Alan Kanzer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at Columbia University

Columbia University's Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute brings together world-class scientists across academic disciplines conducting pioneering research to transform our understanding of how the brain works – and gives rise to mind and behavior. The Institute fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment across 50 labs, advancing insights into human health by exploring how the brain develops, performs, endures and recovers.

At the Zuckerman Institute, we are committed to becoming a more inclusive, equitable and diverse place of scientific discovery and support a culture of respect. Promoting diversity in science will help drive the transformative science that can change the world.

Situated in the Jerome L. Greene Science Center on Columbia’s Manhattanville campus, the state-of-the-art building offers an environment where the highest level of scholarly scientific research takes place on a daily basis, with the benefit of being located in the heart of New York, one of the world’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities.

The Alan Kanzer Postdoctoral Fellowship at Columbia University provides an opportunity for talented, early-career scientists to pursue pioneering research into understanding the brain. Kanzer Fellows will be welcomed into the institute's vibrant intellectual community with broad-ranging collaboration opportunities. We encourage Fellows from a diversity of disciplines and from groups who have traditionally been underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math fields (STEM) to apply. We welcome Fellows interested in carrying out collaborative research across the Zuckerman Institute under the mentorship of one or more faculty mentors and will promote their mentorship in an inclusive learning environment.

Benefits

As integral members of the Zuckerman Institute’s community of scientists, the Alan Kanzer Postdoctoral Fellows will benefit from:

• An annual salary of $80,000 plus $5,000 of discretionary funds per year
• Access to the institute's scientific programs and resources for career and professional development
• Access to the institute’s cutting-edge space, equipment, facilities and services 
• Columbia University postdoctoral housing
• Postdoctoral appointment for up to three years at Columbia University. Reappointment after year three is at the discretion of the Fellow’s mentor(s), and dependent on funding and eligibility. 

• Applicants can be either US citizens or international individuals requiring VISA sponsorship*.
• Fellows must enroll in the program between July 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026. Applicants may submit an application prior to defending their Ph.D. but must complete their Ph.D. and be eligible to be hired as a postdoctoral researcher prior to enrolling in the program.
• Members of the Zuckerman Institute community (including Ph.D. students with ZI advisors or those who are employed as postdocs at the Institute at application deadline) are not eligible to apply.

*Consistent with Columbia University’s International Scholars Students Office Policies.

A faculty committee will select applicants for fellowships based on their strong research achievements and clear future research goals. Examples of these include research publications and evidence of independent research accomplishments and innovation. Strong preference will be given to early-career applicants who will have received their Ph.D. less than one year prior to their start date. Applicants interested in working on projects across multiple mentors are strongly encouraged. 

Applicants should submit the following:

•  A current Curriculum Vitae that includes papers that are published, in-press, or deposited in preprint servers (bioRxiv, medRxiv, arXiv, etc.)
• A Research Interest Statement (1-2 pages) that includes their previous research experience, future research goals, and interests in a field relevant to the neuroscience research conducted at the Zuckerman Institute. The statement must specify the names of 2-3 potential mentors among the Zuckerman Institute faculty (those listed here) that they would like to work with and can include ideas for potential collaborative projects - although highly-detailed, NIH-style proposals for research projects are not expected at this time.  Applicants are encouraged to reach out to potential mentors before submitting their application.
• A Cover Letter that articulates their motivation to join the Zuckerman Institute and become part of the Alan Kanzer Postdoctoral Fellows program. This should include a brief statement regarding their commitments to building community and diversity at their current institution and at the Zuckerman Institute.
• Three letters of reference, one being from their PhD advisor.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement