Cornell University, through the K. Lisa Yang Center for Wildlife Health, has launched a call for applications for its 2026–2027 postdoctoral fellowship program focused on wildlife health, conservation and One Health. Up to three three-year fellowships are expected to be awarded during this cycle.
The Cornell K. Lisa Yang Center for Wildlife Health is inviting veterinarians, researchers and early-career scientists working at the interface of wildlife health, conservation, domestic animal health, human health and environmental sustainability to apply for the K. Lisa Yang Wildlife Health Fellows Program 2026–2027.
The programme aims to train the next generation of wildlife conservation and One Health leaders by supporting applied, science-based projects that can generate practical guidance for policy, decision-making and real-world conservation impact.
A Fellowship Rooted in One Health and Conservation Impact
The Cornell K. Lisa Yang Center for Wildlife Health works to develop and implement proactive, science-based solutions to challenges affecting wildlife health, biodiversity, ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
The fellowship is strongly aligned with the One Health and Planetary Health approaches, recognising the interconnections between wildlife, domestic animals, people, livelihoods and the environment.
Applicants may propose projects on a wide range of topics, including terrestrial or marine habitat degradation, freshwater resource depletion, pollution, climate change, infectious diseases, food systems, and health challenges at the wildlife–domestic animal interface.
Up to Three Three-Year Fellowships
For the 2026–2027 cycle, Cornell anticipates awarding up to three postdoctoral fellowships. Each fellowship will run for three years, with continuation in the second and third years subject to satisfactory annual performance.
Selected fellows will join a multidisciplinary, collaborative and inclusive community of faculty, staff and students working to improve the health and well-being of animals, people and the environment.
The programme is designed to help fellows gain practical experience in applied research, science-to-policy translation, partnership building, grant writing and the development of action-oriented solutions for conservation and One Health challenges.
Who Can Apply?
For this cycle, preference will be given to applicants who hold at least a DVM or equivalent veterinary degree and who have been out of veterinary school for at least one year at the time of application.
Applicants without a veterinary degree but who hold a PhD conferred before the fellowship start date are also encouraged to apply.
The fellowship is particularly relevant for candidates with a strong commitment to wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection, applied research, One Health, Planetary Health and science-based policy engagement.
Applicants should demonstrate the capacity to develop an original, rigorous, feasible and impact-oriented project.
A Project Developed with Two Mentors
Each applicant must propose a programme of work in collaboration with at least two mentors.
The first must be a primary faculty mentor from any unit of Cornell University.
The second must be either a secondary mentor from an external partner organisation or another eligible Cornell faculty member. External partners may include governmental institutions, non-governmental organisations, private sector entities or academic institutions.
Proposals involving a non-academic external partner organisation are particularly encouraged, especially where the project aims to influence field practice, policy decisions or conservation action.
The proposal should clearly describe the roles of both mentors, the relevance of their institutions, and how the collaboration will support the pathway from scientific evidence to real-world impact.
Location and Fellowship Conditions
The fellowship is designed as a full-time position based primarily in Ithaca, New York, United States, at Cornell University. Fieldwork and site visits are expected in most cases.
In exceptional circumstances, a fellow may be based elsewhere, subject to prior approval. Applicants who wish to be based outside Ithaca must clearly indicate this request in the “Description of Proposed Project” section of their application.
The starting annual salary will be commensurate with experience and is expected to fall within the range of USD 65,000 to USD 85,000.
In addition, USD 30,000 will be provided for research-related and professional travel expenses over the course of the fellowship. Fellows may also have opportunities to apply for additional internal or external funding.
Successful applicants requiring visa sponsorship will receive guidance on the appropriate visa process to enter and work in the United States.
Selected fellows will be expected to start no later than 30 September 2027. Fellowship offers are expected to be made in February 2027.
Application Package
Applications must be submitted online through Academic Jobs Online.
All required application materials must be uploaded as a single PDF file named as follows:
YourLastName_YangFellowApp.pdf
The PDF file should include:
- a project title and abstract of up to 350 words;
- an introduction of up to 350 words describing the applicant’s professional background, doctoral research where applicable, relevant field experience and career goals;
- a description of the proposed project of up to 1,500 words, including objectives, methods, significance and the roles of both mentors;
- an impact statement of up to 400 words explaining how the project could influence behaviour, practice, procedures or policy;
- a full curriculum vitae, including accepted and published publications, with DOIs where available.
Applicants must also provide details for five professional references. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted online separately by the referees.
These letters should include one from the Cornell primary faculty mentor, one from the proposed secondary mentor, and a third professional reference, preferably the applicant’s doctoral advisor, postdoctoral advisor or another significant professional mentor.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on several criteria, including:
- the applicant’s scholarly accomplishments and potential;
- the originality of the proposed project;
- the intellectual merit of the proposal;
- the potential conservation or environmental impact;
- the methodological soundness, rigour and feasibility of the project;
- the alignment between the applicant’s applied interests and those of the mentors;
- the capacity of the mentors and partners to support progress along the science-to-policy and action continuum.
The potential conservation or environmental impact of the proposed project will receive particular weight during the evaluation process.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 5 October 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT, corresponding to 6 October 2026 at 06:59 AM Kenya time.
Application Link
Applications must be submitted through Academic Jobs Online:
Contact
Questions about the programme may be directed to:
Dr Steve Osofsky
s.osofsky@cornell.edu
Why This Opportunity Matters for African Professionals
This fellowship is highly relevant for African veterinarians, researchers and One Health professionals working on wildlife diseases, zoonoses, epidemiological surveillance, biodiversity conservation, protected areas, wildlife–livestock interfaces, ecosystem health and applied conservation policy.
Across Africa, increasing pressure on natural habitats, climate change, pastoral mobility, wildlife–livestock interactions, emerging zoonotic risks and food system transformations are creating urgent needs for research that can inform practical decisions.
The K. Lisa Yang Wildlife Health Fellows Program offers an important platform for researchers seeking to translate science into action, policy and sustainable conservation outcomes for wildlife, ecosystems and local communities.
Key Information
Organisation: Cornell University – K. Lisa Yang Center for Wildlife Health
Programme: K. Lisa Yang Wildlife Health Fellows Program 2026–2027
Type: Postdoctoral fellowship
Field: Wildlife health, One Health, conservation, Planetary Health
Duration: 3 years
Number of fellowships: Up to 3
Main location: Ithaca, New York, United States
Indicative annual salary: USD 65,000–85,000
Research and travel support: USD 30,000 over the fellowship period
Application deadline: 5 October 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT
Expected start date: No later than 30 September 2027
Application portal: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32044
