Up to $492,000 over three years to pursue independent planetary-astronomy research—with salary, benefits, research funding and an international network of leading scientists.
The 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Heising-Simons Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2026–2027 cycle.
The fellowship supports early-career scientists conducting theoretical, observational or experimental research in planetary astronomy, exoplanets and related areas of Solar System science.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Opportunity Type | Fully Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| Programme | 51 Pegasi b Fellowship |
| Provider | Heising-Simons Foundation |
| Location | United States |
| Research Areas | Planetary astronomy, exoplanets, Solar System science |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Possible Extension | Additional year subject to programme conditions |
| Funding Status | Fully supported fellowship grant |
| Funding | Up to $492,000 over three years |
| Salary & Benefits | Covered through fellowship grant |
| Research Funding | Flexible discretionary research funding |
| Mentorship | Established faculty mentor |
| Annual Summit | Included |
| Nationality | Not restricted to a single nationality; host-institution requirements apply |
| Degree Requirement | PhD / postdoctoral researcher status |
| Age Requirement | Not specified |
| Work Experience | Early-career postdoctoral scientist |
| Application Fee | Not specified |
| Application Deadline | 1 October 2026, 2:00 PM Pacific Time |
About the Fellowship
The 51 Pegasi b Fellowship was established in 2017 and is named after the first exoplanet discovered orbiting a Sun-like star.
It supports researchers investigating planetary systems, their formation and evolution, exoplanets and related astronomical questions.
The fellowship is intended to give early-career scientists the resources and independence needed to establish themselves as leaders in planetary astronomy.
Research Areas
Projects may involve:
- Planetary astronomy
- Exoplanet science
- Solar System science
- Planet formation
- Planetary evolution
- Planetary atmospheres
- Theory
- Computational research
- Observation
- Instrumentation
- Laboratory experiments
- Closely related areas of planetary astronomy
Financial Support
For the 2026–2027 cycle, the Heising-Simons Foundation states that the fellowship provides up to $492,000 over three years.
The funding supports:
- Salary
- Benefits
- Flexible discretionary research funding
Fellows can also apply for an additional year of support under the programme’s conditions.
The fellowship also includes:
- Mentorship from an established faculty member
- Annual fellowship summit
- Professional development
- Research collaboration opportunities
- Networking with fellows and alumni
Who Can Apply?
The programme is aimed at early-career postdoctoral scientists with strong potential to make significant contributions to planetary astronomy.
Applicants should propose innovative research in planetary astronomy or closely related areas.
The Foundation particularly welcomes applicants whose backgrounds are underrepresented in planetary astronomy.
Degree Requirement
Applicants must be qualified as early-career postdoctoral scientists. The exact doctoral-degree timing requirement should be checked in the current official application guidelines.
Exact PhD cutoff date: Not specified on the programme overview page.
Nationality
The programme does not specify a nationality restriction on the main programme page; however, applicants must meet the fellowship and participating host-institution requirements.
Nationality requirement: Not specified as a general restriction.
Age Requirement
Not specified.
Work Experience
The fellowship targets early-career postdoctoral scientists.
No universal minimum number of years of work experience is specified on the current official programme page.
Duration
The fellowship provides three years of support, with the possibility of applying for an additional year under the programme conditions.
Application Deadline
1 October 2026 at 2:00 PM Pacific Time.
For applicants in India, this corresponds to 2:30 AM IST on 2 October 2026.
How to Apply
- Review the official 51 Pegasi b Fellowship requirements.
- Identify an eligible participating U.S. host institution.
- Develop an independent research proposal in planetary astronomy.
- Prepare the required application materials.
- Work with the relevant host-institution contact where required.
- Submit the application before 1 October 2026 at 2:00 PM PT.
- Await the fellowship selection process.
Important Things to Know
- The fellowship is specifically focused on planetary astronomy.
- This is intended for early-career postdoctoral scientists rather than students seeking a PhD.
- Research may be theoretical, observational or experimental.
- Funding is unusually flexible compared with many traditional fellowships.
- The annual summit creates opportunities for collaboration and professional development.
Why This Opportunity Matters
For an early-career planetary scientist, this fellowship offers something exceptionally valuable: time and financial independence to pursue ambitious research while building a long-term scientific career.
The combination of salary/benefits, research funding, mentorship and an active professional network makes it one of the standout opportunities currently open in planetary astronomy.
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