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Astronova Fellowship: Now Accepting Applications through October 2, 2026

By Heising-Simons Foundation

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The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Science program is now accepting applications for the Astronova™ Fellowship from interested scientists. The deadline for applications is October 2, 2026, at 2pm PT.

Launched in 2026, the Astronova™ Fellowship supports exceptional postdoctoral scientists who are developing instrumentation to shape the future of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and planetary science. Astronova Fellows will receive support for projects designing, developing, fabricating, characterizing, testing, or commissioning instruments that direct, collect, detect, or characterize photons from astrophysical sources.

"The Astronova™ Fellowship seeks to uplift the field of instrumentation and its contributions to scientific discovery. We built this program to help launch fellows into tenure-track faculty positions where they can continue their pioneering instrumentation research as well as mentor and train the next generation of astronomical instrumentalists."

Gabriele Betancourt-Martinez, Science program officer and Astronova™ Fellowship lead, Heising-Simons Foundation

Key features of the program include:

  • Flexible research award. Through their host institution, each fellow receives funding for salary, benefits, and discretionary spending over a four-year term, with potential for a fifth-year extension.
  • Access to Innovation Fund. Beginning in year two of the followship period, fellows may apply for an additional Innovation Fund grant to pursue a novel instrumentation concept or component of their own design.
  • Catalytic support. Fellows who obtain a faculty or research position during their fellowship are eligible to apply for a new grant to augment their startup package.
  • Peer learning and networking. Fellows have opportunities to participate in instrumentation-specific professional development and networking—including an annual research summit with their advisors and other leaders in the field.

Last month, the Foundation announced the inaugural Astronova Fellows: Christina Vides, Ph.D. and Aafaque Khan. Learn more about the fellows and their funded projects on the Astronova™ Fellowship website.

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