NEW YORK — In today’s climate of uncertainty, early-career scientists are the most vulnerable to reductions in federal funds that have traditionally supported their research and their ability to progress in their chosen field. Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute recognizes this challenge and is pleased to offer a unique opportunity for postdoctoral scholars studying neuroscience. 

Entering its third year, the Alan Kanzer Postdoctoral Fellowship program is now accepting new applications. Students who have recently received their PhD or will complete their degree during the 2025–26 academic year are eligible and encouraged to apply.

“Now, more than ever, we must stand behind early-career scientists and help them to continue to advance in their field. They represent the future of science: the next innovators, mentors and developers of lifesaving treatments,” said Daphna Shohamy, PhD, director and CEO of the Zuckerman Institute and Kavli Professor of Brain Science. “I am so grateful that we can offer the Alan Kanzer Postdoctoral Fellowship. It is a valuable program that continues to attract some of the best and brightest talent.”  

Studying a diverse range of subjects in the field of neuroscience, fellows work under the mentorship of one or more faculty members. They are encouraged to take full advantage of the resources at the Zuckerman Institute, including state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, and to engage in an interdisciplinary research approach.

“The Kanzer fellowship provided me with an exceptional opportunity to learn from and collaborate with leading experts in both systems and computational neuroscience focused on memory research,” said Hayley Bounds, PhD, a recent alum of the program. “It allowed me to explore new brain systems while contributing to important scientific discoveries.” 

This fall, the institute welcomed three new Kanzer fellows: Amanda González-Segarra, PhD, of the University of California, Berkeley, working in the lab of Rudy Behnia, PhD; Sreejan Kumar, PhD, of Princeton University, working with Lea Duncker, PhD; and Logan Thomas, PhD, of the University of California, Berkeley, working in the lab of Vikram Gadagkar, PhD.

“Supporting the next generation of scientists and providing mentorship and training is one of the cornerstones of our institute,” said Daniel Wolpert, PhD, a principal investigator at the Zuckerman Institute and chair of the program’s selection committee. “I am excited to recruit and welcome the next class of Kanzer postdoctoral fellows.”  

This fellowship is made possible by the generous support of Alan Kanzer (Columbia College, class of 1965). A member of the Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Trust, Mr. Kanzer’s enduring philanthropy has also provided for other important interdisciplinary initiatives, including the Alan Kanzer Artist-in-Residence, Writer-in-Residence and Innovation Scholars programs. He most recently established a brand new research and educational initiative at the Zuckerman Institute: the Alan Kanzer Center for Cognition and Reasoning.