The Department of Energy (DOE) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) sponsors the Gertrude and Maurice Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowships Program. These prestigious Fellowships are awarded to candidates with exceptional talent and credentials who have a strong desire for independent research at the frontiers of their fields. The fellowships are three-year appointments and carry a starting annual salary of $108,000.

Candidates seeking a Goldhaber Fellowship must have a commitment of support from a prospective mentor here at the Lab. Before an application is submitted, prospective mentors must have an opening and be able to support the candidate at the standard starting salary for postdoctoral research associates for three years. The Fellowship program provides additional funds to increase the salary to the stated level as well as a modest amount of independent funds for materials and supplies.

Candidates cannot be more than three years past receipt of the Ph.D. at the time of the application. The intention of the program is to select individuals who would qualify for research staff positions at BNL upon completion of the appointment. For inquiries about the program, please contact Kathleen Barkigia, [redacted].

Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowships:

Call for Applications - Applications are being accepted now for the Gertrude and Maurice Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowship program. Brookhaven Science Associates created these prestigious fellowships in 2000 and they have since been awarded to more than 60 postdoctoral researchers. The Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowship program provides our scientists with a special opportunity to attract top up-and-coming talent to join research teams at the Lab. The program is also an important tool to help identify exceptional individuals who would qualify for research staff positions at the Lab after their fellowship appointments are complete. The recipients - up to two for this round of the selection process - must have a strong desire for independent research at the frontiers of their fields and will be awarded three-year appointments with a starting annual salary of $108,000.

Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. no more than three years before the time of their application and their qualifications should align with the Lab's science and technology portfolio. Consideration will be given to excellent candidates with training in any discipline pertinent to the Lab's mission to deliver expertise and capabilities that drive scientific breakthroughs and innovation for today and tomorrow.

More information for those interested:

If you're interested, visit the Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowship website (BNL | Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowship | Home) for specific guidance about the application process.

There, you can also find out more about the Goldhabers, for whom the fellowship is named. For those who don't know, Maurice Goldhaber was a physicist and former Lab Director who, among many other contributions, measured the mass of the neutron with James Chadwick in 1934. Gertrude Scharff-Goldhaber was a well-recognized physicist, the first woman Ph.D. employed at the Laboratory, and her research helped set the groundwork for the theory of nuclear motion.

How to Apply

Candidates seeking to apply for this Fellowship should apply online by visiting: BNL | Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowship | Home) and attach the following items to the online application as a single PDF document:

A well-organized research proposal outlining your research interests, not to exceed three pages (literature references don't count toward the three-page limit). Use: Research Proposal Template A CV including a list of publications. Three letters of recommendation are required to complete the application. Candidates must request that their references send their letters of recommendation directly via email to [redacted]. In the subject line, please request that they include the full name of the candidate. Submitting more than three letters does not confer competitive advantage. Only the first three letters received will be included with the application package to the selection committee for review.

*All letters must be received by the application closing date of September 25, 2026.

The application is complete when all items have been received. Applications will be accepted from August 13, 2026 until September 25, 2026. We will select up to a total of two recipients in response to this solicitation.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to your success. We offer a supportive work environment and the resources necessary for you to succeed.

Other Information:

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Candidates must have received a Ph.D. by the commencement of employment.

Brookhaven Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The starting annual salary for this position is $108000/ year.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to employee success and we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program

Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory - view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id. This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act. Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.

As a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory requires employees to obtain and maintain a DOE Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) credential in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) requirements. The credentialing process is completed as part of onboarding and enables access to DOE facilities and information systems. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a UPIV credential. These requirements are established under DOE Order 206.2 Chg. 2, Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM- Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)), and DOE Order 473.1A- Physical Protection Program- Physical Protection Program.