Working/Functional Title
Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
Position Summary
We encourage applications from candidates in any early career stage, from finishing Ph.D. students to current postdoctoral scholars. Current MSU EEB graduate students and postdocs are eligible to apply; however, they should make clear in their application materials how the proposed Presidential Postdoc research plan would represent a new direction for them.
There are two main functions of this fellowship:
- RESEARCH PROGRAM: The Fellow will be a fully participating member of EEB at MSU and will be expected to have a cutting-edge research program that bridges the interests of two or more EEB core faculty members. A list of possible faculty members available to mentor the chosen candidate is available to review online. Candidates are required to contact potential faculty mentors before applying, as each faculty mentor will need to fill out a sponsor form for applicants to be considered.
- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The Fellow will also contribute to the EEB community via a community engagement initiative. The proposed initiative is up to the discretion of the applicant; possible ideas include (but are not limited to): a professional development workshop for current EEB grad students and postdocs; a co-working group; an EEB grad/postdoc-led working group that leads to a published outcome. The Fellows research stipend may also be used to support the community engagement initiative. The Fellow should consult with their prospective mentors during development of their proposed Community Engagement plan and they should explain in their application materials how their Community Engagement initiative would benefit the EEB community. Applicants are welcome to continue previous successful Community Engagement initiatives.
The position is for two years, subject to review after one year, and will begin between June 1 and September 1, 2027. The role has a starting annual salary of $65,000 plus benefits, as well as a research stipend of $8,000 per year. Up to $1,000 of moving expenses may be reimbursed from the research stipend in the first year. A summary of available benefits to faculty, academic and support staff is available for applicants to review.
For the most up to date information on the position, please visit the MSU EEB Website for more details.
Required Degree
Doctorate
Minimum Requirements
Candidates will have completed a Ph.D. degree by the position start date. Candidates must have strong motivation for academic research.
Desired Qualifications
Candidates will be expected to propose a cutting-edge research program that bridges the interests of two or more EEB core faculty members. They should have peer-review publications and demonstrate exceptional potential for research success in ecology, evolution, and/or behavior.
Required Application Materials
Applicants will need to enter the contact information for three references willing to write letters of recommendation on behalf of the candidate. MSU HR will contact references directly for selected applicants.
Each faculty sponsor (not the applicant) should fill out the sponsor form to indicate their support for the candidate's application, how the candidate's research will integrate into the faculty members lab, and a brief description of the mentor's contributions to the EEB community (service, teaching, etc.).
The required application materials for this role should be uploaded by the candidate as four separate attachments to the application:
- Cover letter (1 page max.)
- CV
- Other Document #1
- Research statement including past research accomplishments and proposed research plans as an EEB postdoctoral fellow (2 pages max.)
- Community Engagement Proposal (1 page max.)
- Other Document #2
- Up to two publications, preprints or manuscripts representative of the applicants work uploaded as a single file
Special Instructions
Review of applications will begin November 1, 2026. Please visit the MSU EEB Website for more details.