We encourage early career scholars to pursue a career in academia by supporting their postdoctoral work at Princeton. This program recognizes and supports outstanding scholars primed to make important contributions in their fields. By bringing together scholars across science, engineering, social science, and the humanities, the program allows them to deepen their disciplinary expertise while testing out new ideas from other disciplines. These scholars contribute to the University’s excellence and its diversity, broadly defined. The program aims to appoint an average of twelve postdoctoral fellows per year, each holding a one-year appointment renewable for a second year. Nomination Process Candidates must be nominated by a member of the faculty who will serve as their sponsor or PI. All assistant, associate and full professors may nominate a candidate and serve as their sponsor/PI. A call for nominations, along with the guidelines of the program and instructions for submitting a nomination, is distributed annually.SUBMIT A NOMINATION2024 DeadlinesNov. 1 | Priority Deadline: Faculty sponsors/PIs nomination of candidates for AY26 (review of nominations begins only when nomination and applicant materials are submitted, and begins on Nov. 1). Applications received by that date will receive the fullest consideration.Nov. 15 | Final Deadline: All nomination and applicant materials must be received by this date. Applications will not be accepted after Nov. 15. Nov. 20 | Recommendation Letter Final Deadline: All recommendation letters must be received by this date.Dec. 20 | Selection Notification: Selections will be made and faculty notified starting on this date. FAQs What is the nomination cycle timeline? A call for nominations for is typically distributed to faculty in early September, with nomination packages due in early November. Selections are made beginning in late December. Appointments begin on or between July 1 and Sept. 1. Who can submit a nomination? The Office of the Dean of the Faculty accepts nominations directly from Princeton faculty members (assistant, associate and full professors). Because the postdoc appointment is mentored research, it is important that you have a faculty member who is familiar with your work and enthusiastic about serving as a mentor. Sometimes this connection happens because of conferences or simply being close to each other’s area. We have no guidelines on how to reach out to faculty members because of the presumption of familiarity with the work so that the faculty member is willing to write a letter of support for how they will support the scholar’s research plan. Can incoming tenured or tenure-track faculty submit a nomination? Yes, we welcome nominations from incoming faculty, contingent on their having active tenured/tenure-track appointments as of July 1 of the coming academic year. Can a current postdoc be nominated for the program? Though preference is given to candidates who are not already at Princeton, current postdocs are eligible for nomination, and we have awarded fellowships to postdocs with existing appointments over the years. Is there a limit to the number of Presidential Postdocs a faculty member can mentor? It is allowable for a faculty member to be a PI for multiple Presidential Postdocs, though the preference is that the appointments are not held concurrently. If a faculty mentored a Presidential Postdoc in the past and their mentorship commitment has ended, the faculty member is eligible to mentor another Presidential Postdoc. Is a Ph.D. required? Yes, proof of completion for all requirements for the Ph.D. is required prior to the appointment start date. If the Ph.D. is not completed by Sept. 1 of the year of the appointment, then the offer of employment as part of Princeton’s Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellows Program is withdrawn and is no longer valid. What can I expect once a faculty member nominates me? An email will be sent to a nominated candidate directing them to an application page to submit a curriculum vitae (CV), research statement (approximately three pages, no more than four, not including citations), and contact information for three references. References will be contacted automatically. We urge you to apply as soon as possible, preferably within three days (Priority deadline: Nov. 1; final deadline Nov. 15). Once submitted, recommendation letter writers will receive access to upload letters, which must be received no later than Nov. 20. Do I need to be resident of the Princeton area? Residential, in-person research and teaching distinguish academic life at Princeton University. As such, Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions require on-campus presence and in-person interactions. When does the postdoctoral appointment typically begin? Appointments begin on or between July 1 and Sept. 1. If a candidate cannot produce satisfactory evidence of completing all requirements of the Ph.D. by Sept. 1 of the appointing year, they forfeit their place in and support by the program. Program Contacts Frederick F. Wherry Vice Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Director of the Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellows Program Townsend Martin, Class of 1917 Professor of Sociology Website Frederick Wherry, Department of Sociology Frederick Wherry, vice dean for diversity and inclusion and the Townsend Martin, Class of 1917 Professor of Sociology, serves as the director of the Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellows Program. The director is a resource for the fellows, meeting with them monthly as a group to discuss their work, cultivating opportunities that nurture a sense of community among the fellows, and providing them with opportunities for professional development. Rayna Truelove Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion The Office of the Dean of the Faculty provides administrative infrastructure for the program. Rayna Truelove, associate dean for diversity and inclusion, is the central point of contact for the program. Current Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellows 2024-25 Cohort Elena Ayala-Hurtado Elena Ayala-Hurtado joins the Department of Sociology, examining the experiences of young college graduates facing insecurity, defined as employment precarity or economic instability, in the United States and Spain; more broadly, her work foregrounds how people experience uncertainty and grapple with unexpected difficulties or conflicting beliefs. Ayala-Hurtado holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in sociology from Harvard University and a B.A. in sociology and English from Stanford University. She is advised by Kathryn Edin, the William Church Osborn Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs and director of the Bendheim-Thoman Center for Research on Child Wellbeing. Apurva Badithela Apurva Badithela joins the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, with research focused on safety certification of robotic autonomous systems using tools from control theory, optimization, formal methods and applied statistics. Her research goal is to advance theoretical and algorithmic frameworks for test and evaluation, verification and validation of autonomous robotic systems, along with compelling real-world demonstrations. Badithela holds a Ph.D. in control and dynamical systems from the California Institute of Technology and a B.S. in aerospace engineering and mechanics from the University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities. She is advised by Anirudha Majumdar, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Urbashi Basu Urbashi Basu joins the Department of Molecular Biology, aiming to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie circadian clock regulation of immune functions and the impact of this regulation on resistance to infection across the day-night cycle. Basu holds a Ph.D. in biology from the National Centre for Biological Sciences at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, an M.Sc. in biotechnology and a B.Sc. in microbiology from the University of Calcutta, India. She is advised by John Brooks, assistant professor of molecular biology. Ashley Berkebile-Weinberg Ashley Berkebile-Weinberg joins the Department of Psychology, seeking to understand how intergroup contact shapes the nature of people’s social relationships, as well as the ways it impacts larger group-level relations. Her research focuses on the psychological dynamics underpinning social interactions within intergroup friendships, as well as intimate discussions centered on group differences within various intergroup contexts. Berkebile-Weinberg holds a Ph.D. in social psychology from New York University and a B.A. in sociology from Westmont College. She is advised by Rebecca Carey, assistant professor of psychology and the Lawrence S. Brodie University Preceptor. Abigail Brown Abigail Brown joins the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, with research examining the role that nongenetic materials play in transmitting information to their progeny. Her project aims to define how small RNAs, which are ingested and taken into the intestine, affect host neurons at the molecular level to drive aversive behavior and its inheritance. Brown holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry from Brown University, and an M.S. in biomedical sciences and a B.S. in molecular biology and microbiology from the University of Central Florida. She is advised by Coleen Murphy, the James A. Elkins Jr. Professor in the Life Sciences and professor of molecular biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics. Murphy also serves as the institute’s director. Huili Chen Huili Chen joins the Program in Cognitive Science, exploring the human experience and aiming to extend human capacity in the context of human-AI interaction. Her research integrates methods and insights from computer science, psychology and design. Chen holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in media arts and sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in computer science from the University of Notre Dame. She is advised by Tania Lombrozo, the Arthur W. Marks ’19 Professor of Psychology and director of the Program in Cognitive Science. Susana Costa Amaral Susana Costa Amaral joins the Department of Art and Archeology, Brazil LAB and the Lewis Center for the Arts. Her research sits at the intersections of performance and politics, critical race theory, visual arts and queer studies. She is launching a new research project examining artificial intelligence as both a visual tool and a source of extraction, focusing on its environmental impact in Latin America. Costa Amaral holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese from New York University, an M.A. in performing arts and a B.A. in communication and culture, both from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is advised by Irene Small, associate professor of art and archaeology. Ryan Feathers Ryan Feathers joins the Department of Molecular Biology and Department of Computer Science. His research focuses on developing methods for visualizing the molecular details of dynamic protein complexes involved in intracellular trafficking by combining AI image analysis with high-resolution electron microscopy. Feathers holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Cornell University and a B.S. in microbiology and biochemistry from Oklahoma State University. He is advised by Ellen Zhong, assistant professor of computer science, and Frederick Hughson, professor of molecular biology. Mohamed Kari Mohamed Kari joins the Department of Computer Science, with a research focus on sensor-rich intelligent user systems. He aims to invent, build and study technologies that establish and exhibit a situational awareness of the user and the world around them, thus getting closer to experiences, applications and interactions that can seamlessly blend with the user’s space and mind. Kari holds a Ph.D. in computer science and an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in business information systems, all from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. He is advised by Parastoo Abtahi, assistant professor of computer science. Tanya Marshall Tanya Marshall joins the Department of Geosciences. Her research is focused on developing new quantitative frameworks for investigating biogeochemical transformations in the ocean. She aims to quantify global ocean nutrient budgets and cycling, both of which impact ocean fertility and carbon storage. Marshall holds a Ph.D. in oceanography and a B.Sc. in ocean and atmospheric science and environmental geographic science from the University of Cape Town. She is advised by Daniel Sigman, the Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences and professor of geosciences. Sindi-Leigh McBride Sindi-Leigh McBride joins the Department of History, with research exploring the impact of climate change on the informal livelihood strategies of young people in South Africa and Nigeria, focusing on the intersections between inherited struggles and “hustling” as future-making. McBride holds a Ph.D. in African studies from the University of Basel, an M.A. in political communication from the University of Cape Town, and an M.A. in international relations and a B.A. in international relations and political science, both from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is advised by Jacob Dlamini, associate professor of history and director of the Program in African Studies. Jeong Min (Jane) Park Jeong Min (Jane) Park joins the Department of Physics. Her research centers on discovering novel phases and particles that emerge from the interplay of nontrivial topology and strong correlations, with potential applications in next-generation quantum technology. Park holds a Ph.D. in physics from MIT and a B.S. in physics and chemistry from Duke University. She will be advised by Ali Yazdani, the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Physics and inaugural co-director of the Princeton Quantum Initiative. Sergio Villanueva Preston Sergio Villanueva Preston joins the School of Architecture, with research situated where architecture intersects with queer and feminist theories, looking specifically at modernist architectures during the interwar period in North America and Western Europe. Villanueva Preston holds a Ph.D. in the history of architecture and urban development from Cornell University, a Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Colorado and a B.A. from St. John´s College. He is advised by S.E. Eisterer, assistant professor of architecture. Massiel Torres Ulloa Massiel Torres Ulloa joins the Effron Center for the Study of America. Her research examines Afro-Caribbean individual and collective freedom practices as her current project centers the Maroons of San Lorenzo in Hispaniola and their acts of economic, spiritual and intellectual resistance throughout time. Torres Ulloa holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in romance languages and literatures from Harvard University, a B.A. in literature, writing and publishing from Emerson College and an A.A. from Bunker Hill Community College. She will be advised by Lorgia García Peña, professor of the Effron Center for the Study of America and African American studies, and director of the Program in Latino Studies. 2023-24 Cohort Alexander Adames Alexander Adames joins the Department of Sociology, studying social stratification and inequality, with a focus on educational inequality and racial inequality in the US. Adames holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, a M.A. in statistics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, a M.A. in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A in sociology from the University of Virginia. He is co-advised by Yu Xie, Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor of Sociology and the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, Tod G. Hamilton, Professor of Sociology, and John N. Robinson III, Assistant Professor of Sociology. Stevie Custode Stevie Custode is appointed in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on how the contextual factors of everyday environments (home, classroom, and clinic) influence children’s early language and social interactions and ultimately their language development. Custode holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Miami, a M.A. in applied psychology from New York University, and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Tennessee. She is advised by Casey Lew-Williams, Professor of Psychology. Estela Diaz Estela Diaz joins the Department of Sociology. Her research examines the commodification of child rearing through a case study of private nursery, preschool, and kindergarten admissions in New York City. From Columbia University, Diaz holds a Ph.D., M.Phil., and M.A in sociology, as well as an A.B. in Sociology from Princeton University. She is advised by Jennifer Jennings, Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs. J. Felix Gallion J. Felix Gallion joins the Lewis Center for the Arts, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches to the study of media, race, labor, and migration. Their current research explores U.S. agriculture as a carceral system through the lived experiences of Mexican American/Chicanx farmworkers. Gallion holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in English and American Studies from Cornell University. He is advised by Brian Herrera, Associate Professor of Theater in the Lewis Center for the Arts. Archontoula Giannakopoulou Archontoula Giannakopoulou joins the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, with a research goal to deepen understanding of the design principles of biotechnological tools for numerous applications in the areas of renewable energy, the environment and human health. She aims to develop novel multifunctional synthetic systems involving several aspects of nanobiotechnology and synthetic biology, to address challenges of renewable energy and the environment. Giannakopoulou holds a Ph.D. in biotechnology and a diploma of biology (Intergraded Master) from the University of Ioannina, Greece. She is advised by José L. Avalos, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. Amna Liaqat Amna Liaqat is appointed in the Center for Information Technology Policy. Her research seeks to build social technologies that help people connect, collaborate, and learn in new ways. Liaqat holds a Ph.D. in and a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Toronto and a B.S. in Business Administration and Computer Science from Simon Fraser University. She is advised by Andrés Monroy-Hernández, Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Laetitia Mwilambwe-Tshilobo Laetitia Mwilambwe-Tshilobo joins the Department of Psychology. Her work focuses on loneliness and social connection, aiming to identify the mechanisms driving the feedback loop between how loneliness shapes brain function and how brain function determines people's ability to connect. Mwilambwe-Tshilobo holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from McGill University, a M.A. in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University, a M.Sc. in Biology/Neuroscience from the University of Hartford, and a B.A. in Neuroscience from The College of Wooster. She is advised by Diana Tamir, Professor of Psychology. Sultan Abdul Wadood Sultan Abdul Wadood is appointed in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research uses quantum-inspired techniques to improve classical imaging and communications. Wadood holds a Ph.D. in optics from The Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester and a B.E. in electrical engineering from the National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan. He is advised by Jason Fleischer, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Maha Yusuf Maha Yusuf is appointed in the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, where she is leveraging her expertise in advanced neutron and X-ray-based characterization to: (1) engineer anodes for long-life lithium-metal-free solid-state batteries, (2) advance fundamental understanding of ion-selective materials such as membranes and electrodes for clean water production. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University with support from Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Fellowship, Diversifying Academia, Recruiting Excellence Fellowship, and Edward G. Weston Fellowship from Electrochemical Society. She holds a B.E. in Chemical Engineering from National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan, following which she worked on oil rigs as a drilling engineer in Colombia. She is co-advised by Ryan S. Kingsbury, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and Craig B. Arnold, the Susan Dod Brown Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Vice Dean for Innovation in the Office of the Dean for Research. Erik Župa Erik Župa is appointed in the Department of Molecular Biology. His research focuses on revealing the molecular details by which malaria and related parasites remodel their membranes. Župa holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Heidelberg University, Germany, and from Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic, a M.S. in biomolecular chemistry and a B.S. in biochemistry. He is advised by John Jimah, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and James A. Elkins, Jr. '41 Preceptor in Molecular Biology. 2022-23 Cohort Rodolfo Brandão Rodolfo Brandão is appointed in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, with a research focus on the theoretical modeling of physical phenomena, especially those involving fluid dynamics and wave phenomena. Brandão holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from Imperial College London and a M.Sc. and B.Sc. in physics from Federal University of Pernambuco. He is advised by Howard A. Stone, Donald R. Dixon '69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Chair, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Jodi Kraus Jodi Kraus is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular Biology, advised by Sabine Petry, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology. Kraus’ research interests include biophysics and cell biology, particularly related to understanding structure, function, and regulation of the cytoskeleton during dynamic cellular processes like cell division. Kraus holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Delaware and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Drexel University. Francisco Lara-Garcia Francisco Lara-Garcia is a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Sociology, where his research focuses on Latinx immigrants in the US, specifically on the Mexican immigrant populations in Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico—a critical case comparison—to elucidate how differences in institutions shape integration trajectories. Lara-Garcia holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University, a M.U.P. in Urban Planning from Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, and a B.A. in Sociology, Latin American Studies, and Political Science from the University of Arizona. He is advised by Filiz Garip, Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs. Uyen Mai Uyen Mai is appointed in the Department of Computer Science, where she plans to leverage her expertise in species evolution to develop more realistic models of cancer evolution. Mai holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego and a B.S. in Computer Science from Portland State University. She is advised by Ben Raphael, Professor of Computer Science. Julia Wilcots Julia Wilcots is appointed in the Department of Geosciences where she plans to focus on a quantitative approach to interpreting Earth history from carbonate rocks. Wilcots holds a Ph.D. in Geology, Geochemistry, and Geobiology from MIT and B.S.E. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University. She is advised by Adam C. Maloof, Professor of Geology. 2021-22 Cohort Elise A. Mitchell Elise A. Mitchell is appointed in the Department of History. She holds a Ph.D. in history from New York University and a B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania. Her work examines the social and cultural histories of enslaved Africans and their descendants, focusing on the history of the body, gender, public health, and medicine in the early modern Caribbean and Atlantic World before 1800. Mitchell is working on a book manuscript about enslaved Africans' social, political, and therapeutic responses to smallpox epidemics and how they endured and contested European public health and medical interventions in the Caribbean region. She is also developing a digital history project based on her research database of over 300 smallpox outbreaks, which occurred among enslaved people in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and British ships and Caribbean islands and coastal territories between roughly 1518 and 1806. Mitchell is advised by Keith Wailoo, Henry Putnam University Professor of History and Public Affairs.