The 51 Pegasi b Fellowship program, awarded by the Heising-Simons Foundation (HSF), advances fundamental understanding of solar system science, exoplanet science, and other closely related topics. A highly competitive program, the fellowship provides up to eight early-career scientists with the resources, freedom, and flexibility to conduct theoretical, observational, and experimental research in planetary astronomy.
In April, representatives from HSF visited the University of Minnesota for a site visit, and in June, after a highly selective process, the University was invited to join the elite group of 28 participating universities with nationally recognized programs in planetary astronomy.
Each fellowship recipient receives an initial three-year grant of up to $450,000 to pursue their proposed research at their selected host institution. Fellows typically select an institution that is not their home institution. The University of Minnesota will be invited to nominate up to four scholars from the pool of applicants that select UMN as their desired host institution for the 2026 grant cycle.
The 51 Pegasi b Fellowship is named for the first exoplanet discovered orbiting a Sun-like star.
Planetary astronomy scientists study objects both within and beyond our solar system, bridging planetary science and astronomy. The fellowship supports research that broadly fits within the field of planetary astronomy. Planetary scientists who study the surfaces, atmospheres, and interiors of the planets, moons, and small bodies in our solar system with telescopes, spacecraft, or models, are welcome to apply. Planetary astronomers who study exoplanets, planet formation and evolution, protoplanetary disks, or other closely related topics such as brown dwarfs are also welcome to apply.
Claudia Scarlata, PhD, director of the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics in the College of Science and Engineering is the University's institutional contact for the fellowship. James Kakalios, PhD, head of the School of Physics and Astronomy, will attend the HSF-hosted fellowship summit on August 12-13 in Half Moon Bay, California where fellows present on their current research and interact with each other and faculty in the field.
Applications for the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship will be accepted through October 3, 2025. Learn more about the fellowship and how to apply.