NASA Awards Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships for 2026

The highly competitive NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) recently named 24 new fellows to its 2026 class. The NHFP enables outstanding postdoctoral scientists to pursue independent research in any area of NASA Astrophysics, using theory, observations, simulations, experimentation, or instrument development. Over 650 applicants vied for the 2026 fellowships, representing an oversubscription rate of 27 to 1.

An important part of the NHFP is the annual symposium, which allows Fellows the opportunity to present results of their research, and to meet each other and the scientific and administrative staff who manage the program. The 2025 symposium was held at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. Topics ranged from understanding the atmospheric chemistry of nearby, rocky planets with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to observations of some of the earliest galaxies in the universe, and mapping the expansion of our universe with the latest data releases from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument.

"The 2026 class of the NASA Hubble Fellowship Program is comprised of outstanding astrophysics researchers who will advance NASA's pursuit of big questions about how the universe works, how it evolved over time, and whether we're alone in it," said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Astrophysics Division director, NASA Headquarters, Washington. "Through their compelling research, and by sharing the products of that work with the broader community, this year's fellows will once again play an important role in creating our future and in inspiring future generations of students to be a part of that future. These scientists across the country will enhance the impact of U.