addressed, the interdisciplinary nature of the work, and its potential to establish new materials research directions at Rice.
Another explicit consideration is whether the proposed fellowship could strengthen Rice’s research community and support future external funding proposals.
Following initial evaluation, the final selection committee will choose two candidates from the shortlisted nominations.
This makes both the candidate’s scientific record and the quality of the faculty-supported research proposal important to the final decision.
For researchers comparing host-supported fellowship models, the Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoctoral Programme 2027 offers a different approach involving researchers at institutions in Germany and Israel. Like RAMI, it requires host involvement before the application can proceed, although its eligibility rules and funding arrangements differ. Applications close on December 1, 2026.
Careers Help Desk Counter Angle: Secure Faculty Support Before Developing the Full Proposal
The most significant application barrier is the requirement for an eligible Rice faculty nomination, combined with the host’s financial contribution.
A candidate may have excellent publications and a promising materials research idea but still be unable to submit a viable nomination without a faculty advisor who meets RAMI’s requirements and can commit the required funding.
RAMI also explicitly favors proposals that bridge traditional research fields. Joint supervision by two faculty members is welcomed and recommended, although it is not mandatory.
For prospective applicants, the practical approach is to identify Rice researchers whose expertise complements the proposed project, then discuss a focused research concept before preparing the complete application.
Applicants can begin with the official RAMI faculty and affiliates directory, which lists researchers across the institute’s main research themes. Review potential advisors’ current projects and publications before contacting them. Being listed as a RAMI affiliate does not automatically establish nomination eligibility, so confirm that the professor meets the fellowship’s faculty requirements and is willing to provide the necessary host support.
When approaching a potential faculty advisor, explain the specific connection between your previous research and the professor’s current work. Our guide to emailing professors about research opportunities provides examples of focused academic inquiries. Adapt the advice for a postdoctoral nomination rather than using a PhD admission request unchanged.
An initial discussion should establish whether the professor is RAMI-affiliated, eligible to nominate, interested in hosting the project, and able to arrange the 20% funding contribution.
For an interdisciplinary proposal, two complementary faculty advisors may strengthen the scientific case while allowing the required host contribution to be shared.
The proposal should also explain how the project could lead to future medium-scale ($2 million–$5 million) or large-scale (more than $5 million) research funding opportunities. These amounts are targets for potential future institutional research proposals, not funding awarded to the postdoctoral fellow.
A convincing application should therefore show how the research will benefit the candidate’s career while establishing a credible new direction for collaborative materials research at Rice.
How to Apply for the Rice University RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027
Applications are submitted through the official RAMI online application form.
Step 1: Review the fellowship eligibility requirements and research priorities.
RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program – 2027 Application Guidelines
Step 2: Identify an eligible RAMI-affiliated Rice faculty member willing to serve as your advisor.
Chech the List of RAMI Staff and Faculty for your Postdoctoral host
Step 3: Confirm faculty nomination and the required host funding arrangement.
Step 4: Prepare your CV, publication information, and research proposal according to the specified requirements.
Step 5: Arrange the faculty nomination letter, including co-signatures where applicable.
Step 6: Submit the application through the official portal before the deadline.
Apply Here for RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027
Either the candidate or the faculty mentor may submit the application, provided the required documents are included.
If the candidate uploads the other application materials, the faculty advisor may send the nomination letter separately to ricematerials@rice.edu.
The deadline is December 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST (UTC−6). RAMI states that late applications will be considered only if the initial submissions fail to meet the required standards. Applicants should not rely on that exception.
Awards are expected to be announced around the end of January 2027, with appointments beginning July 1, 2027.
Ready to Apply for Rice University US Postdoctoral Fellowships?
The Rice University RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027 offers early-career materials researchers a $75,000 annual salary and an opportunity to develop interdisciplinary research in the United States. With only two anticipated awards, applicants should assess their eligibility carefully and prioritize securing an appropriate faculty nomination. A well-defined project that connects RAMI’s research priorities with a feasible collaborative research plan will be essential. Interested researchers should consult the official programme guidelines and complete their applications by December 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST.
Official Source: RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program – 2027 Call for Applications
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can international researchers apply for the RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027?
Yes. Non-US citizens may be nominated if they satisfy the academic and research requirements and can demonstrate eligibility for J-1 Scholar visa status. The announcement does not establish a general US-citizenship requirement.
2. Is the RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowship fully funded?
It is a salaried postdoctoral appointment offering $75,000 annually, with institutional funding covering salary and fringe costs. However, applicants should not assume that separate relocation, travel, or research allowances are included, as these are not specified in the announcement.
3. Can I apply without a Rice University faculty supervisor?
No. A nomination from an eligible RAMI-affiliated Rice faculty member is required. The candidate may submit the online form, but that does not remove the faculty nomination requirement.
4. Can someone who has not yet received their PhD apply?
Yes. The fellowship considers researchers who are about to complete their doctorate. Candidates must obtain their PhD before beginning the appointment, expected on July 1, 2027.
5. Is the fellowship guaranteed for two years?
No. The appointment is intended to last two years, but continuation after the first year depends on satisfactory performance and funding availability.
6. How many RAMI Postdoctoral Fellowships are available in 2027?
Rice University anticipates awarding two fellowships. Selection will be based on the candidate’s achievements, research proposal, interdisciplinary contribution, and potential institutional impact.
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