2025 Stengl-Wyer Scholars

ABOUT THE AWARD

Recent Ph.D.s are invited to apply for distinguished postdoctoral positions to study the diversity of life and/or organisms in their natural environments at The University of Texas at Austin (UT), one of the top campuses in the country for this area of research. Funded by the Stengl-Wyer endowment, the Stengl-Wyer Scholars Program provides up to three years of support for talented postdoctoral researchers in the broad area of the diversity of life and/or organisms in their natural environments. Scholars may study any groups of organisms, at levels from genes to populations to communities to ecosystems and may use any combination of approaches. Applications that advance research within the Texas Field Station Network or UT Biodiversity Collections are highly encouraged given the Stengl-Wyer Endowment’s mission. Scholars will:

• conduct cutting-edge research over three years
• have access to the outstanding core research facilities at UT, including field stations, natural history collections, computational, imaging, and biomolecular facilities
• reside locally and have a regular workspace and presence on the main UT campus
• primarily focus on research; but in at least one of the three years, scholars should also develop educational or community engagement activities (Examples include, but are not limited to, teaching undergraduate/graduate workshops or modules, leading summer internship programs, leading outreach efforts at UT field stations, or K-12 engagement activities.)
• participate in biweekly meetings (luncheons) with other Stengl-Wyer Scholars, Fellows or guests
• receive career mentorship

Scholars are expected to be independent and propose their own research project. The project start date at UT should be between June 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025. Applicants should identify one or more faculty members from UT’s College of Natural Sciences (CNS) who will serve as a mentor as well as provide laboratory space to the scholar. Scholars will be encouraged to interact broadly and collaborate with other faculty, postdocs, and graduate students at UT. 

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible applicants must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent degree by the projected start date and must not have exceeded 24 months in a full-time postdoctoral position at the time of application deadline. Preference will be given to applicants not already in residence at UT. Applicants who are non-US citizens or permanent residents must be eligible for J-1 Scholar visa status; the Stengl-Wyer Scholars program cannot support H-1B visa applications. CNS encourages applications from individuals from all backgrounds with diverse viewpoints.