ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY
Maria Goeppert Mayer Fellowship at Argonne National Laboratory
full · phd
- ~USD 100,000–130,000 / year (est.)Estimated annual salary
- Up to 3 yearsTypical appointment length
- PhD within last 3 yearsEarly-career eligibility
- 8 mission research areasFrom AI to quantum
- All nationalitiesOpen internationally
- Named for 1963 Nobel laureateMaria Goeppert Mayer
At a glance
full
Funding
€130k
Max amount
Oct 1, 2026
Deadline
All countries (U.S. citizenship required for national-security projects)
Country
Argonne National Laboratory
Provider
The Maria Goeppert Mayer Fellowship is a named postdoctoral research fellowship at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago in the United States, run under the U.S. Department of Energy. It honours Dr. Maria Goeppert Mayer, who won the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physics for the nuclear shell model and worked at Argonne and the University of Chicago. The fellowship recruits early-career scientists and engineers who hold a PhD awarded within the last 3 years (or who will complete it before the start date) to lead independent, high-impact research. Fellows are appointed as Argonne Scholars and may work across mission areas including AI for Science, autonomous discovery, climate action, clean energy, hard X-ray science, microelectronics, quantum information science, and detection of imaging signatures. The appointment typically runs for 3 years subject to progress and funding, and provides a salary, a research stipend for project expenses, and full employment benefits. The annual salary is estimated at about USD 100,000 to USD 130,000 (est.). It is open to all nationalities, though U.S. citizenship is required for national-security-related projects. Because the salary, eligibility window, and deadline are set each cycle, confirm the exact current-cycle figures on the official Argonne named fellowships page before you apply.
What's covered
- Annual salary — A highly competitive annual salary, estimated at about USD 100,000–130,000 (est.) for the appointment as an Argonne Scholar.
- Research stipend — A research stipend to support project expenses, materials, and travel during the fellowship.
- Employment benefits — Full employment benefits as an Argonne Scholar, including health coverage and retirement benefits.
- Research facilities — Access to Argonne's world-class research facilities, including major user facilities such as the Advanced Photon Source.
- Professional development — Mentoring programmes, professional development resources, and opportunities to publish and present research internationally.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the Argonne Careers portal under the relevant named-fellowship requisition, with supporting documents emailed to the fellowships office.
- Find the requisition — Visit the Argonne Careers page and locate the Maria Goeppert Mayer Fellowship requisition under Careers > Search Jobs.
- Prepare your research materials — Prepare a research proposal, biosketch, and project plan using Argonne's research template.
- Gather supporting documents — Assemble a CV, graduate transcripts, and three recommendation letters (PDF, signed, on official letterhead).
- Submit the online application — Apply through the Argonne Careers portal and complete the online requisition.
- Email supporting documents — Send the required supporting documents to the Argonne fellowships office (fellowships@anl.gov) before the deadline.
Eligibility
QualificationPhD awarded within the last three years at the time of application, or completion before the fellowship start date.
NationalityOpen to applicants of all nationalities; U.S. citizenship required only for national-security-related projects (Detection of Imaging Signatures).
Research fitResearch interests aligned with Argonne's mission areas (AI for Science, clean energy, quantum, X-ray science, etc.).
Excellence and leadershipProven academic excellence, potential for leadership, creativity, and strong communication skills.
Preferred candidates demonstrate leadership through service, outreach, or diversity initiatives and align with Argonne's core values of Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
Eligible countries
All countries (U.S. citizenship required for national-security projects)
Deadlines
2026 fellowship cycle~1 October 2025 (est.)
Selection
Applications are evaluated on academic excellence, the quality and feasibility of the proposed research, alignment with Argonne's mission areas, and the candidate's leadership potential and core-values fit. Shortlisted candidates are typically interviewed and may present their research before final selection by the relevant Argonne division.
Verified sources
- Argonne National Laboratory — Named Fellowshipsanl.govofficial
About the provider
Argonne National Laboratory, located near Chicago, Illinois, is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research centre operated for the U.S. Department of Energy. It hosts major user facilities such as the Advanced Photon Source and conducts research from quantum science to clean energy.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for the Maria Goeppert Mayer Fellowship?
+
Early-career researchers with a PhD earned within the past three years, or to be completed before the fellowship starts.
Is the fellowship open to international candidates?
+
Yes, applicants of all nationalities are welcome. U.S. citizenship is required only for national-security-related projects.
What is the application deadline?
+
The deadline is around 1 October 2025 at 7:00 PM Central Time (est.); confirm the exact date and time on the official page.
What research areas are covered?
+
AI for Science, autonomous discovery, climate action, clean energy, hard X-ray science, microelectronics, quantum information science, and detection of imaging signatures.
What benefits do fellows receive?
+
A competitive annual salary (estimated USD 100,000–130,000 (est.)), a research stipend, full employment benefits, and opportunities to publish worldwide.
What documents are required?
+
A research proposal, biosketch, project plan, three recommendation letters, a CV, and graduate transcripts.
How long is the fellowship?
+
The appointment typically lasts up to three years, subject to satisfactory progress and available funding.
What qualities is Argonne looking for?
+
Academic excellence, leadership potential, creativity, motivation, and alignment with Argonne's mission and core values.
Where do I submit my application?
+
Through the Argonne Careers portal under the named-fellowship requisition, with supporting documents emailed to fellowships@anl.gov.
Who was Maria Goeppert Mayer?
+
A theoretical physicist who won the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physics for the nuclear shell model, having worked at Argonne and the University of Chicago.
Is U.S. citizenship always required?
+
No. It is required only for national-security-related projects such as Detection of Imaging Signatures.
Where can I get more information?
+
On the Argonne National Laboratory named fellowships / careers page, which lists detailed guidelines and requirements.