Society of Fellows

The Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry (CCTCh) at the University of Chicago invites exceptional young scientists who have recently been awarded, or who are about to be awarded, the doctoral degree at institutions around the world to submit an online application for a CCTCh Research Fellowship in Theoretical Chemistry. To be considered, you must submit four documents: (1) Curriculum Vitae with Publications List, (2) Research Statement, (3) Potential Host Faculties, and (4) References.

Fellows are selected on the basis of their academic achievement and the promise of their scientific research. CCTCh Fellows are expected to have a strong curiosity about the broad scope of theoretical chemistry and appreciate a collaborative experience. Fellows will work under the mentorship of one or two faculty during the Fellowship. Applications focused on collaborative and cross-disciplinary research, involving more than one faculty, are especially encouraged.

CCTCh Fellows are expected to begin their appointment shortly after being awarded their Ph.D.

The Ph.D. must be awarded, and proof furnished to the University of Chicago before the start of the Fellowship. A short period as a post-doctoral fellow elsewhere does not exclude eligibility, but applicants cannot have had more than two years of postdoctoral experience from other institutions, nor been employed as an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor at any institution.

The CCTCh Research Fellowship in Theoretical Chemistry provides a stipend of $70,000. CCTCh Fellows will also receive a research fund and travel allowance of up to $10,000.

CCTCh Fellowships are granted for a period of two years. Each appointment must start between July 1, 2025 and October 1, 2025.

The application deadline is December 1, 2024. No nominations are required.

Process Timetable

December 1, 2024 Applications due.
December 1, 2024 References due.
Mid-February 2025 CCTCh Research Fellowship in Theoretical Chemistry are offered.

To Apply:

The application period is now open. Please email the following to cctch@uchicago.edu.

Curriculum Vitae with Publications List

At a minimum, your CV should include your current and previous institutional affiliation or employer with position titles, highest degree held or expected, thesis advisor, thesis title, degree institution, and date of degree. The list of publications should only include publications that are published or in press. Do not include reprints or any other materials as they will not be included in your file for review. 

Research Statement

Submit a clearly articulated statement of one or two research directions including a discussion of their connection to University of Chicago resources including current faculty members of the CCTCh. The ability to describe one’s research in a way that can be understood and valued is critical to the competitive selection process of CCTCh Fellows. Therefore, your statement should not exceed 2 pages, including references and figures. The file should be submitted as a pdf and use a font no smaller than 11 point.

Potential Host Faculties

It is required to specify at least one CCTCh faculty host. Joint projects among CCTCh groups are encouraged. We strongly encourage applicants to contact potential hosts during the course of your application process to ascertain possible collaborative opportunities.

References

Provide the names and email addresses of three references who will be able to write about your potential as a CCTCh Fellow. The references may be from any institution. All references must be able to provide their letter by the December 1, 2024 deadline. It is your responsibility to verify your references’ email addresses and to ensure their willingness to provide a letter on your behalf prior to the application deadline date.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University’s Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-1032 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.