Eligibility & Appointments
1. Ph.D. Completion
Postdocs must have completed all Ph.D. requirements by their hire-on date. A postdoc application and package can be submitted and approved prior to completion of PhD.
2. Five Year Limit
For all postdoc appointments, the date on which the package is submitted to the Postdoc Program Office must fall within five years of completing all requirements for the Ph.D., and not the date that the Ph.D./Diploma was awarded.
Note: The Postdoc Program Office may grant exceptions to the Five-Year Limit in cases of sufficiently extenuating circumstances, such as a career break to raise a family. When any exception is requested, it must be communicated by e-mail including the following documentation: CV, Ph.D. transcripts, diploma, and any other documentation provided by the Ph.D. granting university.
3. Current Postdocs
If a current LANL postdoc is being considered for a different appointment, the consideration must be within one year of the postdoc's original hire date and within the initial five years of receiving their PhD.
See Appointment Types for specific eligibility requirements.
Appointment Type
Postdoc Research Associates conduct research for LANL science and engineering programs. Funding for Research Associates is provided by their specific program or Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) funds.
Sponsored Postdoc Research Associated packages are reviewed and approved at any time throughout the year.
Center for Nonlinear Studies (CNLS) Postdocs - This appointment is for postdocs who work in the areas of theory and computation of complex systems. Postdocs performing experimental work and applying or developing theoretical approaches and computational methods to model their systems are also considered. The usual model of CNLS funding is that postdocs are supported at a 50% effort by CNLS and 50% by other funded projects at LANL during their first two years, and at 25% CNLS effort during the third year upon request from the mentor. To maintain an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment , CNLS sponsored postdocs are required to reside at the CNLS building (TA-03, Building 1690) during the first two years of their appointment, and to contribute to this environment through participation in social and technical activities with other CNLS postdocs, students, affiliated staff, and visitors. The sponsored candidates are hired into their mentor’s group and division. Sponsored candidate packages will be considered as funding and space in CNLS is available. Applications are accepted during each quarterly review.
Applications for CNLS Postdoc sponsorship that are also being considered for other LANL Postdoc Fellow appointments, will also be evaluated during the Quarterly Postdoctoral Committee Meetings. If these candidates meet the fellow qualifications established by the Postdoctoral Committee, the CNLS supported postdocs will be named a CNLS Postdoctoral Fellow.
G.T. Seaborg Postdocs – Named after the principal or co-discoverer of ten transactinide elements and co-recipient of the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, this fellowship is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding ability to conduct research and have proposed experimental or theoretical projects that advance the Laboratory’s actinide and nuclear science mission. Further information can be found on the Seaborg Postdoctoral Fellowship website.
Information Science & Technology (ISTI) Postdocs - pursue cutting-edge research in data science and artificial intelligence infrastructure as well as computational and data integrity. Initial appointment is for two years and is funded through ISTI. The allocation of funds will be as follows: 1st year at 1/2 funding, 2nd year at 1/2 funding, and if extended a 3rd year at 1/4 funding. Sponsored candidate packages will be considered as funding is available.
Candidates must display extraordinary ability in scientific research, demonstrate potential to impact Laboratory programs and/or ability to establish new capabilities, and show clear promise of becoming outstanding leaders. These fellowships provide the opportunity to collaborate with LANL scientists and engineers on postdoc-initiated research. To be considered for one of the Distinguished Fellow appointments, candidates must be nominated and sponsored by a member of the Lab's technical staff. Sponsored candidate packages will be reviewed during the December Quarterly Review.
Richard P. Feynman Fellow in Theory and Computing - Named after the famed theoretical physicist and winner of the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics, this fellowship recognizes individuals whose research is in theory or computing.
Darlene Christian Hoffman Fellow - Named after the distinguished Los Alamos nuclear scientist and recipient of the U.S. National Medal of Science, this fellowship recognizes, encourages, and rewards outstanding scientific and engineering contributions by women.
J. Robert Oppenheimer (JRO) Fellow - Named after the Laboratory’s first Director, this fellowship recognizes individuals whose research aligns with the Laboratory’s mission.
Frederick Reines (FR) Fellow in Experimental Sciences - Named after the former LANL researcher who was awarded the 1995 Nobel Prize in Physics, this fellow appointment recognizes individuals whose research is in experimental sciences.
