Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Flatiron Institute?

The Flatiron Institute, founded in 2016, is the research division of the Simons Foundation, located in New York City. It is like a set of university departments but funded entirely by the Simons Foundation in a philanthropic, not-for-profit model. The output of the Flatiron Institute is scientific research (e.g. publications) and open-source software.

The overarching theme of the Flatiron Institute is advancing scientific research through computational methods. The institute hosts five centers spanning astrophysics, biology, mathematics, neuroscience, and quantum physics, and provides a collaborative environment with world-class computing resources.

Postdoctoral Opportunities at Flatiron Institute

• What positions are available?

  At the Flatiron Institute, postdoctoral positions are called Flatiron Research Fellowships (FRF). Flatiron Research Fellows are hired to pursue their own independent research program in collaboration with the scientists at their center.

  In addition to the standard research fellowship, there is also a software-focused Flatiron Research Fellowship, aimed at candidates who want to devote a larger fraction of their time to developing open-source scientific software. Please see the Flatiron jobs page for the details of each type of position and for the specific requirements of the center you are applying to.

  The application for 2026 will open on August 14. When the ads are posted, you can find them at this link: Center for Computational Quantum Physics Job Openings

• Can I work in your group?

  All postdoc positions at Flatiron are fellowships, meaning that a high degree of independence is expected, we do all hiring as a Center, and that you have freedom to work with any of the Flatiron staff. If you want to work with me or other specific staff, the best thing to do is to apply, align your application with our interests, and state specific staff you would be interested to work with and why.

Applying for Internship / Pre-Doctoral Positions

• If I am not selected, can and should I apply again? Yes. We strongly recommend applying multiple times to the appropriate program for your level, as many times as you like. This can only increase your chances and we do not see it in a negative light.
• If I write about X topic in my application, will I be selected? Generally we can't comment on this, as it is what our application process is for. We encourage you to study the topics we are working on, such as in the list above and by looking at recent publications from our Center, and then to align your application with these topics.
• Do I need to pre-plan a project with a CCQ advisor? You are not expected to contact a researcher at CCQ in advance. However, you can reach out just to express your interest and notify us that you are applying, or if you have logistical questions not answered in this FAQ or in the job posting.