The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) invites applications for the 2024 Jansky Fellowship Program. The Jansky Fellowship supports outstanding early career scientists to conduct independent research that is broadly related to the NRAO’s mission.

Since its inception over 60 years ago NRAO has been enabling forefront research into the Universe at radio wavelengths. In partnership with the scientific community, we provide world-leading telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise, train the next generation of scientists and engineers, advance broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, and promote astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates three world-class research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), and has begun developing, and soon constructing, the next generation VLA (ngVLA) pushing the boundaries of the state of the art.

We welcome applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. As a Jansky Fellow, you will have a unique opportunity to contribute to, and learn from, the development and delivery of the largest and most capable radio telescopes in the world. Candidates with interests in radio astronomy techniques, instrumentation, computation, and theory are encouraged to apply.

Jansky Fellows spend most, if not all, of their time on self-directed independent research. Fellows are encouraged to develop research collaborations with NRAO scientific staff, scientists at the U.S. universities, and colleagues in the international astronomical or instrumentation community. The Jansky Fellowship Program provides numerous opportunities for early career scientists to acquire deep knowledge and understanding of the state-of-the-art radio astronomy science and instrumentation, to engage in activities related to the development and delivery of radio astronomy techniques and capabilities, and to contribute to the NRAO’s research environment. The Fellows are expected to establish themselves as innovative, independent research scientists and engineers, and become the top leaders in the field.

Appointments may be made at the three internal NRAO/GBO sites (Socorro NM, Charlottesville VA, and Green Bank WV). Applicants should describe how their research or technical interests couple with NRAO’s mission, telescopes or science. In some cases, a ‘split appointment’ Jansky Fellowship between a U.S. based university and an NRAO site, or a ‘non-resident’ Jansky Fellowship hosted at a university within the United States, may be offered. Non-resident Jansky Fellows are expected to develop a research program that fosters close ties with the NRAO, and describe how residence at their proposed host university will accomplish this. Frequent and/or long-term visits to NRAO sites during the non-resident Fellowship are strongly encouraged. NRAO supports partial teleworking arrangements for scientific postdoctoral fellows.

The Jansky Fellowship appointment will be awarded initially for a two-year period, renewable for a third year. The salary is at the level comparable with other prestigious U.S. postdoctoral fellowships. In addition, Jansky Fellows are allocated $17,000 per year for travel and other research expenses, and further $3000 per year will be provided to non-NRAO hosts of the Fellows to defray local institutional expenses.

The deadline for 2024 Jansky Fellowship Program application materials is Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 11:59 pm EDT. The selection, including interviews (online), will take place between November 2023 and February 2024. Award offers will be made in February 2024. The nominal start of the fellowships is September 2024, but can begin at an earlier or later date (not later than January 2025).