The Lawrence Fellowship is a highly competitive postdoctoral program at LLNL, open to all technical disciplines. Fellowships are awarded to candidates with exceptional talent, strong scientific records, and the potential for significant achievement. Fellows pursue independent research with guidance and mentorship from LLNL subject-matter experts. Download Flyer.
Web-based application includes:
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Three- to four-sentence research impact statement
- Research proposal, no more than six pages
- Contact information for three references who will provide recommendation letters
- Transcripts (graduate and postdoctoral)
Key Selection Criteria: Applications are evaluated based on technical interests, recommendation letters, and scientific track record, including publication history. Finalists are invited to LLNL for a two-day interview that includes a research seminar. Candidates must demonstrate excellent communication skills and explain specialized topics to a broad, interdisciplinary audience.
Process: Registration opens in late July. Applications are due by 8:00 a.m. on October 1. A ten-member selection committee representing various LLNL technical organizations reviews applications from October through late December and selects approximately six finalists from hundreds of applicants. Finalists are invited to LLNL between mid-January and mid-February for interviews and seminars. Hiring decisions are made in mid- to late February.
Outcomes: Approximately 60% of fellows secure staff positions at LLNL after completing the fellowship. Most fellows who leave LLNL obtain tenure-track positions at leading universities, including MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. Several former fellows have also founded companies.
Salary: Fellows receive a starting salary of $12,663 per month.
Lawrence Fellowship: How to Apply Button
Eligibility and selection process
Current and Former Lawrence Fellows
Current and Former Lawrence Fellows