James Clerk Maxwell Fellowship

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams specialists focused on cutting‑edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co‑workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten‑hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part‑time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..gov

* These benefits vary by job classification.

Do you want to perform innovative research impacting radiation effects sciences, electromagnetics, and high energy density sciences? Are you interested in developing transformational pulsed power capabilities at one of the world’s premier pulsed power facilities? Are you passionate about research that impacts a broad range of problems of national importance? If so, you could become a Maxwell Fellow at Sandia and join our dynamic team!

The James Clerk Maxwell Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship, established in honor of the founder of the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, supports research that impacts broad‑ranging national security areas in the broadly defined domains of radiation effects, electrical and electromagnetic sciences, high energy density sciences and pulsed power physics and/or engineering that enable these domains. While the Maxwell name does highlight the electromagnetic and pulsed power topics, we want to emphasize that the Maxwell Fellowship is open to applicants in all of these topical areas.

As a Sandia Maxwell Postdoctoral Fellow, you will:

• Address complex problems in support of broad‑ranging mission areas.
• Foster creativity and advance exploration at the forefront of the domains listed above.
• Contribute to high‑risk, high‑value research and development.
• Collaborate with highly motivated and talented researchers on challenging research questions using state‑of‑the‑art resources.
• Disseminate your work via leading publication and conference venues.

The selected Fellow will receive a two‑year appointment with a highly competitive salary, moving expenses and a generous professional travel allowance. You will pursue a combination of self‑directed research and integration with existing Sandia research and development (R&D) projects, under the guidance of Sandia staff mentors. The self‑directed research will be funded through the Radiation, Electrical, and High Energy Density Sciences (REHEDS) Research Foundation, an investment area under Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program.

You are expected to publish the results of your work in leading journals and present it at top‑tier conferences. An intent of this fellowship is to provide early career support and selected candidates may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term, if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

• Click "Apply for Job" on this page and submit a single PDF file containing your cover letter, CV, and a 5‑page research proposal (references are encouraged and are not included in the 5‑page limit).
• Have three letters of recommendation submitted to Maxwell Fellowship with "2026 Maxwell Fellowship" as the subject line.
• Complete applications received through December 3, 2025 will receive full consideration. Selections are anticipated by early spring. You can email Maxwell Fellowship with any questions or…