Fellowships & Visiting Scientist Positions

The CfA is known for its leadership in theoretical, observational and laboratory astrophysics, and for its observational programs across the electromagnetic spectrum. The CfA also includes highly successful instrument development teams and facility operations expertise. CfA Fellows are able to use the combined resources and facilities of the CfA's two collaborating observatories: the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Harvard College Observatory. 

Through the CfA's operational agreements with its partners, CfA Fellows can propose for CfA-allocated observing time on the MMT in Arizona, the Magellan Telescopes in Chile and the Submillimeter Array in Hawaii. Other opportunities to participate in ground- and space-based observing programs include but are not limited to, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), the Event Horizon Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Kepler K2, the Parker Solar Probe, Pan-STARRS, and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The CfA also offers a number of specialized laboratories, the renowned Wolbach astrophysics library, an astrophysics statistics program, and several formal research initiatives open by application to Fellows, which focus on a particular research area (for example in black holes, theoretical astrophysics, and the origins of life), where inter-disciplinary, inter-institutional collaborative research is the central organizing principle.

The CfA provides a dynamic range of weekly luncheons, prestigious colloquia, journal clubs, daily coffees, divisional get-togethers and many other formal and informal opportunities for the exchange of ideas and professional development in a diverse scientific community. In addition, many influential and recognized researchers from other institutions are frequent speakers and visitors to the CfA. Some 300 CfA Ph.D. researchers, 35 graduate students, 12 predoctoral fellows, and numerous engineers, program managers and technical staff combine to conduct their research, serve the field on numerous committees and advisory bodies. In the past year, CfA researchers published a combined 1,042 refereed papers per year in publications such as Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Nature, and Science.

The CfA is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a vibrant slice of the larger Boston metropolitan area, known for its excellent universities, colleges and public education, its world renowned medical facilities, a dynamic modern economy, a booming artistic community, passionate sports fans and diverse cultures, all within a two hour drive to great skiing, hiking in the White, Green or Berkshire mountains, and many Atlantic Ocean beaches. As a joint collaboration between Smithsonian and Harvard, the CfA can also offer CfA Fellows selected special privileges through both institutions.

CfA Fellowship 

Clay Fellowship

JC Ryan Fellowship 

Harvard Postdoctoral Fellowship for Future Faculty Leaders 

ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellowship 

ITC Fellowship 

The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, through its collaborating entity the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), offers opportunities for visiting scientists to engage with CfA | Harvard & Smithsonian science, research and resources.

The Visiting Scientist and Visiting Student Program at Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory expands scholarly exchange in atomic and molecular physics; infrared, optical, radio, and X-ray astronomy; planetary sciences; geophysics; solar and stellar physics; and theoretical astrophysics. Visits can vary from a few days to several weeks or months and, in some cases, last up to a year. This program annually attracts many international and national visitors.

Stipend support varies with the length of the visit, with support being provided by the visitor's home institution or by fellowships such as a Guggenheim or from NATO, etc. Application to the program is made by directly contacting a member of the research staff to request support.

Awards are dependent upon availability of funding.

BROWSE SAO RESEARCH STAFF DIRECTORY

The CfA welcomes Postdoctoral Scholars in Astrophysics-related fields with funding from external sources, including US agencies (e.g. NASA, NSF, DOE), foundations (e.g. Schmidt, Templeton), or from agencies or foundations outside the US.  All external prize fellowship applications will require approval and a letter from the Director acknowledging the Postdoctoral Scholar’s intention to come to the CfA with external funding.  

The institutional Letter of Endorsement (LoE) request form should be submitted at least 21 business days before the submission deadline.  The lead time ensures there is sufficient time to iterate with the applicant and for the Director to review and approve the application.  When necessary, the external funding source will be reviewed by export control.

The LoE request should be submitted by the applicant’s CfA host and include a draft of the full proposal for review.  The CfA host will need to confirm that they have read the proposal and agree to serve as the applicant’s host.   

Link to CfA Host Letter for External Postdoctoral Fellowships request form

Questions or need additional guidance?  Please contact the Early Career Researchers Coordinator ecr-coordinator@cfa.harvard.edu