The E. O. Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is a multi-program national research facility operated by the University of California for the Department of Energy (DOE). The Laboratory's fundamental mission is to provide national scientific leadership and technological innovation to support DOE objectives.

The E.O. Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides challenging opportunities to conduct research in areas supportive of the LBNL mission. Fellows become integral members of Laboratory research teams, where they gain exposure to current national issues, share and exchange innovative ideas and techniques, and enhance their professional development.

Fellows also have access to a valuable combination of outstanding professional staff, scientific equipment and facilities, and ongoing research and development available at other participating laboratories. LBNL research areas include Computing Sciences, General Sciences, Life & Environmental Sciences and Physical Sciences. (An organization chart with links to divisions of each research area is available here.)

To view current postdoctoral and other opportunities in scientific areas at the Laboratory:

Go to LBNL's Job Site
Click "Career Path," select "POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW,"
And then click "Continue." A complete listing of current scientific job opportunities at LBNL, including postdoctoral fellowships, will appear on your screen.

Program Objectives

The purpose is to identify outstanding individuals in new and emerging scientific and engineering research fields including those in historically underrepresented groups

Eligibility

Applicants must be United States citizens or hold permanent resident alien (PRA) status, and have received a doctoral research degree from an accredited academic institution in an appropriate scientific or engineering discipline within three years of the appointment start date.

Appointment terms

Appointment terms are generally for a period of two years with the possibility of renewal, and are contingent on satisfactory annual performance reviews and funding availability. Renewals will be conducted at the end of the third quarter of the first and second years, and on an annual basis thereafter.

Salary and Stipend

A monthly salary will be paid at a rate competitive with current LBNL postdoctoral fellows. Additional support in the form of a stipend will be available for research-related materials, supplies and services, professional development, and research-related travel. Postdoctoral fellows are also eligible for mid-level career benefits. Fellows who are extended for terms longer than three years will be eligible for full career benefits.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit a completed * E. O. Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellowship application packet, which includes:

Application form
Curriculum Vitae/Resume
A publication list, reprints, or abstracts of publications
Statement of research to be performed
Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate academic records (sent directly from the university)
Three references, including one from the applicant's dissertation advisor (sent directly from the reference contact)

Applicants must also obtain the commitment of a Berkeley Lab staff member who will work with them throughout the duration of the program (*see Mentor form in application packet).

A file will be opened for an applicant only upon receipt of an official packet. A C.V. or cover letter alone will not be considered for review.

Send Application Packet materials via email to diversity.LawrencePostdoc@eroom2.lbl.gov.

Send transcripts via mail to:
E.O. Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
One Cyclotron Road, MS 90K-0114
Berkeley, CA 94720 USA

A call for applications is currently closed.

Please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Office at 510-486-7635 if you have further questions about the program.

Selection Procedure and Criteria

All Fellowship packets will be received, processed, and reviewed by the Workforce Diversity Office to ensure that eligibility criteria have been met. Applications will then be forwarded to the divisions to which the applicants are applying. Each division head will recommend a few promising candidates to the standing Selection Committee appointed by the LBNL Director.

Applicants will be reviewed with regard to their qualifications and the merit of their research. Additionally, applicants will be rated on their diversity of experience, educational background, and the relevance of these qualifications to LBNL research needs. The statement of research will be evaluated on a demonstrated understanding of the problem, the soundness and originality of the proposal, and its relevance to the Laboratory.

Award Announcements

All candidates will be considered on an individual basis. Award recipients will be notified within 30 days of the application review and must provide written confirmation of their acceptance within 30 days. The number of awards granted each year is dependent upon the availability of funding and the quality of applications.

Contingencies

All contingencies of an appointment offer must be met before the Fellowship term begins. If an award is offered to a doctoral degree candidate, the candidate must present acceptable evidence that all formal academic doctoral degree requirements have been met.

Obligations

Fellowships involve a full-time commitment to the research program, and the fellow must be in residence at LBNL during the entire period of the fellowship. Fellowship research must be conducted in accordance with a schedule that meets the overall research needs of LBNL. Should a substantive change in a fellowship research project be necessary, a formal letter must be submitted to LBNL for review and approval.

Fellows are required to sign and abide by the appointment letter, the terms of appointment, and other required LBNL documents. They are also required to submit a final report of research accomplishments to LBNL, acknowledge the support of LBNL in publications and presentations related to research conducted during the fellowship, and provide a copy of these publications to LBNL.