S. Scott Collis Fellowship in Data Science 2026

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

Are you looking to perform innovative research in data science? Are you excited about research informed by real-world needs? Are you passionate about impacting problems of national importance? If so, consider the possibilities afforded by Sandia's Data Science Fellowship.

The S. Scott Collis Fellowship in Data Science seeks applicants with a demonstrated background in the interdisciplinary field of data science. Collis Fellows in Data Science work at the junction of cutting-edge data science techniques and Sandia's national security mission and application space. Data science at Sandia emphasizes the analysis and interpretation of scientific, engineering, and observational (sensor) data, including development of scientific models, pattern identification, prediction, and knowledge extraction. Relevant analysis techniques range from artificial intelligence to advanced statistical methods, to optimization techniques, to methods designed for specialized hardware, and beyond. Examples of the scientific and engineering applications relevant to Sandia's missions include nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation, numerical modeling and scientific simulation, energy systems and power grid, cyber security, operations research, geospatial analysis, neuromorphic computing, quantum computing, and many other national security domains.

The focus on data-driven insight through development of novel methods is central to the Collis Fellowship. We seek Fellows who will emphasize foundational data science research over work for which advances in data science are incidental to other topics. For example, development of new data-driven methods to improve the quality of numerical simulations, or methods for analyzing quantum entanglement data, are both in scope for the Collis Fellowship. However, applicants primarily interested in traditional computational and mathematical modeling should instead consider Sandia's John von Neumann Fellowship, while those focused on development of quantum algorithms or architectures should consider the Gil Herrera Fellowship.

As a Sandia Data Science Postdoctoral Fellow, you will:

• Pursue a combination of both self-directed research in your topic area and integration with existing Sandia R&D projects
• Address complex problems in support of broad-ranging national security areas
• Collaborate with highly motivated researchers on challenging research questions using state-of-the-art computational resources
• Present your work at leading publication and conference venues
• The selected Fellow will receive a two-year appointment with the potential option for a third year, which includes a highly competitive salary, moving expenses, and a generous professional travel allowance.

Sandia National Laboratories is dedicated to nurturing a culture compatible with a broad group of people and perspectives. Consistent with this dedication, we seek applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, and we foster a research community of belonging.

Application Process

Applicants should submit a one- or two-page summary, excluding references, of a data science research problem and proposed approach. We are interested in understanding the types of problems, data, and techniques that candidates hope to pursue during a potential fellowship. Insights into how the proposed work may relate to national security problems are welcomed but not required. If selected for the fellowship, the candidate will work with a Sandia staff mentor to align the proposed work to Sandia's mission needs and expand the summary into a formal proposal for the funding that will support the next two years of their research at half-time. The other half of the selected fellow's time will come from an existing Sandia R&D project, giving the fellow the opportunity to collaborate on a research team.

To apply to the S. Scott Collis Fellowship in Data Science, please complete the following steps:

1. Submit a single PDF file containing your cover letter, CV, and a 1-2 page research proposal to this posting
2. Have three letters of recommendation submitted to datasciencefellow@sandia.gov with "Collis DS Fellowship" as the subject line
3. Applicants who are selected for on-site interviews should be available to travel during the weeks of January 19th and 26th 2026.

Complete applications received through December 1, 2025 will receive full consideration.

***Applicants on this requisition not selected for the S. Scott Collis Fellowship in Data Science may be considered for other postdoc opportunities at Sandia National Laboratories where available.

• Ability to work in collaborative, interdisciplinary research environments alongside specialists in other domains
• Related professional experience such as internships in industry or at other national labs, participation in visiting research programs, etc.
• Proven research community leadership through activities such as participation in student or professional organizations, outreach activities, etc.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills Software development experience in C++, C, Matlab, R, Python, Julia, or related languages
• A commitment to encouraging a culture of professionalism and belonging, as demonstrated through your application materials

One of the country's largest research facilities, Sandia employs over 14,000 people in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Livermore, California, in an exciting and highly collaborative multidisciplinary work environment. Our mission areas include nuclear weapons, energy, nonproliferation, defense, infrastructure, homeland security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity. Data Science touches most of Sandia's diverse missions, and we collaborate with a broad range of government customers while also maintaining a research presence in the external professional community by collaborating with both universities and industry. Sandia Data Scientists publish peer-reviewed literature, participate in professional societies, and referee for conferences and journals.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.