The Dorrit Hoffleit Undergraduate Astronomy Research Fellowship is a summer research program run by the Yale University Department of Astronomy in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Selected students spend eight weeks working as researchers under the supervision of Yale faculty, on projects spanning fields such as exoplanets, galactic astronomy and galaxy evolution. It is named after Dr. E. Dorrit Hoffleit, a Yale senior research astronomer of more than fifty years, author of the Bright Star Catalogue, who ran summer programs for hundreds of students. Applicants of any citizenship are welcome, and those who hope to continue to graduate school are particularly encouraged to apply.
Benefits & funding
- Stipend of $450 USD per week, paid bi-weekly
- On-campus housing provided within the Yale Residential Colleges
- Weekly 15-meal dining vouchers
- Up to $1,000 USD in travel-expense reimbursement
- Eight weeks of mentored research alongside Yale astronomy faculty and researchers
Eligibility
- Undergraduate science majors in Astronomy, Astrophysics or Physics
- Must be in their 2nd or 3rd year of undergraduate study at the time of application (final-year students are not eligible)
- Applicants of any citizenship/nationality are welcome
- A strong desire to continue on to graduate school is particularly encouraged
Application process
- 1Confirm eligibility (2nd- or 3rd-year undergraduate in astronomy, astrophysics or physics).
- 2Submit the online application through the Yale Department of Astronomy portal (SmarterSelect) before the deadline.
- 3Arrange for a reference to submit the recommendation via the department's reference form.
- 4Selected scholars are notified by phone or email in late March.
Program timeline
November 15, 2025
Applications open for the 2026 cohort
Application deadline
February 15, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Scholars notified
Late March 2026
Eight-week research program (exact dates arranged with the supervisor)
June–July 2026