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Fellowship Opportunities at St Andrews (Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group) ? Deadline 28 July 2025 | Closing date: 2025-07-28 Contact: Thomas Neukirch |
The Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group (SMTG), School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews encourages expressions of interest for the following fellowship opportunities to be hosted by the group. | ▸ more | STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (STFC deadline 1 Oct 2025, 16:00 UK time):
The School of Mathematics and Statistics in St Andrews can support one STFC ERF application in 2025. The successful candidate will be determined by an internal selection process (for details, see
https://solar-mcs.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/stfc-ernest-rutherford-fellowships-2025/)
Interested candidates should follow the instructions on the SMTG STFC ERF Webpage and submit the required application materials to Prof. Thomas Neukirch (tn3 @ st-andrews.ac.uk) by 28 July 2025.
For informal enquiries please also get in touch with Prof. Neukirch.
We also encourage interested candidates to contact us about Royal Society University Research Fellowships (Royal Society deadline 10 September 2025; call opens 15 July 2025): https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/university-research/
While there is no quota on Royal Society URF applications, applicants will still need to undergo an internal selection process.
Furthermore, we would welcome enquiries regarding our group hosting Marie Slodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (European Commission closing date 10 September 2025): https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships
Our group?s research focusses on applications of the theory of solar system plasmas, in particular using MHD, to the solar atmosphere and planetary magnetospheres. Applications from candidates who would add to or complement our research group?s expertise in these areas would be welcome.
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Head of the Data Management and Operations Division | Closing date: 2025-08-17 Contact: Evelina Dietmann |
Within the Directorate of Operations at our Headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany, ESO is advertising the position of Head of the Data Management and Operations Division | ▸ more | The Directorate of Operations (DoO) is responsible for all science operations-related activities including the preparation and execution of observing programmes, the operation of the La Silla Paranal Observatory (LPO), the off-site operation of the ALMA Observatory in the European region through the ESO ALMA Support Centre (EASC). The DoO further provides user support, data flow management, operations technical support, and the development and maintenance of a science archive through its Data Management and Operations (DMO) Division. The Science Archive Facility (SAF) holds all data obtained with ESO's observatories as well as highly processed, advanced products derived from them, and is responsible for their preservation, curation and delivery.
We are looking for someone who can lead the Data Management and Operations (DMO) Division through the next exciting stage of its development with the integration of the ELT into our end-to-end science operations model and the continued enhancement of our science-archive services. By building on our success to date you will become the next leader of our scientific data-management infrastructure working in close collaboration with our scientific community.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
As Head of the DMO Division you will be responsible for
-the functioning of ESO's end-to-end science operations model including fostering a close integration with the La Silla Paranal Observatory;
-the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation of the DMO Division delivering scientific data of highest quality and quantity to the scientific community through ESO's Science Archive Facility;
-the management and safety of some 30 staff astronomers, scientists, and engineers;
-developing an annual resource plan for review and approval and ensuring its execution;
-recruiting and maintaining high quality scientific, technical, and administrative staff;
-developing short- to long-term development plans for the DMO Division;
-setting the overall goals, priorities, and strategies within DMO for all operational and development aspects in consultation with the respective
Programme Scientists;
-managing the organisational change implied by the transition of DMO into the ELT era;
-reporting on the performance and development of the DMO to ESO's governing and advisory bodies.
As Head of the DMO Division you will further act as the Programme Manager for the Data-Flow System (DFS) Development Programme and will be the interface to all other programmes and organisational units at ESO. In this respect, the development of the end-to-end science operations model in response to ESO's operational needs and in particular the preparation for the future operation of the Paranal Observatory with the VLT and the ELT will be your highest priority.
As a Senior Astronomer you are a member of the ESO Astronomy Faculty and will be encouraged and expected to conduct an active astronomical research programme for up to 50% of your time.
The Head of DMO has the status of a Division Head at ESO and reports to the Director of Operations.
Key Competences and Experience:
Essential Competences and Experience
-A proven record of at least 15 years of active research;
-A proven record of at least 10 years of experience in management and leadership in a scientific organization, preferably in an international setting; your management experience must encompass budget, resource and staff management;
-Thinks strategically, takes effective decisions and provides leadership including during periods of change;
-Able to set goals and has a vision of the future, is flexible and makes timely and appropriate changes to plans as required;
-Political awareness, the ability to influence, and to manage internal and external stakeholder relationships.
-Seeks to understand the perspective of key decision makers and partners;
-Builds strong and effective links within and outside the organisation leveraging emotional intelligence and other soft skills as necessary;
-Demonstrates initiative, pro-activeness and effective negotiation skills;
-Excellent communication skills;
-Works effectively in an international and multi-disciplinary/multi-cultural team environment.
Desirable Competences and Experience
-Experience in management of end-to-end scientific dataflows;
-Experience in management of software development projects;
-Observational and technical experience in optical astronomy.
Qualifications:
PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, physics or related fields.
Language skills:
The position requires an excellent command of written and spoken English.
Application:
If you are interested in working in areas of frontline science and technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details.
Applicants are invited to apply online at http://jobs.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter and CV a publication list and a full research statement.
Within your CV, please provide the names and contact details of three persons familiar with your work and willing to provide a recommendation letter upon request. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.
Deadline for applications is 17 August 2025.
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Head of Scientific Services | Closing date: 2025-08-01 Contact: Heather or Nasrin |
This role is ideal for a leading radio astronomer with experience of operational radio telescopes and their commissioning, a strong research record, and a demonstrated ability to build effective relationships within the radio astronomy community. For more information and to apply, click here: https://recruitment.skao.int/vacancy/head-of-scientific-services-586731.html | ▸ more | The Head of Scientific Services leads SKAO?s Scientific Services team and will work closely with the Deputy Director of Operations (and the SKAO Chief Scientist) in defining the strategy and direction for the Scientific Services team and will lead the team to implement it. The role requires good communication skills and the ability to build and nurture strong relationships with the SKA scientific community.
The role sits within the Operations group and is located at the SKAO GHQ. The Head of Scientific Services will report to the Deputy Director of Operations and as required, is expected to work closely with the SKAO Chief Scientist.
SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory.
This role requires the postholder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.
The main functions of this role are to:
-Lead and manage the Scientific Services team.
-Ensure that the team provides support for science commissioning of the SKA-Low and SKA-Mid telescopes and the science verification of observing modes.
-Provide support analyses, as required, on the science impact of proposed design changes to the SKA telescopes as presented through Engineering Change Proposals.
-Work with the SKAO Chief Scientist to define and maintain the science roadmap for the SKA Observatory Development Programme (SODP). Lead and organise the Scientific Services team in providing scientific advice to SODP Projects and Studies.
-Define and lead the process for the scientific review and evaluation of observing proposals to the SKA telescopes. Support the Time Allocation Committee in this work for Principal Investigator proposals, as well as larger Key Science Projects (KSPs).
-Measure the scientific productivity of the SKAO and track the progress of KSPs against their stated goals.
-Provide leadership in organising and/or supporting SKA science meetings, especially those being hosted by SKAO, and lead interactions with the SKAO Science Working Groups.
-Coordinate closely with other group Heads within Operations as required.
-Undertake other reasonable duties as directed.
The Head of Scientific Services will have:
-A PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics or closely related field.
-A deep understanding of the system design of radio interferometers and ability to describe system requirements to a knowledgeable audience.
-A demonstrated record of promoting diversity and developing an inclusive, high-performing culture.
-A demonstrable ability to think strategically, translate high-level goals into personal and group objectives, develop plans and bring those plans to implementation.
-Participated in telescope time allocation processes, preferably in a leadership position.
-Proven background working with and influencing a diverse and globally-distributed telescope user community.
-The experience of working effectively with engineers and scientists from a diverse range of cultures, and a demonstrated ability to influence people in widely differing parts of a complex and rapidly changing organisation.
-Excellent English oral and written communication skills.
The ideal candidate may also have:
-Demonstrated commitment to equitable and fair practices to facilitate the broadest possible access to the Observatory from the scientific user community.
-Experience of managing a group of scientists in an operational or research environment, or evidence of potential to fulfil a management position.
-Experience of commissioning radio astronomy (or similar) telescopes, instrumentation and capabilities.
-Experience with collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Miro.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement
SKA Observatory recognises that our diversity is a strength. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. As such, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the core of SKA Observatory?s agenda.
Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, nationality or background.
Women have traditionally been under-represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Observatory welcomes and encourages female applicants.
Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided.
SKA Observatory welcome all candidates, especially those from member countries.
The ?How to Apply? information contained within the SKA Observatory recruitment portal provides more detail regarding our application and selection approach.
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Time-domain astrophysics with the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (Postdoc) | Closing date: 2025-08-31 Contact: Richard Anderson |
The successful applicant will contribute to defining the top-level technical requirements imposed by the time-domain science case for the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST www.wstelescope.com), analyze instrument requirements specified for diverse science questions, and develop figures-of-merit and other quantitative metrics that will aid to select the science drivers and their implications on the facility?s requirements. This work will be performed in close collaboration with Richard Anderson at EPFL, leader of the WST time-domain science working group. | ▸ more | WST is a major instrumentation project with the potential to shape European ground-based astronomy in the 2040s. As described in the white paper (Mainieri et al. 2024, arXiv: 2403.05398), WST will be a dedicated optical spectroscopic survey facility featuring a 12m primary mirror, a 3x3 arcmin 2 integral field spectrograph, and wide-field (3.1 deg 2) high- (R~40000) and low-resolution (R~3-4000) spectrographs fed by 2000 and 30000 optical fibers, respectively. The WST consortium has received funding from the European Union and the Swiss Government to develop a detailed design concept, which the WST consortium will submit to the Expanding Horizons initiative of the European Southern Observatory in the hopes of making WST the next large ESO project. We need you to make this happen!
Main duties and responsibilities:
-Contributing to the definition of the time-domain science case for WST
-Reviewing science cases submitted to the WST time-domain working group and understanding their requirements affecting WST?s instrumentation and/or operational model
-Liaising with the community concerning technical requirements formulated
-Establishing source / event catalogs for time-domain science cases
-Developing figures-of-merit to quantify expected science returns according to specifications of the instruments and/or operational model
-Liaising with the WST survey design and other science working groups
-Organizing and contributing to remote and in-person meetings
Additional areas of activity may include analysis of spectroscopic observations of pulsating stars, for example in the context of 4MOST or the VELOCE project (Anderson et al. 2024; arXiv: 2404.12280).
The successful applicant shall contribute to a collaborative and inclusive team atmosphere. This includes being available for (graduate & undergraduate) student (co-)supervision and mentoring as well as remote or on-site observations in Chile and/or the Canary Islands.
Profile:
-PhD in astrophysics or related field by the time the appointment begins
-Full working proficiency of the English language is required, some knowledge of French would be helpful for the day-to-day life but is not required
-Ability to travel internationally and to legally work in Switzerland.
-Strong candidates will show evidence of scientific independence, assume ownership of the projects they work on, and communicate effectively within diverse international teams.
-An analytical mind that can synthesize complex subject matters even outside your own immediate research field
-Strong mathematical foundation; experience with figures of merit and selection functions is highly desirable
Experience:
-in optical spectroscopy, especially with integral field and/or fiber-fed multi-object spectrographs (please specify any technical/instrumentation expertise)
-in the analysis and interpretation of spectroscopic time-series data
-with large astronomical surveys
-with astronomical alerts systems (e.g., for Vera C. Rubin) and/or time-domain and/or multi-messenger astrophysics
The successful applicant will become an integral member of the Standard Candles and Distances research group (https://www.epfl.ch/labs/scd/members/) and of the Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO). The team is based at Sauverny Observatory near Versoix, Switzerland, where EPFL and the University of Geneva share an inspiring world-class astrophysics research environment covering a wide range of subjects. For information on research at EPFL and in Sauverny, visit https://www.epfl.ch/labs/scd/, https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lastro/, https://www.epfl.ch/labs/galspec/, and https://www.unige.ch/sciences/astro/en/.
EPFL is a founding member of the WST consortium. Swiss scientists have access to ESO (e.g. VLT, ALMA, E-ELT) and ESA (e.g. HST, JWST, XMM-Newton, Euclid) facilities as well as the future SKAO. EPFL further enjoys preferred access to the 1.2m Swiss Euler telescope at La Silla observatory, Chile, as well as access to the Flemish 1.2m Mercator telescope on La Palma. EPFL is a full member of SDSS-V, DESI, and 4MOST, part of the MOONS and of the future BlueMUSE and MOSAIC consortia, and founding member of the MUST project. EPFL is recognized as one of the best Universities in Europe and covers both engineering and fundamental sciences.
EPFL is located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. However, it is fully feasible to get by in English thanks to a large international community that includes CERN and the United Nations, in addition to many corporate headquarters. Applicants desiring to follow professional development courses at EPFL, or to learn French, will be encouraged to do so.
The position includes a competitive salary (depending on experience) and benefits according to the Swiss social security system (mandatory medical insurance, employer-provided accident insurance, retirement benefits, etc). The contract will be awarded on an annual basis. Funds for computer equipment, science travel, observations, publication charges, etc. are available.
The ideal starting date would be in late Summer 2025.
Review of applications will begin immediately. Late applications will be considered until the position is filled.
Below documents should be submitted as merged PDF:
-motivation letter
-CV, incl. names and addresses of 3 academic references (should submit their support confidential letters to admin.LASTRO @ epfl.ch stating "WST-TD postdoc" and applicant name in the subject line)
-a publication list with the 3publications most relevant to this position highlighted. A link to a private ADS library would be appreciated
-research statement (3 pages max) that showcases any relevant technical expertise
-if PhD not yet been awarded: anticipated PhD completion date confirmation
For more information and to apply: https://careers.epfl.ch/job-invite/1590/
For further questions please contact: richard.anderson @ epfl.ch
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Time-domain astrophysics with the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (Postdoc) | Closing date: 2025-08-31 Contact: Richard Anderson |
The successful applicant will contribute to defining the top-level technical requirements imposed by the time-domain science case for the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST www.wstelescope.com), analyze instrument requirements specified for diverse science questions, and develop figures-of-merit and other quantitative metrics that will aid to select the science drivers and their implications on the facility?s requirements. This work will be performed in close collaboration with Richard Anderson at EPFL, leader of the WST time-domain science working group. | ▸ more | WST is a major instrumentation project with the potential to shape European ground-based astronomy in the 2040s. As described in the white paper (Mainieri et al. 2024, arXiv: 2403.05398), WST will be a dedicated optical spectroscopic survey facility featuring a 12m primary mirror, a 3x3 arcmin 2 integral field spectrograph, and wide-field (3.1 deg 2) high- (R~40000) and low-resolution (R~3-4000) spectrographs fed by 2000 and 30000 optical fibers, respectively. The WST consortium has received funding from the European Union and the Swiss Government to develop a detailed design concept, which the WST consortium will submit to the Expanding Horizons initiative of the European Southern Observatory in the hopes of making WST the next large ESO project. We need you to make this happen!
Main duties and responsibilities:
-Contributing to the definition of the time-domain science case for WST
-Reviewing science cases submitted to the WST time-domain working group and understanding their requirements affecting WST?s instrumentation and/or operational model
-Liaising with the community concerning technical requirements formulated
-Establishing source / event catalogs for time-domain science cases
-Developing figures-of-merit to quantify expected science returns according to specifications of the instruments and/or operational model
-Liaising with the WST survey design and other science working groups
-Organizing and contributing to remote and in-person meetings
Additional areas of activity may include analysis of spectroscopic observations of pulsating stars, for example in the context of 4MOST or the VELOCE project (Anderson et al. 2024; arXiv: 2404.12280).
The successful applicant shall contribute to a collaborative and inclusive team atmosphere. This includes being available for (graduate & undergraduate) student (co-)supervision and mentoring as well as remote or on-site observations in Chile and/or the Canary Islands.
Profile:
-PhD in astrophysics or related field by the time the appointment begins
-Full working proficiency of the English language is required, some knowledge of French would be helpful for the day-to-day life but is not required
-Ability to travel internationally and to legally work in Switzerland.
-Strong candidates will show evidence of scientific independence, assume ownership of the projects they work on, and communicate effectively within diverse international teams.
-An analytical mind that can synthesize complex subject matters even outside your own immediate research field
-Strong mathematical foundation; experience with figures of merit and selection functions is highly desirable
Experience:
-in optical spectroscopy, especially with integral field and/or fiber-fed multi-object spectrographs (please specify any technical/instrumentation expertise)
-in the analysis and interpretation of spectroscopic time-series data
-with large astronomical surveys
-with astronomical alerts systems (e.g., for Vera C. Rubin) and/or time-domain and/or multi-messenger astrophysics
The successful applicant will become an integral member of the Standard Candles and Distances research group (https://www.epfl.ch/labs/scd/members/) and of the Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO). The team is based at Sauverny Observatory near Versoix, Switzerland, where EPFL and the University of Geneva share an inspiring world-class astrophysics research environment covering a wide range of subjects. For information on research at EPFL and in Sauverny, visit https://www.epfl.ch/labs/scd/, https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lastro/, https://www.epfl.ch/labs/galspec/, and https://www.unige.ch/sciences/astro/en/.
EPFL is a founding member of the WST consortium. Swiss scientists have access to ESO (e.g. VLT, ALMA, E-ELT) and ESA (e.g. HST, JWST, XMM-Newton, Euclid) facilities as well as the future SKAO. EPFL further enjoys preferred access to the 1.2m Swiss Euler telescope at La Silla observatory, Chile, as well as access to the Flemish 1.2m Mercator telescope on La Palma. EPFL is a full member of SDSS-V, DESI, and 4MOST, part of the MOONS and of the future BlueMUSE and MOSAIC consortia, and founding member of the MUST project. EPFL is recognized as one of the best Universities in Europe and covers both engineering and fundamental sciences.
EPFL is located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. However, it is fully feasible to get by in English thanks to a large international community that includes CERN and the United Nations, in addition to many corporate headquarters. Applicants desiring to follow professional development courses at EPFL, or to learn French, will be encouraged to do so.
The position includes a competitive salary (depending on experience) and benefits according to the Swiss social security system (mandatory medical insurance, employer-provided accident insurance, retirement benefits, etc). The contract will be awarded on an annual basis. Funds for computer equipment, science travel, observations, publication charges, etc. are available.
The ideal starting date would be in late Summer 2025.
Review of applications will begin immediately. Late applications will be considered until the position is filled.
Below documents should be submitted as merged PDF:
-motivation letter
-CV, incl. names and addresses of 3 academic references (should submit their support confidential letters to admin.LASTRO @ epfl.ch stating "WST-TD postdoc" and applicant name in the subject line)
-a publication list with the 3publications most relevant to this position highlighted. A link to a private ADS library would be appreciated
-research statement (3 pages max) that showcases any relevant technical expertise
-if PhD not yet been awarded: anticipated PhD completion date confirmation
For more information and to apply: https://careers.epfl.ch/job-invite/1590/
For further questions please contact: richard.anderson @ epfl.ch
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Postdoctoral position | Closing date: 2025-06-27 Contact: Georgia Panopoulou |
Postdoctoral position in modeling of interstellar magnetic fields at the Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. | ▸ more | Applicants should have a PhD in astrophysics by the start of the appointment, demonstrated experience with MHD simulations in relation to galaxy evolution and observations of galactic magnetic fields. Experience with Bayesian statistics is advantageous. Strong verbal and written communication skills in English are required.
For more information visit:
https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/work-with-us/vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=13981&rmlang=UK
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PhD position - Accretion processes in Young Stars | Closing date: 2025-06-30 Contact: Beate Stelzer |
The Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics of the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen / Germany has an opening for a doctoral research position in the Space Based Astrophysics group of Prof. B. Stelzer. The project is focused on targets from the Hubble Space Telescope ULLYSES program for which optical spectroscopy and photometry will be analysed to constrain the physical conditions and the geometry of the star-disk environment. | ▸ more | The applicant must have a master or equivalent degree in physics or astrophysics. Expertise with spectroscopic data analysis and a background in star formation studies are useful.
The position will be funded for a duration of 3 years (36 months). Salary will be according to 75% E13 of the TV-L of the German public services. The application is expected to consist of a CV (including personal data, formation, skills and expertises), copies of university degrees and a brief (1-2 page) statement of previous research experiences and motivation. The candidate should arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent directly to Prof. B. Stelzer. The deadline for applications is Jun 30, 2025 with a starting date in fall 2025, as soon as possible.
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen is committed to increasing the percentage of women in research.
In case of equal qualification preference will be given to applicants with disabilities.
Employment takes place via the Central Administration of the University.
Contact for application and further information:
Beate Stelzer (stelzer @ astro.uni-tuebingen.de)
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Advancing Black Hole Astrophysics via Simulations and Observations | Closing date: 2025-06-30 Contact: Massimo Gaspari |
A thematic, fully funded PhD scholarship is available under the BlackHoleWeather ERC program (PI: Prof. Gaspari).
The project aims to bridge scales in black hole feedback/feeding systems using advanced numerical techniques, with opportunities for collaboration across HPC, theoretical modeling, and observational analysis.
An additional general (open-topic) scholarship is also available, which may support a PhD project in Astrophysics (primarily in the areas of galaxies and black holes), tailored to the candidate's research interests. | ▸ more | Call for applications:
https://tinyurl.com/4xjmtkp3
https://www.nano-phdschool.unimore.it
Application deadline: June 30, 2025 - 15:30 (CET)
I'd be grateful if you could share this opportunity within your networks or directly with promising MSc graduates.
Don't hesitate to contact Prof. Gaspari (massimo.gaspari @ unimore.it) for further details and/or support with the application process.
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Astronomer / Project Scientist | Closing date: 2025-07-11 Contact: Evelina Dietmann |
Due to the need for additional resources associated with the ALMA programme, for its Project Scientist Department, within the Directorate for Science at its Headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany, ESO is advertising the position of Astronomer / Project Scientist. | ▸ more | ESO is operating and upgrading the Atacama Large Millimeter /submillimeter Array (ALMA) together with the ALMA partners in East Asia and North America as well as the Joint ALMA Observatory located in Chile.
ALMA is currently undergoing a major upgrade, the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU). Its main objective is to upgrade the full signal chain and increase the instantaneous spectral bandwidth by as much as a factor of four, while retaining full spectral resolution over the entire bandwidth. In this context, receiver upgrades, enhancements to the digital electronics, enhanced software for data reduction or novel calibration methods are planned.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and outstanding scientist with expertise in instrumentation for submillimetre astronomy or related fields. The ESO ALMA Project Scientist will support the development of the various upgrade development studies and projects of the ALMA Observatory which are an integral part of its long-term life. The successful applicant will be primarily responsible for the definition of the scientific capabilities of several ALMA upgrade projects and follow-up of the development and construction phases of such projects: a) supporting and nurturing their science goals, b) ensuring that the top-level requirements are fulfilled and c) that the operational scenarios are commensurate with the scientific needs and the constraints of the ALMA Observatory. The ESO ALMA Project Scientist is also expected to be involved in projects following the implementation of development studies.
This Project Scientist will interface with groups at external institutes or consortia performing the upgrades along with the ALMA Development Team in the ESO ALMA Support Centre (Directorate of Operations) and will be part of the ESO Project Scientists Team (Directorate for Science).
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
-Interface with the ALMA Programme Scientist and other instrument scientists at ALMA and ESO to develop priorities for the ALMA development plan at ESO, in potential synergy with other ESO facilities;
-Issue and own the scientific specifications of the ALMA upgrade projects for which they are responsible, in agreement with ALMA partners;
-Report and promote the benefits of the upgrade to the ALMA-user and broader scientific communities (e.g., talks at conferences, organise workshops);
-Work together with the ALMA Development Team at ESO to ensure that the technical requirements meet the scientific requirements of the upgrade;
-Follow up the establishment of suitable data reduction methods where appropriate;
-Develop the commissioning and calibration plans for projects under their responsibilities and ensure their execution where applicable;
-Follow up the scientific use of the upgrade (if applicable) and possibly propose future upgrade paths;
-Develop their own scientific research in observational (sub)mm interferometry, ideally with the upgrade project that they are working on (if applicable).
The tasks are not limited to the above and a flexible approach and willingness to adapt are required.
As a member of the ESO Astronomy Faculty, the Project Scientist is expected and encouraged to conduct a strong personal research programme and to participate actively in the scientific life of ESO.
Reports to:
Head of the Project Science Department
Key Competences and Experience:
Essential Competences and Experience
-Proven track record in observational experience in (sub)-mm astronomy or adjacent fields;
-Active research programme, demonstrating the planning, execution, analysis and publication of observations/instrumentation in (sub)-mm astronomy or adjacent fields;
-Understanding of the science requirements for (sub)-mm telescopes and instruments and strategies for their realization;
-Ability to contribute to calibration and commissioning of hardware and/or software components of a radio/(sub)-mm interferometer. Previous experience in this area is desirable but not required;
-Proficiency in relevant data reduction methods and tools;
-Ability to work effectively in a team, with a positive approach toward building links across teams in an international multi-cultural environment;
-Ability to provide scientific and strategic vision and leadership to geographically dispersed multi-cultural/multi-disciplinary teams;
-Ability to motivate others; strong influencing skills;
-Excellent oral and written communication skills, providing clear, concise and timely communications that identify key issues, examine options and propose a way ahead;
-Ability to effectively communicate at all levels and across disciplines and instrumentation within the organisation, with ALMA international partners, and with the community.
Desirable Competences and Experience
-Knowledge or experience with instrumentation in the optical and/or near-infrared wavelength domains;
-Broader experience following instrument development over various phases from initial design to final commissioning.
Qualifications:
PhD in astronomy, physics or equivalent.
Language skills:
Excellent command of the English language is essential.
Application:
If you are interested in working in areas of frontline science and technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details.
Applicants are invited to apply online at http://jobs.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter, and a CV containing a publication list and a research statement. Also required are the names and contact details of three scientists familiar with your work and willing to provide a recommendation letter. Referees will be automatically invited to submit a recommendation letter. However, applicants are strongly advised to trigger these invitations (using the web application form) well in advance of the application deadline.
Deadline for applications is 11.07.25
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POSTDOC POSITION (F/M/X) ML supported cloud formation modelling | Closing date: 2025-06-30 Contact: Ruth-Sophie Taubner |
The IWF Graz advertises a PostDoc position in the area of exoplanet atmosphere modelling: We are looking to expand our cloud formation domain competence team to develop the next level of ML-powered cloud formation modelling.
Which domain competence are we looking for:
- astrochemistry (incl. carbo-hydrates) or
- cloud formation modelling (incl. solar system (Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, ... ), exoplanets, brown dwarfs, AGB stars) or
- computational chemistry (incl. molecular cluster simulations) or
- theoretical physics (quantum chemistry, material sciences). | ▸ more | The successful candidate will be part of Prof Christiane Helling´s research group Exoplanets: Weather & Climate at the Space Research Institute (IWF) Graz. The project is conducted in collaboration with Prof Robert Peharz from the Graz University of Technology.
In this FWF funded project, we are interested in understanding cloud formation in exoplanets and specifically the formation of molecular cluster as pre-coursers of cloud formation in the diversity of extrasolar planets. We aim to explore advanced neural network architectures, particularly Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and generative models, to predict the three-dimensional structures and thermo-chemical properties of large molecular clusters-tasks that are computationally prohibitive using traditional methods like Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics. Our modelling efforts support JWST and CHEOPS in physically interpreting observational data. We further contribute to science case studies and science preparation for PLATO, the high-energy space mission NewATHENA as well as HWO.
Your Tasks
Develop Neural Network models to predict three dimensional complex molecular cluster structures and thermo-chemical properties.
Support cloud formation modelling.
Support scientific data interpretation (e.g., CHEOPS, JWST) and preparation for future missions.
Publication and support in proposal writing activities, and collaborate with group members.
Your Profile
Necessary to have:
PhD in computational chemistry, theoretical astrophysics / physics , astrochemistry, or computer science.
Experiences in programming.
Experiences in scientific publishing.
Beneficial to have:
Experiences in astrochemistry, astrophysics, and cloud formation.
Practical experience in addressing ML-based research problems
The appointment can begin 1st November 2025; but the starting date is negotiable. The post will be for 2 years initially but can be extended up to 3 years.
Further information and Link to application plattform can be found here: https://www.oeaw.ac.at/jobs?jh=7tvqzbob8sjpkd9ak187ayc34tv7j68
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Postdoctoral Fellow - Time-domain science with WST | Closing date: 2025-06-20 Contact: Evelina Dietmann |
For its Office for Science within the Directorate for Science at its headquarters in Garching, Germany, ESO is offering the position of Postdoctoral Fellow - Time-domain science with WS. | ▸ more | ESO astronomers are participating in the design of a new facility, the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST: https://www.wstelescope.com/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.05398), an innovative 12-m class wide-field spectroscopic telescope with simultaneous operation of a large field-of-view (3 sq. degree) and high multiplex (30,000) multi-object spectrograph facility with both medium and high resolution modes (MOS), and a giant panoramic (3x3 sq. arcmin) integral field spectrograph (IFS). The WST project is a research and innovation action funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme (under agreement number 101183153 (WST)).
Under this agreement, ESO is offering a postdoctoral researcher the opportunity to work on time-domain science with WST. Time-domain astronomy is a key component of WST's science drivers, and thus, it is being built into WST from the start. This includes the generation and ingestion of a spectroscopic alert stream, which aims to report on spectral changes, like variations in emission or absorption lines or changes in the continuum, among others. The development of this alert stream will be conducted in the context of the WST time-domain working group (led by Richard Anderson - EPFL, Cyrielle Opitom - University of Edinburgh, and Paula Sanchez Saez - ESO), whose aim is to maximize the information offered by WST time-resolved observations, enabling breakthrough science across all scales, from Solar System Objects to Cosmology, and offering a major opportunity for serendipitous discoveries. In this context, the postdoctoral fellow will work for one year on the definition and characterization of the WST spectroscopic alert stream.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Work in close collaboration with members of the WST Time-Domain group on the definition of the WST alert stream.
Interact with other members of the WST Time-Domain group to collect requirements for the alert stream.
Collect available optical spectra for classes of targets for which the alert stream is relevant.
Use the WST ETC to simulate optical spectra for testing.
Estimate expected alert rates.
Provide inputs to the operational model team.
Develop and test algorithms for the identification of spectral changes.
Key competencies and requirements
Essential Competences and Experience:
Experience with optical spectral analysis
Good working knowledge of Python.
Experience with statistical analysis in astronomy
Desirable Competences and Experience:
Strong background in time-domain astronomy
Experience with large spectroscopic surveys.
Experience with multi-object spectroscopy (MOS) or integral field spectrograph (IFS) observations
Background in machine learning applied to astronomy
Experience with photometric alert streams (e.g., ZTF or LSST)
Qualifications:
Applicants must have a PhD in astronomy, physics or a related discipline by 1 October 2025.
Language Skills:
The position requires an excellent command of English, both written and spoken.
Remuneration and Contract:
We offer an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary and allowances, comprehensive social benefits, and we provide financial support for relocating families. Salary will be in line with ESO Fellow salaries. The position includes the benefits as outlined under https://www.eso.org/public/jobs/conditions/fellows/ however, the duration of the contract is limited to one year. The starting date is flexible, but should not be later than December 2025.
Duty Station:
Garching near Munich, Germany.
Application:
If you are interested in working in areas of frontline science and technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details.
Applicants are invited to apply online at: https://recruitment.eso.org. Applications must be completed in English and should include the following material:
A Cover Letter of up to one page outlining relevant experience and motivation for the role;
A research statement of up to two pages;
A CV including personal data, education, skills, expertise, and publication list;
The position also requires two letters of reference to be submitted. Referees will be automatically invited to submit a recommendation letter by the application deadline. Applicants are strongly advised to trigger these invitations (using the web application form) well in advance of the application deadline.
Deadline for applications is 20 June 2025.
Interviews are expected to be held in July 2025, online via MS Teams.
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User Support Astronomer | Closing date: 2025-08-01 Contact: Evelina Dietmann |
For its User Support Department, within the Data Management and Operations Division of the Directorate of Operations at its Headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany, ESO is looking for a successful candidate to fill the following position: User Support Astronomer. | ▸ more | The User Support Astronomers Group (USG) within the User Support Department is the main interface between the La Silla Paranal Observatory and the Service Mode users of its facilities. The department is part of the Data Management and Operations Division which provides high-reliability support to the operation of the ESO facilities and to their community of users in the framework of an integrated end-to-end system and maintains the archive facility and its data holdings as a powerful resource for both scientific and operational use. The core responsibility of the USG is to provide expert and user-oriented support for Phase 1 proposals and Phase 2 observations preparation including the observations follow-up ensuring the high quality and efficient Service Mode operations. The members of the USG define the requirements for observation preparation tools and feedback on operational requirements for new instruments.
The User Support Department is looking for an astronomer with a strong and active research profile. The post holder should have a strong interest in maximizing ESO's science output through conducting expert user support and contributing to the development of efficient processes, tools, and high-quality documentation for the user community.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be responsible for the support of Service Mode users of the La Silla Paranal Observatory facilities and of VLT and/or VLTI operations.
The main tasks include:
- Provision of scientific and technical assistance to the users of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and/or the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in the areas of Phase 1 tasks (observing proposal preparation) and Phase 2 tasks (observation blocks and observing strategy review and approval) as well as providing helpdesk support including post-observation support for data reduction;
- Support the Paranal Observatory during programme execution and follow-up;
- Play an active role in the operation teams of the supported instruments, contributing to their efficient operation;
- In the medium term, become involved in preparations for ELT operations and support of its users.
As an astronomer and member of the ESO Science Faculty, you will be expected and encouraged to conduct astronomical research and participate actively in the scientific life of ESO. Research in areas directed towards using the capacities of the VLT/VLTI and ALMA and future capabilities of the ELT as well as areas that are currently under-represented among the ESO faculty are encouraged. For an overview of the science expertise at ESO see https://eso.org/sci/activities/garching.html.
Reports to:
Head of the User Support Astronomers Group
Key Competences and Experience:
Essential Competences and Experience
- At least three years of active astronomical research at least at postdoctoral level with a solid publication record;
- Broad observational experience with a variety of telescopes and instruments in optical and/or near-IR wavelength regime;
- Knowledge and practical experience in data reduction software and techniques;
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills;
- Open and friendly attitude to interact with a variety of users;
- Excellent cross-disciplinary communication skills both oral and written;
- Pro-active approach to contribute ideas for improvement and future developments;
- Effective and committed team member able to build effective links across different teams.
Desirable Competences and Experience
- Preparing observing proposals and designing observing strategies for VLT or VLTI instruments;
- Working knowledge of Python and familiarity with SQL;
- Ability to work efficiently in a multi-cultural environment both independently and within a team.
Qualifications:
Essential educational level: Ph.D in Astronomy, Physics or equivalent.
Language skills:
The position requires an excellent working knowledge of English.
Application:
If you are interested in working in areas of frontline science and technology and in a stimulating international environment, please visit http://www.eso.org for further details.
Applicants are invited to apply online at http://jobs.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter, CV containing a publication list and a research statement. Also required are the names and contact details of three persons familiar with your work and willing to provide a reference letter. Referees will be automatically invited to submit their letter, however, applicants are strongly advised to trigger these invitations (using the web application form) well in advance of the application deadline.
Deadline for applications is 1 August 2025.
Interviews are expected to start soon after this date.
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Launch of UPSaclay-STAR-phi Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme | Closing date: 2025-07-31 Contact: Frédéric Galliano |
The Graduate School of Physics at Paris-Saclay University (France) launches a new postdoctoral fellowshiop programme for interntaional researchers. | ▸ more | The Graduate School of Physics at Université Paris-Saclay (France) is launching a new postdoctoral fellowship programme: UPSaclay-STAR-phi, supported by the EU Marie Curie COFUND programme.
The programme will recruit up to 41 international postdoctoral researchers over two calls, for 24-month research projects in one of the 40 laboratories of the Graduate School, at the SOLEIL synchrotron, or at the French National Metrology Lab (LNE). This includes 4 astrophysics laboratories: the Department of Astrophysics (DAp) of CEA Paris-Saclay, the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), the Laboratoire Atmosphères et Observations Spatiales (LATMOS) and the Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (LPP).
- First call opens: May 1st, 2025.
- Application deadline: July 31st, 2025.
- Expected start of fellowships: early 2026 (flexible).
Applicants will propose their own research project aligned with the School?s wide-ranging fields, from fundamental to applied physics.
Notice that the postdoctoral candidate must not have been based in France for more than 12 months, during the past 3 years.
Website of the programme: http://www.cofund-physics.universite-paris-saclay.fr/
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Operations Staff Astronomer / Instrument Scientist | Closing date: 2025-05-31 Contact: Vacchile |
The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world?s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. | ▸ more | Paranal Science Operations (PSO) astronomers play a key role in optimizing the scientific return of the world leading astronomical facility.
PSO is responsible for the efficient execution of the scheduled observations, and in providing the highest quality data to our users in the worldwide astronomical community. The department is also charged with maintaining and where possible improving the scientific and operational performance of the VLT(I)?s astronomical instruments. Astronomers in the department chair the Instrument Operation Teams (IOTs). PSO is strongly involved in the preparations for the full integration of the ELT into Paranal, in the context of the Integrated Operations Programme (IOP).
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain and provide expert knowledge on novel instrumentation and become closely involved in operations development towards the ELT. They will be given the overall responsibility for an instrument at the Very Large Telescope or future ELT. Within our operational requirements, flexibility exists to tailor duties and responsibilities according to personal expertise and interests.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will:
? Become instrument scientist for one of the current or future instruments at VLT and ELT. Activities include
- manage the end-to-end operational and scientific performance, with a system level approach
- define, implement, optimize and characterize new observing modes
- set-up of optimized calibration plans
- contribute to the operations-readiness of the upcoming generation of VLT(-I) and ELT systems.
? Contribute to the science operations activities for both visitor and service mode at Paranal Observatory. This includes planning and execution of observations, providing quality assurance and quality control of the scientific data obtained, supporting visiting astronomers, and the calibration of instruments.
? Support the operational development of Paranal towards an integrated VLT-ELT observatory, in the context of the Integrated Operations Programme (IOP).
The successful candidate will be part of ESO?s astronomy faculty and be appointed at the level of Assistant or Associate Astronomer. They will be expected and encouraged to carry out a sustainable scientific research program that enables them to
? Interact at peer level with the user community, including instrument consortia and high-profile researchers
? Understand and drive instrument performance from a scientific point of view
Functional duties are carried out for the equivalent of up to 105 nights per year at the Observatory, in either day-, night- or mixed shifts on site. Functional work pursued off-site (e.g. at the ESO campus in Santiago or in mobile work) accordingly reduces the nights required to be spent on site. The rest of the time is spent on personal scientific research at the ESO campus in Santiago. Assessment of overall performance includes both functional duties and personal research.
ESO provides various types of financial support to its faculty members, including but not limited to conference participation and organization, scientific visits, PhD studentships.
Reports to:
The Head of the Paranal Science Operations Department in Chile.
Experience:
We seek a staff astronomer with instrument scientist skills, able to manage the operational and scientific performance of an instrument with an end-to-end perspective. Demonstrated experience in commissioning and/or development of new instruments will be an important asset, with a particular emphasis on system level analysis. We look for someone with excellent observing and/or operational experience in areas relevant to VLT(-I) and ELT instrumentation, with at least 3 years after the PhD.
Key Competences:
Required:
? Demonstrated experience in commissioning and/or development of astronomical instruments, with a particular emphasis on system level analysis.
? Strong background in state-of-the-art observing techniques available at Paranal. Such techniques include interferometry and extreme adaptive optics, high resolution and multi-object spectroscopy, time-resolved photometry, etc in the optical and near-to-mid infrared wavelength regions.
? Excellent observation-oriented research records and a sustainable future research program, that enables them to interact at peer level with the user community, and drive instrument performance from a scientific point of view.
? Deeply familiar with data analysis, both for astronomical data and data that describes instrument performance. Conversant with at least one major data reduction environment (e.g. ESO Reflex, IRAF, IDL)
? Good working knowledge of python.
Desirable:
? Proven ability to identify technical issues and potential risks, and experience with real-time troubleshooting.
? A keen interest in quality control of astronomical data
Very good self-organization and time management is a must, coupled with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks. Communication and interpersonal skills are required, with the ability to adapt and to work efficiently in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and within a team. A strong sense of team spirit is essential.
Qualifications:
Ph.D. in Astronomy, Physics or equivalent
Language Skills:
The position requires proficient knowledge of English. A working knowledge of Spanish, or a willingness to learn it, would be advantageous.
Application:
Applicants are invited to apply online at https://jobs.eso.org/. Applications must be completed in English and should include a motivation letter, a research statement and a CV (with list of publications).
The position also requires three letters of reference to be submitted before the application deadline.
Please review full vacancy at https://recruitment.eso.org/jobs/2025_0031
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Maîtrise en 2026 au Planétarium de Montréal et IREx / 2026 M.Sc. at the Montreal Planetarium and IREx | Closing date: 2025-05-31 Contact: Jonathan Gagné |
*French follows*
The Montreal Planetarium, in collaboration with the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx), affiliated with the Department of Physics of the Université de Montréal (UdeM), invites candidates to apply for an M. Sc. under the supervision of Jonathan Gagné on the detection and characterization of isolated planetary-mass objects (planemos) in nearby, young stellar associations.
The Masters' degree will start between January and April 2026 for 2 years. The stipend is 17k CAD/year.
Apply here / Appliquez ici: https://forms.gle/dehkVo6y25wqSduRA | ▸ more | Apply here / Appliquez ici: https://forms.gle/dehkVo6y25wqSduRA
Jonathan Gagné is a researcher at the Montréal Planetarium, an adjunct professor at UdeM, and a member of IREx. His research revolves around characterizing the ages of stars, brown dwarfs, exoplanets, and planetary-mass objects (planemos), with a particular emphasis on:
? The discovery and characterization (membership, kinematics, age) of young stellar associations, notably using data from the Gaia space mission,
? The discovery and (spectral and kinematic) characterization of substellar objects, including brown dwarfs and planemos,
? The search for exoplanets using the radial velocity method, with a focus on exoplanets around young stars.
Jonathan is also interested in numerical methods for machine learning (e.g., Gaussian processes, extreme deconvolution, and other clustering algorithms), the compilation of large datasets using MySQL databases, data visualization, and the characterization of light pollution.
The master?s program lasts for two years, starting between January and April 2026, with a salary of CAD 17,000/year funded by Jonathan?s NSERC research grant. Candidates will be required to apply for NSERC and FRQNT master?s scholarships in fall 2025, which could increase their stipend to CAD 31,000/year (CRSNG) or CAD 24,000/year (FRQNT). The master?s internship could be extended (or converted) into a PhD position depending on interest and the availability of research funding after 2026.
The internship will take place in person at the Montréal Planetarium (located at 4801 Pierre-de Coubertin Ave, Montréal), where an office will be provided for the candidate near Jonathan?s office. Jonathan will be available most of the time during the week to work with the candidate. The candidate will also be encouraged to visit IREx (located at the MIL campus of UdeM at 1375 Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux Ave, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3) regularly for IREx coffee meetings, conferences, and collaborations.
Application Deadline: May 31, 2025
If you have any questions or concerns about your application, contact me at jonathan.gagne @ montreal.ca.
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Le Planétarium de Montréal, en collaboration avec l'Institut Trottier de recherche sur les exoplanètes (IREx) affilié au Département de physique de l'Université de Montréal (UdeM), invite les candidatures pour une maîtrise en recherche sous la supervision de Jonathan Gagné sur la détection et la caractérisation d'objets isolés de masse planétaire (planémos) dans les associations d'étoiles jeunes proches.
Jonathan Gagné est chercheur au Planétarium de Montréal, professeur associé à l'UdeM et membre de l'IREx. Ses champs de recherche sont centrés autour de la mesure de l'âge des étoiles, naines brunes, exoplanètes et planémos, et concernent principalement:
? La découverte et la caractérisation (membres, cinématique, âge) d'associations d'étoiles jeunes, notamment en utilisant les données de la mission spatiale Gaia,
? La découverte et la caractérisation spectrale et cinématique d'objets sous-stellaires, regroupant les naines brunes et les planémos,
? La recherche d'exoplanètes par la méthode des vitesses radiales, avec l'accent sur les exoplanètes autour d'étoiles jeunes.
Jonathan est aussi intéressé par les méthodes numériques d'apprentissage machine (par exemple les procédés Gaussiens, la déconvolution extrême et les autres algorithmes de regroupement), la collation de grands ensembles de données via l'utilisation de bases de données MySQL, la visualisation de données et la caractérisation de la pollution lumineuse.
La maîtrise est pour une durée de 2 ans, débutant entre janvier et avril 2026, avec un salaire de 17,000 $CAD/an fourni par la subvention de recherche CRSNG de Jonathan. Les candidat·e·s devront soumettre une demande de bourse de maîtrise auprès du CRSNG et du FRQNT à l'automne 2025, ce qui pourrait augmenter leur salaire à 31,000 $CAD/an (CRSNG) ou 24,000 $CAD/an (FRQNT). La maîtrise pourrait être prolongée (ou transformée) en stage doctoral selon l'intérêt et les fonds de recherche disponibles après 2026.
La maîtrise se produira en personne au Planétarium de Montréal (situé au 4801 Avenue Pierre-de Coubertin, Montréal), où un bureau sera mis à la disposition du·de la candidat·e à proximité du bureau de Jonathan, qui sera disponible la majorité du temps en semaine pour travailler avec le·la candidat·e. Le ou la candidat·e sera aussi encouragé·e à visiter l'IREx (situé au campus MIL de l'UdeM au 1375 Ave.Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3) régulièrement pour les cafés IREx, conférences et collaborations.
Date limite pour l'application : 31 mai 2025
Si vous avez des questions concernant votre candidature, contactez-moi à jonathan.gagne @ montreal.ca.
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Postdoctoral Position in Galactic Archaeology | Closing date: 2025-05-31 Contact: Nadège Lagarde |
We invite applications for one postdoctoral position at the Bordeaux Laboratory for Astrophysics, France, to work on the characterisation of old Galactic stellar populations. | ▸ more | The successful candidate will join the research team led by Dr N. Lagarde and work on PRIMA (PRobing the origIns of the Milky WAy's oldest stars), a project funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). PRIMA is an international collaboration with a team led by Prof. C. Charbonnel at the Department of Astronomy of the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
PRIMA focuses on the Galactic structures hosting the oldest stars of the Milky Way, namely the halo, thick disc, and globular clusters (GC), which are key tracers of the Galaxy's merger history. The project employs stellar population synthesis models to simulate the present-day stellar content of the Milky Way, combining state-of-the-art stellar evolution models with Galactic formation scenarios. By comparing simulated mock catalogues with multi-wavelength survey data, including Gaia data combined with spectroscopic and asteroseismic constraints, PRIMA offers a unique perspective on Galactic evolution. Unlike other approaches, it eliminates selection biases in data analysis and accounts for internal stellar processes that alter chemical abundances and impact stellar lifetimes. The project aims to disentangle in situ and ex situ origins of old stars and to assess the effects of mergers and secular evolution (e.g., radial migration) on Galactic stellar populations, including globular clusters and their escaped stars.
The postdoctoral researcher based in Bordeaux will focus on characterising and dating merger events in the halo and thick disc, using the Besançon Galactic Model (BGM), a well-established Galactic stellar population synthesis tool. We seek a highly motivated and creative researcher capable of developing new strategies to interpret Galactic surveys and correct for selection biases to better understand the oldest stellar populations of the Milky Way. We welcome applications from candidates with expertise in observational, theoretical, or computational astrophysics, particularly in the fields of stellar and Galactic evolution. The ideal candidate has good knowledge of English and solid programming skills. We treasure diversity in the Prima collaboration and strive to foster an inclusive, collegial and supporting environment where anyone can feel welcome and valued regardless of background or identity.
Position Details
- Duration: 2 years
- Starting Date: Autumn 2025 (flexible within reasonable limits)
- Location: Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux, France
- Benefits: Full health insurance and social security coverage (as per French law)
- Funding: Support for travel to international conferences and collaborations
Application Process
Applicants should submit the following documents in a single PDF file:
1) Curriculum Vitae (including a list of publications);
2) Research statement (max. 4 pages) outlining past achievements, research interests, and envisioned contributions to PRIMA;
3) PhD diploma (or an official statement confirming its expected completion date).
Additionally, at least two letters of recommendation should be sent directly by the referees.
Send all applications and information requests to nadege.lagarde @ u-bordeaux.fr.
The review of applications will start immediately and will continue until May 31, 2025 or until the position is filled. The hiring process and the working relationship will adhere to the principles of diversity and inclusion upheld by our parent institutions.
The full announcement can be found at the following link: https://perso.astrophy.u-bordeaux.fr/~nlagarde001/Postdoc_position.pdf
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