Open Postdoctoral position, faculty mentor Yi Cui | Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Important Info

Faculty Sponsor (Last, First Name):

Cui, Yi

Stanford Departments and Centers:

Materials and Energy Sciences

Postdoc Appointment Term:

Approximately 8-10 fellowships are awarded each year. Fellows are sponsored through the Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Precourt Institute of Energy and Doerr School of Sustainability. Fellows can be hosted by any academic department in any of the seven Schools at Stanford University. 1. Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowships are granted for a period of three years, generally beginning September 1 and ending on August 31. Starting dates must commence between July 1 and September 1 of the award year. 2. Fellows will receive an annual stipend of $85,000 with annual increases, $8,000 per year in supplemental funds to support research and professional development, up to $2,000 in reimbursable relocation allowances, as well as benefits, including health care coverage. 3. Fellows are expected to participate in the fellowship's community-building and professional development programs, complete annual progress reports, and meet their faculty advisors annual expectations.

Appointment Start Date:

September 1, 2025

Group or Departmental Website:

https://energypostdoc.stanford.edu/

How to Submit Application Materials:

Submit on the website: https://energypostdoc.stanford.edu/selection-fellows/application-components

Does this position pay above the required minimum?:

Yes. The expected base pay range for this position is listed in Pay Range field. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, and internal equity.

Pay Range:

$85,000 with annual increases

Tackling climate change is a defining challenge of the 21st century. The transition to a low-carbon energy system will solve about three-fourths of the climate problem. At the same time, the new energy system needs to be affordable, reliable, and available to all people. The goal of the Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship is to bring together the brightest minds in energy from around the world to develop knowledge necessary to realize that vision.

We look for the brightest minds in the natural sciences, engineering, materials science, policy, economics, and business who are interested in tackling the global energy problem through interdisciplinary approaches. Our fellows have a collaborative spirit with a distinct intellectual curiosity and desire to make a lasting difference in the world.

Required Qualifications:

The Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship is open to individuals who:

1. Will have been awarded their PhD within the last three years. The PhD must be conferred by the start of the award term.
2. Will have no more than two years of prior postdoctoral experience by the start of the award term (not including additional months in their Ph.D. lab post-conferral).
3. Citizenship is not a selection factor. However, non-U.S. scholars must be eligible for a J-1 visa, (with sponsorship from Stanford). Exceptions must be discussed with program administration. Email energy_postdoctoral_fellowship@stanford.edu if you have questions.

Required Application Materials:

Cover letter (1 page limit). This should be your impact statement. Provide the review committee with an overview of why you would be a great fit for the Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship. How will you leverage the training, network, resources, and support of this fellowship program to impact the energy field? What are your future goals and directions? How do you demonstrate a dedication to research excellence and impact within the broader context of sustainability?
Research statement (1 page limit). This should be a summary of proposed research to be conducted at Stanford. The summary should include the primary question(s) you would research and why your inquiry would require an interdisciplinary approach. Describe the research strategy you will take. You should describe how the work of your co-mentors would make them the best Stanford PIs for you to work with. Be sure to discuss the impact of your work in the context of the global energy transformation. Remember that this is a summary only and, if interviewed, you will have ample opportunity to go into detail.
Curriculum vitae (3 page limit). This should include education trajectory, research, work experience, publications, presentations, teaching, and other professional experiences, along with your full legal name, contact information, and (expected) date of Ph.D., which must be received by the program start date.
Letters (3 required). You will supply the names and contact information of your references, and they will receive a notification to upload their letters through the application portal. Your 3 letters should come from:
Nomination letter. This should be written and signed by two eligible Stanford co-mentors, and uploaded by one of them. To ensure a strong nomination letter, provide these guidelines (Stanford login required) to your nominating co-mentors. They will have access through the link provided.
Two recommendation letters. One of which must come from your PhD thesis advisor.