Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship

  Program Update: Beginning with the 2026 cycle, all application materials, including both reference letters, must be submitted by the November 2, 2026 deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all materials are received by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.As part of the selection process, each school/college may nominate a limited number of candidates for final consideration (see Evaluation and Selection below for nomination limits).

Program Overview

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is enriched by scholars whose backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences reflect the broad range of our global society. The Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship supports promising researchers and educators whose work and life experiences strengthen academic excellence and contribute to a more inclusive, engaged scholarly community. Fellows receive dedicated time and institutional support to advance their research and prepare for long-term academic careers. This program reflects CU Boulder’s commitment to fostering an intellectually vibrant environment where a wide range of voices and ideas can thrive. Through faculty mentoring, professional development, and academic networking, fellows develop the skills and connections needed to launch successful academic careers.

Email questions to cpfellows@colorado.edu.

Eligibility

Applicants must have earned a doctorate or other terminal degree before July 1, 2027 and must have completed that degree within the last three years (2024 or after). Applicants should be preparing for an academic career in research, scholarship or creative work. Faculty mentors must be tenured or tenure-track faculty at CU Boulder.

International applicants may be sponsored for a visa depending on the hiring department’s available funding and the applicant’s eligibility under university policies and applicable law. Visa sponsorship is managed by the International Students and Scholar Services office, in collaboration with the faculty mentor and hiring department. Sponsorship will be evaluated before any official offer is extended.

Fellowships

The one-year fellowship provides a base salary of $60,000, which may be supplemented by campus units up to $75,000 subject to qualifications, departmental discretion, and funding availability. The fellowship offers an additional, one-time $5,000 in professional development funding. The fellowship includes medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance benefits. Moving expenses and signing bonuses may be provided contingent on the department’s moving reimbursement and signing bonus policies.  

Two fellowships are anticipated annually.

Application Process and Requirements

All application materials, including required reference letters, must be received through the online application portal by the application deadline. Incomplete applications or applications with missing materials will not be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure all required materials are submitted by the deadline.

The following materials must be submitted through the online portal:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    
2. Personal Statement (4-pages, 2,000-word maximum, single-spaced) including:
   • Research, scholarly and creative work plan for the fellowship period;
   • Future academic career goals; and 
   • Academic and personal experiences that will bring a range of perspectives and contribute to an inclusive, engaged scholarly community at CU Boulder.
      
3. Reference Letters (2 in total) 
   • Thesis Advisor: Describe the applicant’s potential for an academic career. 
   • Joint Faculty Mentor/Department Chair: Describe the applicant's planned research, the facilities and resources available to support the proposed work, and the mentor's ability to support the applicant's career trajectory. The letter must also include the following commitment: "Contingent on available funds, if the primary unit has a strategic need in the postdoctoral fellow's area of scholarly and creative work, it commits to conducting a national search for a tenure-track faculty position in that area, for which the fellow could apply. The position would begin at the end of the postdoc period." This letter should be jointly signed by both the faculty mentor and department chair. In some cases, the chair may also serve as the mentor.

Deadlines and Key Dates

• Online Portal Opens: August 2026
• Application Deadline (all materials, including reference letters): November 2, 2026
• College/School Submits Applicants to cpfellows@colorado.edu: December 15, 2026
• Final Selection Committee Decisions: February 2027

Evaluation and Selection

Applications are reviewed in three stages and applicants are assessed based on academic accomplishments, personal statement, recommendation letters, prospective scholarly contributions and a successful academic career.

Stage 1: Faculty in the proposed home department (e.g., chairs, mentors) discuss and rank applicants.

Stage 2: By December 15, each college or school (e.g., the dean or their designee) reviews departmental recommendations and may nominate a limited number of applicants to advance to the campus review. Up to three applicants from the College of Arts and Sciences, up to two applicants from the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the College of Media, Communication and Information, and one applicant from Law, Music, Leeds, Education or University Libraries may be nominated.

Stage 3: A campus-level selection committee reviews the nominated applicants and selects the fellowship recipients based on the school/college recommendations, institutional priorities, and the potential for long-term success at CU Boulder.

View the reviewer guidance shared with departments.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Recipients
  • Participate in campus life;
  • Focus full-time on research/scholarship without teaching and additional employment;
  • Meet regularly with mentor(s); and
  • Attend Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Postdoctoral Association of Colorado Boulder (PAC Boulder) events.
     
• Tenured or Tenure-Track Faculty Mentors
  • Identify common or complementary research, scholarly or creative work interests and agree to mentor the fellow;
  • Assist the fellow to establish a visible, active presence in the department;
  • Meet regularly with the fellow one-on-one and create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) with the fellow to track career progress;
  • Encourage the fellow to attend professional development and networking activities offered by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Career Services, PAC Boulder and other campus units;
  • Encourage the fellow to present at conferences and/or symposia;
  • Help the fellow network with other mentors, particularly those of various backgrounds and disciplines to help foster a well-rounded experience; and
  • Provide support and guidance in the fellow’s work while allowing a degree of autonomy; and
  • Advise the fellow about the job market and help facilitate connections.
     
• Department
  • Commit that, contingent on available funds and if the primary unit has a strategic need in the postdoctoral fellow's area of scholarly and creative work, it will conduct a national search for a tenure-track faculty position in that area, for which the fellow could apply. The position would begin at the end of the postdoctoral period
  • Welcome the fellow into departmental activities such as colloquia, seminars, faculty meetings and social gatherings;
  • Onboard fellows like any new hire and provide space, technology, supplies and other necessary resources; and
  • Hire the fellow under the Postdoctoral Associate (1312) job code and coordinate offer letters with the HR Research Service Center (resfachr@colorado.edu).