Thank you for your interest in joining the Beckman Institute! The application period for the 2025 Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program has ended, and applications for the 2026 program will be made available in the fall of 2025.

Funding

Funding for a Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship consists of an annual salary starting at $63,000 and a one-time $25,000 research budget to cover:

• Research supplies
• Facility use/service charges
• Equipment
• Training workshops
• Support for interdisciplinary collaborations
• Travel between collaborating institutions
• Travel to scientific/technical meetings
  

Health insurance

Beckman Institute postdoctoral fellows are hired as postdoctoral research associates, and therefore may be eligible for University of Illinois health insurance benefits through the state of Illinois. For visa holders, benefits eligibility is contingent on passing the substantial presence test and if you are considered a resident for tax purposes after meeting with the university payroll office.

Tax information

Tax information is available online.

Foreign nationals

The postdoctoral fellowship (postdoctoral research associate) is a form of employment. The Beckman Institute is able to provide H-1B or J-1 visa sponsorship for those individuals who are selected to the Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and are eligible for said sponsorship. For more information about the H-1B visa, please email visa@beckman.illinois.edu.

The following general information regarding J-1 visas is provided to help determine eligibility for J-1 status. Should you have any questions concerning this information, email visa@beckman.illinois.edu.

Individuals in J-1 Research Scholar status may remain in the United States for a maximum of five years. Individuals are responsible for understanding regulations associated with the Section 212(e) two-year home residency requirement, the 12-month bar, and the 24-month bar on repeat participation. This information is especially important for individuals who have been in J-1 status prior to applying to the Beckman Institute Fellowship program.

• Two year home residency requirement: Some J-1 exchange visitors are required to return to their home country for a period of two years after their J program ends. This means that they are not able to obtain certain types of visas (e.g., H-1B, L, K) or US permanent residence until they have satisfied the two year home residency requirement or had that requirement waived. The purpose of the requirement is to provide the home country the benefit of the exchange visitor's experience in the United States.
• 12-month bar: If individuals have been in any J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor status for more than six months, they cannot return to the U.S. as a Professor or Research Scholar until 12 months have passed from the end of their previous J program. The time is calculated according to their entry and departure dates.
• 24-month bar on repeat participation: Individuals in the J-1 Research Scholar or Professor categories are subject to a 24-month bar on repeat participation and may not return to the US in either of those categories for a 24-month period. This bar applies to anyone in these categories, regardless of program duration, as of Nov. 18, 2006. The bar becomes effective when the program as a Research Scholar or Professor ends.

For more information on J-1 visa sponsorship and status regulations, please visit the International Student and Scholar Services website.

Email us if you still have questions after reading through this page.

Postdoctoral fellowship recipients