The 2027 Stengl-Wyer Scholars Program competition opens on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Stengl-Wyer Scholars Program
Recent Ph.D.s are cordially invited to apply for distinguished postdoctoral positions in the biodiversity sciences at The University of Texas at Austin (UT), one of the top campuses in the country for this research.
The Stengl-Wyer Scholars Program provides up to three years of support for talented postdoctoral researchers in the broad area of the biodiversity sciences. Scholars may study any group of organisms at any scale, from genes to populations to ecosystems, and may use any combination of approaches. Applications that advance research within the Texas Field Station Network or UT Biodiversity Collections are highly encouraged given the Stengl-Wyer Endowment’s mission to support biological field stations and collections.
Scholars will:
- conduct cutting-edge research over three years with the goal of developing an independent research program
- have access to outstanding core research facilities at UT, including field stations, natural history collections, high-performance computing, analytical and biomedical core facilities
- reside locally and have a regular workspace and presence on the UT campus
- primarily focus on research; but in at least one of the three years, scholars will develop educational or community engagement activities (examples include, but are not limited to, teaching undergraduate/graduate workshops or modules, leading summer internship programs, creating K-12 engagement activities, leading outreach at UT field stations)
- engage with other members of the Stengl-Wyer Program Cohort and the larger community through peer mentoring and collaboration
- receive career mentorship and participate in professional development activities such as workshops and annual retreats
Congratulations, 2026 Stengl-Wyer Scholars!
- Sierra Jaeger, Department of Integrative Biology, Proposal Title: Integrating micro- and macro-evolution of betalain pigment diversity in Texas cacti
- Maria Jose Navarrete Mendez, Department of Integrative Biology, Proposal Title: Tetrodotoxin in amphibians: The evolutionary ecology of microbially-mediated convergent phenotypes
Award recipients from the 2026 Scholars competition begin their postdoctoral appointments in Fall 2026, for up to three years.
Download the complete list of Stengl-Wyer Scholars
2027 Competition Overview
Scholars are expected to be independent and propose their own research project. The project start date at UT should be between August 1, 2027 and September 30, 2027. Applicants should identify one or more faculty members from UT’s College of Natural Sciences (CNS) who will serve as a mentor as well as provide laboratory space to the Scholar. Applicants should also discuss their proposed educational and/or community engagement activities with their proposed mentor. Scholars will be encouraged to interact broadly and collaborate with other faculty, postdocs, and graduate students at UT. 2026 Scholar awardees will receive the following:
- $70,000 annual salary plus UT benefits
- $10,000 annual allowance for research and travel expenses
- Up to $3,000 relocation expenses
Download the 2027 Stengl-Wyer Scholars Competition Request for Applications
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent degree by the projected start date and must not have exceeded 24 months in a full-time postdoctoral or research position at the time of application deadline. In the case of extenuating circumstances, a written explanation and request for an exemption should be sent at least 30 days in advance of the application deadline to swe@austin.utexas.edu for consideration on a limited case-by-case basis. Preference will be given to applicants not already in residence at UT.
Application Submission Instructions
All required application documents listed in the Application Components section of the RFA should be combined and uploaded as a single pdf and submitted by the application deadline.
Applications must be submitted through Competition Space, UT’s online submission interface. To apply:
- Visit foready4.com/#competitionDetail/2017865
- Click the “Apply” button on the Competition Space page.
- This will take you to a login screen. External applicants should create an interface account by clicking the “Register” button toward the bottom of the page. Follow the instructions to create an account. Applicants with an existing UT EID and password should login using the “University of Texas Web Login” button.
- You will be taken to an online application form. Complete the form and upload the required application components. Click “Submit Application” at the bottom of the page. You also have the option to save a draft and return later to submit your application.
Note: If this is your first time submitting a proposal through the proposal submission website, you will first need to affiliate yourself with the College before you can submit. To do this, login with your EID and password, then click on the “Hello, [Name]” link at the top right of the website. This will take you to your user profile. In your user profile, under “Primary School or Department,” select “Natural Sciences, College of” and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Save Changes button. You will now be able to apply.
Instructions For Reference Letters
Applicants should arrange for reference letters to be submitted by three individuals who have agreed provide evaluations of the applicant. Referees should address an applicant’s:
- progress toward completing dissertation or ongoing post-doctoral work
- qualifications, training, and interests
- independence, applicant's ability to anticipate and mitigate challenges
- creativity, and/or novelty of the proposed project
- evidence of commitment to teaching, public engagement, and service
Referees should submit reference letters directly to the Stengl-Wyer Endowment Program at this link: https://utexas.app.box.com/f/5570b0aaabc24a36bc14eafa3866b485
Letters should be submitted as a PDF file using the following file naming convention: ApplicantLastName_ApplicantFirstName_RefereeLastName_ReferenceLetter
Reference letters must be received by the application deadline of December 7, 2026. Reference letters should remain confidential. The applicant is responsible for communicating submission instructions and deadlines to referees.
Frequently Asked Questions
2027 FAQs for program applicants, faculty sponsors, and references:
https://utexas.box.com/s/x5pmlln7p1muv0hnovcue1rbm6imt1ig
Key Dates
Submission window opens: Monday, August 10, 2026
Submission deadline: Monday, December 7, 2026 at 11:59pm Central Time
Announcement of awardees: February 2027
Award start date: After August 1, 2027 and before September 30, 2027
Award end date: Up to three (3) years from the award start date
Contact Information
Program questions should be directed to the Biodiversity Center's Steng-Wyer Program team: swe@austin.utexas.edu
The form and timing of Stengl-Wyer Scholars awards is subject to change in subsequent years. The content of this announcement is relevant only for the 2027 Stengl-Wyer Scholars competition and awards.