Postdoctoral Fellows Program

A New Model for Collaborative, Center-Based Research at Columbia University

The Data Science Institute (DSI) at Columbia University offers its Postdoctoral Fellows Program through a center-based model. 

DSI postdoctoral fellows are embedded within two of the Institute’s research centers, forming small, collaborative clusters that bring together scholars from across disciplines to advance data science research and its real-world applications.

About the Program

The DSI Postdoctoral Fellows Program supports exceptional early-career researchers whose work advances the frontiers of data science and its integration into other fields.

• Full funding, including salary and benefits
• A housing allocation or subsidy toward market housing
• Professional development support and access to DSI’s vibrant research community

How the Program Works

The program:

• Aligns fellows with DSI Centers: Fellows work within one of two DSI Centers, joining a cluster of up to three postdocs per center.
• Fosters deeper collaboration: This cluster-based approach is designed to build community among fellows and strengthen ties to the Institute’s broader network of researchers.
• Enhances mentorship: Each fellow has two mentors—one with computational expertise and one grounded in the relevant application domain—to ensure interdisciplinary guidance and impactful research outcomes.

This model reflects DSI’s commitment to embedding data science within domain research, creating environments where collaboration drives innovation.

Eligibility and Application Timeline

The 2027-2029 Call for Applications is now open. Applicants are asked to indicate interest in up to two of the participating DSI Centers.  Fellows are expected to hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field by the start of the appointment and demonstrate strong potential for independent, interdisciplinary research.