SETI Institute Invites Applications for the 2025 Frank Drake Postdoctoral Fellowship

Fellowship to Drive Innovation in the Search for Life Beyond Earth

October 16, 2024, Mountain View, CA —The SETI Institute is pleased to open the call for applications for the 2025 Frank Drake Postdoctoral Fellowship (FDPF), which supports groundbreaking research in the search for life in the universe. This fellowship offers early-career scientists a unique opportunity to make impactful contributions across the diverse fields of the Drake Equation, including Astronomy & Astrophysics, Astrobiology, Environmental Science, Geoscience, Life Science, Planetary Science, Planetary and Space Exploration, Cognitive Science, Biosignature and Technosignature Detection, Computing and Data Science, and Epistemology—fostering new intellectual frameworks for the search for life.

The successful candidates will further the mission of the SETI Institute: to lead humanity’s quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and share this knowledge with the world.

"The Frank Drake Postdoctoral Fellowship embodies the spirit of discovery that drives the SETI Institute to explore the possibility of life beyond Earth,” said Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute. “This program offers early-career scientists not just an opportunity, but a challenge—to push the frontiers of knowledge and develop innovative pathways in humanity’s search for its place in the universe."

Applications open on October 21, 2024, and must be submitted by December 15, 2024. Candidates selected for interviews will be notified by March 1, 2025.

The fellowship offers mentorship in a collaborative environment with leading researchers, access to the SETI Institute’s advanced facilities, and the opportunity to engage with top Silicon Valley technologists. Fellows will receive a stipend of $85,000, as well as research and travel allowances and medical benefits.

For more information on the FDPF and application details, please click here.
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About the SETI Institute

Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary research and education organization whose mission is to lead humanity's quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and share that knowledge with the world. Our research encompasses the physical and biological sciences and leverages data analytics, machine learning, and advanced signal detection technologies. The SETI Institute is a distinguished research partner for industry, academia, and government agencies, including NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Contact information
Rebecca McDonald
Director of Communications
SETI Institute
[email protected]