Academics & Research

Fellowship Opportunities

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is a leader in the education and training of young scientists in the natural history disciplines represented in this institution. Our fellowship programs provide training in the fields of anthropology, invertebrate zoology, paleontology (paleo-zoology), physical sciences (astrophysics and earth and planetary sciences), and vertebrate zoology.

Deadlines:

AMNH Comparative Biology Ph.D. Program

The new AMNH Ph.D. Program in Comparative Biology will train the next generation of biologists through an integrative approach that focuses on the history, evolutionary relationships, and interactions among species. It builds on the Museum’s strength and experience in research and training, to educate a new generation of scientists to become leaders in understanding the history and diversity of life on Earth and in disseminating their work in ways that will support advances in biological research, human health, biodiversity conservation, and other related fields. This is an accelerated program, designed for students to complete their degrees in four years. The Richard Gilder Graduate School will typically provide full financial support to students matriculating in the Comparative Biology Ph.D. Program.

Graduate Student Fellowship Program (Collaborative Ph.D. Programs)

The AMNH Graduate Student Fellowship Program is an educational partnership with selected universities and is dedicated to the training of Ph.D. candidates in those scientific disciplines practiced at the Museum. The university exercises education jurisdiction over the students and awards the degree. The Museum curator serves as a graduate advisor, co-major professor or major professor, and adjunct university faculty member. The student benefits by having the staff and facilities of both the university and the Museum in order to carry on his/her training and research program. The current joint graduate training programs are with four universities: Columbia University provides students opportunities in anthropology, vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, earth and planetary sciences and evolutionary, ecological, and environmental biology; Cornell University in entomology; the Graduate Center of the City University of New York in paleontology and evolutionary biology; and New York University in molecular biology.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program

The Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program of the American Museum provides training to postdoctoral investigators and established scientists to carry out a specific project within a limited time period. The project must fit into the Museum’s areas of interest. The program is designed to advance the training of the participant by having him/her pursue a project in association with museum professionals in a museum setting. Appointments are typically made for up to two years. Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to be in residence at the Museum. Limited relocation, research, and publication support is provided.

Grants Programs for Students, Postdoctoral Trainees, and Research Scientists

The AMNH Grants Program offers modest short term awards to advanced students, postdoctoral trainees, and scientific researchers who are commencing their careers in the fields covered by AMNH. Grants are available from four funds each having specific restrictions. Frank M. Chapman Grants support and foster research in ornithology, both neontological and paleontological. Lerner-Gray Grants for Marine Research support marine zoology. Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grants support research on North American fauna in any phase of wildlife conservation or natural history. Annette Kade Graduate Student Fellowships support exchanges with French and German institutions. In 2008, the AMNH awarded 33 Frank M. Chapman Grants, 42Lerner-Gray Grants, 43 Theodore Roosevelt Grants, and three Kade Grants.

Another program provides support to students, postdoctoral investigators, and research scientists specifically to visit the collections. These Collection Study Grants are funded from the same endowed funds that support the Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs. The awards partially support travel and subsistence for scientists on short term AMNH visits. Approximately 15 small grants, averaging $2,000, are awarded annually.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, offers paid summer internships for qualified undergraduate students to conduct research projects with AMNH scientists either in evolutionary biology, physical sciences, or linked to specific individual research projects. Included in the program are a general orientation to the Museum and a series of weekly meetings at which students discuss their research, present informal progress reports, and participate in discussions and seminars regarding systematics and phylogeny as well as graduate and research career opportunities. At the conclusion of the internships, students deliver oral presentations of their work and prepare publication quality research papers.

Evolutionary Biology REU Note: The 2009 applications will be available from this site toward the end of the 2008 calendar year.  However, the program is under consideration for renewal by the National Science Foundation, thus positions will be offered on a provisional basis only, subject to sucessful funding.

Research Fellowship in Museum Anthropology

The Bard Graduate Center and the American Museum of Natural History are collaborating on a fellowship scheme, which provides support to a postdoctoral researcher to carry out a specific project for a two-year period. The project will be carried out in association with a curator in the AMNH Division of Anthropology, and will also involve teaching one graduate-level course per year at the Bard Graduate Center (BCG). Housing is a possibility and there is a stipend payable. Details can be downloaded from the BCG website by following the above link. All applications should be directed to BCG.

Anthropology Internship Program

The Anthropology Internship Program offers internships for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in programs in anthropology and related fields to work on projects relating to the collections or to the ongoing research interests of curatorial staff in the museum or in the field. In addition to Curatorial Research, internships can be considered in collections management, archives, and conservation. Internships are offered for periods ranging from three months to one year depending on the project. Grants provide monthly stipends for periods of two months to one year. The minimum work requirement for a paid internship is two days per week. Internship application deadlines are April 1 for summer or fall internships, and December 1 for spring internships starting in January.