NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) — Fellowship

The NASA Hubble Fellowship Program supports early-career postdoctoral scientists pursuing independent research across NASA astrophysics. Fellows choose an eligible host institution in the United States or its territories and are assigned as Einstein, Hubble or Sagan Fellows according to their proposed research. NASA funds the program, and the Space Telescope Science Institute administers it with partner institutions.

The 2027 competition is open, with 24 fellowships planned subject to NASA funding. Each fellowship lasts up to three years through an initial one-year appointment and two possible annual renewals.

Benefits & funding

Initial compensation for 2026 NHFP Fellows was US$87,500, subject to annual review and adjustment.
Health-insurance support is available up to US$20,000 for a family plan, plus up to US$8,500 for relocation.
Research support covers up to US$21,000 in the first year and US$17,000 in each of the second and third years for travel, hardware, computing, publications and other direct costs.
Second- and third-year funding depends on satisfactory annual performance reviews and the availability of NASA funds.
Employment benefits depend on the host institution and whether the fellow is an employee or stipendiary fellow.

Eligibility

Open to English-speaking applicants of any nationality.
Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral research degree in astronomy, physics or a related discipline awarded on or after January 1, 2023, or complete all degree requirements before September 2027; the program grants no exceptions to this four-year eligibility window.
Former and current NHFP Fellows are not eligible.
Research must be based at an eligible host institution in the United States or its territories; applicants may rank up to three prospective hosts.
Fellows generally work full-time in residence at their designated host, but justified remote work or transfers may be approved under program policy.

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Application process

1
Choose up to three prospective U.S. host institutions, identify a faculty contact for each, and provide separate justifications of up to 250 words for the first and optional second choices.
2
Complete the online form, including a research abstract of no more than 200 words and the required science categories and techniques.
3
Upload a CV with publication list and an eight-page research overview covering previous and current work plus the proposed research.
4
Arrange for exactly three referees to submit letters through the separate reference form by November 4, 2026.
5
If selected, obtain an endorsement letter from the approved first-choice host institution.

Program timeline

Announcement issued and application form opened.
September 8, 2026
Application deadline.
October 28, 2026, 23:00 UTC
Reference-letter deadline.
November 4, 2026, 24:00 UTC
Selection Committee review.
November 2026 to January 2027
Fellowship offers made.
Early February 2027
Initial offer-response deadline.
February 15, 2027
Fellowship offers announced publicly.
March 2027
Permitted fellowship start window.
August 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028