The MIT School of Science is a global leader in conducting basic research at the scientific frontier. Our research is integral to understanding our world, including detecting and curing disease, preserving our planet and its climate systems, creating sustainable energy sources, and developing the technology of the future. The school’s cadre of scientists generates new knowledge and a steady stream of scientific breakthroughs while remaining deeply committed to our educational mission.
In keeping with this spirit, we are pleased to launch a new postdoctoral fellowship program sponsored by the Dean of Science, with a focus on innovation and cross disciplinary research, where fellows have the freedom and flexibility to work on what inspires their passion. We seek to assemble of world-class scientists who are conducting research across disciplinary boundaries. Funded by the Dean’s Office, these cohort-based fellowships are highly competitive, offering excellent compensation and benefits. This program includes an academic leadership module, where each cohort will participate in leadership, mentorship and professional development training.
Meet our inaugural cohort of fellows (Fall 2025)
Amanda Burcroff, Department: Mathematics
About: Amanda Burcroff is a mathematician whose research lies in algebraic combinatorics, with a particular focus on cluster algebras and scattering diagrams from mirror symmetry. Within mathematics, cluster algebras have connections to representation theory, algebraic geometry, Teichmuller theory, tropical geometry, and beyond. They also appear in areas of theoretical physics, including string theory and the study of scattering amplitudes, and her work on scattering diagrams helps build the mathematical tools needed to study these connections. She develops combinatorial frameworks for understanding Laurent positivity in these algebraic structures, shedding light on positivity phenomena across a variety of mathematical and physical contexts. Amanda received her PhD from Harvard University.
Sopuruchukwu Ezenwa, Department: Chemistry
About: Sopuru’s research focuses on heterogeneous catalysts for resource-efficient transformation of chemicals and energy. He integrates concepts and approaches from electrochemistry, heterogeneous catalysis, and (in)organic chemistry to investigate the influence of charge transfer phenomena at solid‒fluid interfaces on rates and selectivity during chemical reactions on solid catalysts. Sopuru received his PhD from Purdue University where he developed molecular-level insights into the synthetic control of active site environments in Brønsted acid aluminosilicates and their catalytic consequences on aromatic alkylation reactions. He aims to uncover new insights into the mechanistic details that govern reactivity and selectivity on heterogeneous catalysts and, in doing so, provide strategies to design catalysts and processes that enable our transition towards a lower-carbon economy.
Ursula Jongebloed, Department: Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
About: Ursula is an atmospheric chemist interested in aerosols and their impact on climate. Her work synthesizes knowledge across multiple earth science disciplines, including isotope geochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, paleoclimatology, volcanology, and climate science, She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Washington, where she studied atmospheric sulfur sources and chemistry. She measured sulfur isotopes in ice cores and ran global model experiments to investigate passive volcanic degassing, dimethyl sulfide oxidation, and the influence of anthropogenic pollution. At MIT, she is focusing on how biogenic volatile organic compounds produce formaldehyde and other small molecules, and how these processes interact with pollution. She plans to conduct laboratory and global modeling experiments.
Sergei Kotelnikov, Department: Biology
About: Sergei develops computational methods for structural modeling of proteins and their interactions. At MIT, he aims to enrich modeling methodology with machine learning models that incorporate prior physical and geometric knowledge of the problem. Using these methods, he seeks to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular processes and potential ways to modulate them. Sergei received his PhD in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Stony Brook University, where he developed efficient methods for modeling protein-protein, protein-small molecule interactions, and PROTAC ternary complexes. He also combined these methods with statistical physics tools to simulate the phase behavior of protein solutions.
Ernest Opoku, Department: Chemistry
About: Ernest Opoku earned his PhD in quantum and computational chemistry from Auburn University. His doctoral research focused on developing and applying new-generation electron-propagator methods to compute electron binding energies and Dyson orbitals. These methods combine the rigor of many-body theories with molecular orbital concepts to provide accurate predictions of molecular spectra and transition properties. Ernest’s work has led to significant advancements in the field, including applications to DNA nucleotides, green florescent protein (GFP) chromophore anions, organic photovoltaic molecules, and predicting the existence of new double Rydberg anions. At MIT, he is developing and applying fragment-based quantum embedding methodologies to better understand photoelectron spectroscopy in gas and condensed phases, and the design of new materials..
Jessica Speedie, Department: Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
About: Jess Speedie received her PhD from the University of Victoria, Canada, where her research focused on understanding how exoplanets form, and how we can detect them while they are still being born. At MIT she works with the Planet Formation Lab led by Richard Teague, where she studies the formation of planetary systems around young stars. Her focus is on developing observational approaches to locate and characterize newborn planets as they emerge within their birth environments, as well as mapping the environmental structure and dynamics to uncover the physical processes driving planet formation. This work is central to understanding the history of mature planetary systems like our own Solar System.