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| Two ERC-funded postdoctoral positions in star and planet formation, data and time series analysis, at IPAG. | Closing date: 2021-01-15
Contact: Jerome Bouvier |
IPAG (Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble) invites applications for 2 post-doctoral research positions in the framework of the ERC project SPIDI: Star-Planets-Inner Disk Interactions, http://www.spidi-eu.org. The SPIDI project aims at exploring the inner regions of circumstellar disks around young stars were close-in planets are in the process of formation.
Postdoc I. Probing the magnetospheric accretion/ejection region of young stars with long baseline interferometry
Postdoc II. Innovative methods for time series analysis of the light curves of young stars. | | ▸ more | Postdoc I. Probing the magnetospheric accretion/ejection region of young stars with long baseline interferometry
The interaction region between the inner disk and the star where magnetospheric accretion takes place extends a few stellar radii above the stellar surface, amounting to less than 1 mas on the sky. Recent advance in long baseline interferometry, most notably thanks to the ESO VLTI/GRAVITY instrument, now enables to directly probe this region (e.g. Bouvier et al. 2020; Garcia-Lopez et al. 2020). IPAG has a unique expertise in high-angular resolution imaging, has contributed to the construction of GRAVITY and is co-I of the GRAVITY+ project, co-leads the GRAVITY YSO group for the exploitation of the GTO, and includes world-leading experts of interferometric techniques. The postdoctoral position aims at exploiting the spectro-astrometric capabilities of VLTI/GRAVITY to study the accretion/ejection process in young stellar objects. The work will involve interferometric data analysis, in close collaboration with local experts (K. Perraut). It will also include the exploitation of radiative transfer models of the star-disk interaction region being currently developed at IPAG, to compute interferometric quantities (visibilities, differential phases) on synthetic images to be directly confronted to observations. All these studies will be crucial to prepare for the future GRAVITY+ observations of YSOs. Experience in interferometric data analysis is required and expertise in numerical modeling is welcome.
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Postdoc II. Innovative methods for time series analysis of the light curves of young stars.
Tremendous progress has been made in characterizing the photometric variability of young stars, thanks to continuous light curves provided by space missions (e.g. Kepler/K2, TESS, etc.). Of these, the so-called dippers (e.g., Cody et al. 2014) offer a direct window onto physical processes operating close to the star, including disk warps, dusty inner disk winds, and magnetospheric funnel flows. Up to now, the photometric time series have been submitted to conventional period-search algorithms (e.g., periodogram, wavelet transform). The goal of the proposed postdoctoral position is to go further in the analysis of the shape and temporal evolution of the light curves of young stars by applying innovative algorithms (e.g., DTW) and/or new approaches provided by AI. Applicants are expected to have a strong background in time-series analysis, including knowledge of innovative algorithms that may be relevant to the considered datasets. Experience in astronomical or physical time series is desirable but not mandatory.
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Each of these positions is fully supported for two years. The workplace is the Institut de Planétologie et d?Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), France. Around 160 people work at IPAG, including 60 staff scientists and professors, 30 staff engineers, technicians, administrative personnel, and 70 contracted personnel, which include around 20 postdocs and 30 PhD students. Our research themes embrace the formation of solar systems, from the initial phases of the core collapse, through protostellar disk physics and chemistry, up to the study of exoplanets. We also work on accretion-ejection processes around young stellar objects and compact objects. Our activities include laboratory measurements, high performance computing, as well as the design and operation of cutting edge instrumentation for space missions and ground-based telescopes, notably for the future European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).
The postdoctoral positions offer the opportunity for astronomers to work in a world-class research environment and pursue their career in a very dynamic and competitive field of research.
The candidates applying for the position should have a PhD in physics or astronomy (Postdoc I), or in a related field (Postdoc II) relevant to the advertised positions. Interested candidates should send their curriculum vitae, a publication list, a brief statement of research interests outlining their suitability and motivation for one of the positions above, and arrange for three letters of reference.
Applications received by January 15, 2021 will receive full consideration, but will continue to be accepted until the positions are filled. Please send all applications as a single pdf file and reference letters to: Jerome.bouvier @ univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
The appointment is for two years and may start as early as March 2021. Funds are available for computing, publications, travel, and other needs. The gross salary is in the range 30-42 kEuros per annum, depending on qualifications and experience. IPAG welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.
ERC SPIDI: http://www.spidi-eu.org
IPAG: http://ipag.osug.fr/
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