PostDoc - Astrophysical research

The Geneva Observatory

Geneva, Switzerland

Closing Date: 1st May 2014

Description

The Geneva Observatory in Geneva, Switzerland, announces the availability of a research position at the postdoctoral level, open to applicants of all nationalities.

The successful candidate will work on projects aimed at studying starburst galaxies in the distant Universe, involving multi-wavelength observations and/or modeling. He/she may in particular work with ground-based near-IR and longer wavelength observations including VLT, HST, Spitzer, Herschel, IRAM, APEX, and ALMA data from approved and upcoming projects, such as follow-up of the Herschel Lensing Survey, the VIMOS Ultra Deep Survey, and others. He/she will also have access to state-of-the-art modeling tools including 3D radiation transfer, SED fitting, and evolutionary synthesis codes. The candidate will work with the group of Prof. Daniel Schaerer in Geneva and within international collaborations.

The Geneva Observatory and the associated Laboratory of Astrophysics of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne carry out observational, interpretative and theoretical research in the fields of extra-solar planets, stellar physics, high energy astrophysics, galaxy evolution and dynamics, and observational cosmology.

PostDoc - Position on weak lensing and euclid

CEA Saclay

France

Closing Date: 31st January 2014

Description

Location: CEA Saclay, France.

Position Status: Open.

Dead line for application: Jan 31, 2014.

Web page: http://www.cosmostat.org/job.html

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position on Weak lensing and Euclid for a period of 2 years.

Requirements

The candidate should have a strong interest in cosmology or/and in image processing and statistical techniques.

Minimum qualifications include an undergraduate degree or higher in astronomy, physics, computer science, statistics, or related field.

More information and applications

PhD - Isotope geo and cosmochemistry

The Isotope Geochemistry Group at the Department of Earth Sciences

ETH Zurich, Switzerland 

Description

The PhD project includes geochemical and isotopic investigations to evaluate the processes in the early solar system that led to the formation of the earth's moon. The projects will involve the development of new analytical techniques to set up novel stable isotope systems. The review of applications will begin on 15 November until the position is filled. The PhD position will be offered for 3 years with a possible 1 year extension, starting within the next 6 months.

The project is suitable for students with a background in geology, chemistry, physics, planetary sciences or equivalent experience. The student will be trained in cutting-edge analytical work (incl. clean room chemistry and multi-collector ICP-MS) carried out at the state-of-the-art geochemical facilities at the ETH Zurich. These techniques have numerous applications across the range of analytical sciences.

More information and applications

PostDoc- Positions for astronomical observatories

Division of Galaxy and Cosmology, National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC)

China / United Kingdom

Closing Date: 10th January 2014

Description

Applicants are invited to apply for postdoctoral positions at Division of Galaxy and Cosmology, National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) in collaboration with Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG), University of Portsmouth in the UK.

Both NAOC and ICG are institutional members of SDSS-IV (http://www.sdss3.org/future/), and 5 positions are available from September 1, 2014. The posts will be primarily based at NAOC (>9 months each year) but with a close link to the ICG faculty including the opportunity for each postdoc to work for at least one month a year in Portsmouth, UK (all expenses paid). The post is for two years initially with a possible third year extension subject to performance and funding.

Position in eBOSS science:

Host at NAOC: Gong-Bo Zhao

Host at ICG: Bob Nichol, Will Percival

Position in MaNGA science:

Host at NAOC: Shude Mao

Host at ICG: Claudia Maraston, Karen Masters, Bob Nichol and Daniel Thomas

Position in APOGEE-II science:

Host at NAOC: Chao Liu

Host at ICG: Claudia Maraston, Bob Nichol

Position in SKA science:

Host at NAOC: Gong-Bo Zhao

Host at ICG: David Bacon

Position in theoretical cosmology:

Host at NAOC: Gong-Bo Zhao

Host at ICG: Marco Bruni, Robert Crittenden, Kazuya Koyama, Gianmassimo

Tasinato and David Wands

More information and applications

PostDoc - Medium Scale Structure of the Universe

INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste 

Trieste, Italy

Application deadline: 20/01/2014

Description

Project: "The Medium Scale Structure of the Universe"

The main goals of the project are as follows:

• Large, Medium, and Small Scale structure of the Universe;
• Measure of cosmological parameters in standard and non-standard scenarios;
• Modelling of the Inter Galactic Medium.

The above goals will be achieved through systematic comparison between observational data and results of N-body simulations and/or semi-analytical models of the large scale structure as e.g. extensions of the linear theory. The successful applicant will work in close collaboration with dr. Matteo Viel and with other members of the Cosmology group of the Astronomical Observatory of Trieste in the framework of the project CosmoIGM granted by the EU. The members of the CosmoIGM group are highly active in the field of Intergalactic physics (the projects are: SDSS/BOSS, UVES and X-Shooter), of cosmological neutrinos and standard and non-standard models of the large scale structure.

Requirements

Participation to the selection is reserved for Italian and foreign citizens holding the following mandatory minimum requirements:

- PhD degree either in Physics or Astronomy, or equivalent degree, issued by an Italian (or foreign) Advanced Studies Institute or University.

 Or

- degree either in Physics or Astronomy issued according to the previous Italian University regulations or degree in Physics or Astronomy, either “specialistica” or “magistralis” (new Italian University regulations), or equivalent degree issued by an Italian or foreign Advanced Studies Institute or University, together with at least three years of documented experience in scientific or technological activities.

A good level of knowledge of the English language is required.

More information and applications

PostDoc - Research position within the framework of the IAC-MAGIC Agreement

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
Tenerife, Spain

Description

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Tenerife, Spain), a leading Astrophysical Center in Spain, invites applications for ONE postdoctoral research position within the framework of the IAC-MAGIC Agreement (P/300461).
Research topics at the IAC include most areas of astrophysics: cosmology and the structure of the Universe, galactic astrophysics, the structure and evolution of stars, the interstellar medium, solar physics, telescope design and construction, high spatial resolution techniques, infrared and optical instrumentation, and astronomical space projects.  The IAC has been selected as a “Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence” in research by the Spanish Government.  Further information about the IAC's research programme, its Observatories and the GTC is available on the IAC's Web page (http://www.iac.es).
 The purpose of the position is to work as a post-doctoral researcher within the framework of the IAC-MAGIC Agreement.  The researcher will spend a 75% of her/his time at the IAC headquarters on Tenerife and the remaining 25% at the MAGIC offices at the CALP on La Palma and the MAGIC telescopes sited on the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory.

Tasks:
Joining the Particle Astrophysics Group of the IAC, participating in research tasks carried out within its framework;
Provide support and advise to the students in the aforementioned group with regard to the use of the telescopes and the analysis of data;
Participation in the analysis of data obtained with the MAGIC telescopes;
Participation in IAC observing campaigns at the MAGIC telescopes sited at the ORM in La Palma.

Requirements

Doctorate: Applicants must prove that they have completed their Ph.D. in Astrophysics or Physics by the closing date for submission of applications (30th September, 2013).

NOTE: Applicants who have prepared their Ph.D. thesis at the IAC must present accreditation of having spent one continuous year, or 18 accumulated months, in other research institutes.

More information and applications

Postdoc - Stellar parameters research

Gaia Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

Heidelberg, Germany

Description

The Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) is seeking an ambitious, highly qualified postdoctoral researcher to work on the analysis of the Gaia data. Gaia is an ESA mission due for launch in late 2013 which will undertake an astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic survey of the Galaxy (see www.rssd.esa.int/Gaia). As part of the international Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC), the MPIA leads the subconsortium responsible for object classification and astrophysical parameter estimation and is involved in producing value-added catalogues from the Gaia data.

The successful candidate will combine Gaia data with data from other spectroscopic and photometric surveys, with the goal of obtaining more reliable estimates of stellar parameters than can be obtained from an individual survey. The resulting "hybrid catalogues" will be part of the Gaia data releases and can form the basis for scientific studies. The candidate will be involved in the assembly of the catalogues, the implementation and application of algorithms to estimate stellar parameters, and the scientific exploitation of the results. He/she will join the other members of the Gaia group and will work closely with the Milky Way group, both in the Galaxies and Cosmology Department at MPIA.

The MPIA has over 200 employees covering a broad range of astrophysical research, encompassing large observing programs, survey data analysis, ground-based and space-based instrument development, and theoretical modelling. The institute has privileged access to high performance supercomputing facilities and to various observational facilities, and is a major partner in the Pan-STARRS1 survey. For more information see www.mpia.de.

Requirements

The applicant should have a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or related field. She/he should also have experience in/with: programming; astronomical survey data; statistical data analysis; stellar astronomy. The appointment is initially for two years, with a two year extension foreseen (subject to satisfactory performance). A further four year extension contingent on funding is possible. Funding for travel to conferences and consortium meetings is provided.

More information and applications

PostDoc - Research about early planetary evolution

The Swedish Museum of Natural History (NRM)

Stockholm, Sweden

Description

The Swedish Museum of Natural History (NRM), Stockholm, invites applications for two currently available post-doctoral researcher positions (two years fixed term). These positions are associated with a major new research initiative in early planetary evolution funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation and the Swedish Research Council.

There are two sub-projects within this research initiative, each of which will have one post-doctoral researcher. The first sub-project concerns the origin, magmatic evolution and impact history of the Moon; the second sub-project will investigate the earliest history of the Earth (Hadean and early Archean). These investigations will primarily involve the use of state-of-the-art micro-analytical facilities available in the Department of Geosciences at the museum, including high resolution ion microprobe, laser ablation induction coupled mass spectrometry, thermal ionization mass spectrometry, and associated support facilities (preparation labs, electron microscope, etc.).

Requirements

Applicants for the post-doctoral positions must have a recent PhD. in geochemistry, preferably with experience in isotope geochemistry and/or microanalysis.

The successful applicants will be selected based on documented knowledge relevant to the subject, knowledge of scientific theory and method, analytical skills, personal motivation and team working skills. Proficiency in English is required.

More information and applications