Faculty of Science
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Vacancies

1. Post-doc position: follow-up of Fast X-ray Transients

2. Assistant Professorship: From stellar environments to conditions on exoplanets

3. Assistant Professor Big Data Astronomy



more info about the vacancies please see below:
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Post-doc position: follow-up of Fast X-ray Transients


We invite applications for a 3 yr post-doc position in astrophysics at Radboud University to work within the Department of Astrophysics, specifically the Transients research group led by profs Peter Jonker and Andrew Levan. The group consists of about 15 people. The goal of the research is to determine the nature of Fast X-ray Transients. A leading theory is that they are caused by binary neutron star merger events although supernova shock break-out signals or (rare) tidal disruption events might also be responsible for a sub-set of the events. There is a strong international collaboration with partners including in Chile, Spain, U.K., and the U.S.A., working together towards the goal.

The main observational tools used will be optical and near-infrared photometric and spectroscopic observations. In particular, of new Fast X-ray Transients expected to be discovered with the recently successfully launched Einstein Probe satellite. We anticipate also using the host galaxy properties as determined for instance through Euclid observations. Applicants with a background in the use of these tools are especially encouraged to apply although applications from others, for instance people with a more theoretical background, are also very welcome and will be given full consideration.

The position is open to candidates from any country. You should have obtained a PhD in astrophysics by the starting date. The prospective starting date is September 1, 2024, although this is negotiable.

To apply, please email a succinct cover letter, CV, and a statement of your past research (all pdf) to secr@astro.ru.nl, mentioning “ERC-PD2024” in the subject line. Also, please include the names of 3 people who are willing to write a reference letter. Complete applications received by March 1, 2024 will receive full consideration.

Application Deadline: Friday, March 1, 2024
Selection Deadline:     Monday, April 1, 2024


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Assistant Professorship: From stellar environments to conditions on exoplanets

The candidate is expected to play a leading role to strengthen our activities to understand the origin of life. The conditions under which life can emerge on (rocky) exoplanets is one of the key questions in astrophysics and astrobiology, with strong interdisciplinary links to physics, chemistry, earth science, and biology. The properties of the parent star, of the planet, and of the planetary system need to be considered in order to understand the potential for life as we know it to emerge.

Key in this position is the relationship between rocky exoplanets and their parent stars. The chemical composition of the parent star is imprinted on that of rocky planets, which in turn is key input to understand the planets’ interior structure and evolution. Stellar activity impacts the stability and composition of planetary atmospheres.

Planetary exploration missions and powerful telescopes such as ALMA and JWST provide increasingly more quantitative information about the physical and chemical properties of planet forming disks, of (rocky) exoplanets and their atmospheres, and of the chances that life elsewhere in the solar system could have emerged. Laboratory experiments give an important experimental context where conditions in exoplanetary atmospheres can be simulated. The ideal candidate can exploit this treasure trove of data in terms of the interplay between exoplanet evolution and their parent stars, in close collaboration with the experts on stellar structure and evolution in the department.


We are looking for an internationally recognized scientist with a long-term vision to build up and lead a research group. The ideal candidate has:
• a PhD in Astrophysics or a related subject and is an independent researcher in the area mentioned above;
• the drive and capacity to set up, supervise and support a thriving, funded research group;
• international visibility through a track record of publications in relevant journals, invitations to conferences, and other scientific distinctions;
• has a track record of demonstrable passion for teaching and excellent teaching skills, commensurate with the career stage;
• communicates well with colleagues at all levels and likes working in a team;
• is demonstrably interested in bringing their science to broader society, e.g. in the form of science communication, science valorisation, or science policy.
There is a strong preference for women and candidates from other underrepresented groups in the physical sciences. The candidate should be able to teach a broad range of courses in astronomy and physics. The candidate is expected to teach in Dutch (Dutch language level B2) - during a transition period, teaching in English is possible. The candidate will contribute to management tasks within the department and should have the ambition to create societal impact.

The Department of Astrophysics at Radboud University is part of the Institute of Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics (IMAPP). The department is building up an interdisciplinary link with the Institute for Molecules and Materials and FELIX Laboratory to understand the chemistry of planet formation and exoplanets and their atmospheres. The new position will strengthen this link, by focusing on the host star - planet relationship.

The vibrant and international department consists of 15 faculty, ∼15 postdocs and engineers, ∼30 PhD students, and ∼10 MSc students. Worldclass research focuses on high-energy astro(particle)physics, cosmic rays, black holes, gravitational waves, stellar and binary evolution, star and planet formation, exoplanets, star clusters and the Milky Way. The department highly values team science, a safe working environment, and broad connections with society.

Your application documents should include a cover letter, research statement, teaching statement, a CV, and a list of publications. In addition, please list at least two names and email addresses of colleagues who are willing to write letters of reference, if asked by the search committee.

Application Deadline: Saturday, April 13 2024
Selection Deadline:     Friday, April 26 2024

Apply now: Assistant Professorship: From stellar environments to conditions on exoplanets


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Assistant Professor Big Data Astronomy

Are you an enthusiastic Astrophysicist or computer scientist with a strong interest in big data in astronomy? Would you like to share your expertise and contribute to our academic community? Then this exciting opportunity to join our institute as an assistant professor could be interesting for you.

We are looking for an assistant professor on the topic ’Big Data Astronomy’.

Modern instruments and observatories produce huge amounts of astronomical data. Advanced analysis methods are needed to be able to simulate, process and analyse this data. The Radboud group has privileged access to data and has leading roles in data processing as well as numerical analysis for projects such as the Event Horizon Telescope, the Africa Millimetre Telescope, the BlackGEM telescopes, gravitational wave observatories, the Pierre Auger Observatory for cosmic rays and the LOFAR radio telescope as well as SKA in the future. To fully understand this data, complex numerical simulations and machine learning techniques are increasingly required. The Radboud astrophysics group has extensive expertise, for example in star and stellar-population models; machine-learning techniques for the extraction of outliers and trends in multidimensional data; relativistic plasma simulations for the interpretation of observations of supermassive black holes and simulations of the particle avalanches forming in the Earth’s atmosphere, created by high energy cosmic rays. Processing the observational data, the accompanying numerical simulations and machine learning techniques requires special resources. This is a major challenge for the future, in which new methods must be developed to enable these complex operations, while at the same time significantly reducing the associated CO2 emissions.

As an Assistant Professor of Big Data Astronomy, you will build your own research line and you will be expected to contribute to any of the exciting goals above and  encouraged to intensify the connections between the departments of Astrophysics and Computer Science at Radboud University. Therefore you ill also play your part in the organisation and management activities related to IMAPP science's research and education programmes and should have the ambition to create societal impact. In your role, you should be able to teach a broad range of courses in astronomy and physics and you will be expected to teach in Dutch (Dutch language level B2). During a three-year transition period, teaching in English will be possible.

Profile

  • You are an internationally recognised scientist with a long-term vision to build up and lead a research group.
  • You should hold a PhD in Astrophysics, Computer Science or a related subject and be an independent researcher, working at the crossroads between these fields.
  • You have the drive and capacity to set up, supervise and support a thriving, funded research group.
  • You have experience in developing or applying novel data-intensive methodology to observations and/or simulations.
  • You have a track record of publications in relevant journals, invitations to conferences, and other scientific recognitions.
  • You have a demonstrable passion for teaching, excellent teaching skills, and a track record commensurate with the career stage.
  • You communicate well with colleagues at all levels and like working in a team.
  • You have a demonstrable interest in communicating your science to wider society (e.g. in the form of science communication, science valorisation, or science policy).

The Faculty of Science is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

Application Deadline: Sunday, April 21 2024
First interviews:     Tuesday May 7 2024

Apply now: Assistant Professor Big Data Astronomy