IMPORTANT DATES - will be released January 2026 UPDATED (12/16/25)
January 20, 2026: Applications Open
Date TBD: Informational Webinar: Meet the Postdocs! (1 of 2) Q&A Zoom Call
Date TBD: Informational Webinar: Meet the Postdocs! (2 of 2) Q&A Zoom Call
IDate TBD: nformational Webinar with Melissa Kenney, Deepak Ray, Jennifer Schmitt, Nat Springer
April 29, 2026: Applications Close
Date TBD: Candidates advancing to semi-finalist round will be notified.
Dates TBD: Semi-finalist candidates record 1-way Spark Hire interview
Date TBD: Candidates will be notified of their status for finalist interviews.
Dates TBD: Finalist interviews (we encourage all candidates to reserve dates once announced)
Start Date: September 14-16, 2026 Cohort 4 IonE Postdoctoral Fellows Orientation
* For more information see FAQs.
Cohort 3 (2025-27)
Applications Closed
ELIGIBILITY
PhD in any disciplinary field, including interdisciplinary studies. Must have either expertise or expressed interest in developing expertise in a particular aspect of sustainability.
PhD anticipated in spring/summer 2025 or completed after December 31, 2019.
Relevant skills for at least one of the existing IonE projects.
Willingness to relocate to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area or a statement of preference for remote work and willingness to regularly engage in person at IonE.
U.S. citizenship is not a consideration in decisions. Candidates must be U.S. work eligible; non-U.S. scholars must have or be able to obtain a visa.
APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS
The evaluation process will include 3 phases: 1) application review, 2) 1-way interview of qualified candidates, and 3) 2-way zoom interview of finalists.
Initial applicants will be reviewed for eligibility requirements and assigned to at least three reviewers that will include the project PI(s) and additional IonE team members. These reviewers will evaluate the applicants in all fields according to their potential for success within IonE’s impact focused research portfolio. Special consideration given to potential contributions to the diversity and equal opportunity goals of IonE. Reviewers will decide which candidates are qualified to move forward to a semi-finalist stage. Candidates will be notified of their status for the semi-finalist stage by [date forthcoming].
The semi-finalist stage is a 1-way, asynchronous recorded video interview (Spark Hire). Each candidate will respond to 3-5 questions. Candidates will be given the questions ahead of time and have 3 minutes to answer each one; you will be given unlimited opportunities to re-record your response if you wish. The reviewers will review these responses and indicate which candidates will be selected as finalists to move forward into Zoom interviews. Candidates will be notified of their status for Phase 3 interviews by [date forthcoming].
ALL Zoom interviews will take place [date forthcoming] .We will work with the finalists to schedule a 45-minute time slot for their 2-way Zoom interview; times are not guaranteed until scheduled, so we encourage all candidates to reserve [dates forthcoming]. on their calendars. We will provide finalists with the interview questions in advance.
After the Zoom interviews, principal investigators will submit their recommendations to the Knowledge Initiatives Director for final selection and notification. All candidates will be notified of their final status in early August 2026.