Post-Doctoral Fellow in Astronomy/Astrophysics

Elaine P. Snowden Fellowship in Astronomy/Astrophysics/Instrumentation

The School of Physical and Chemical Sciences (SPCS) welcomes applications for the inaugural Elaine P. Snowden Fellowship at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. The three-year research fellowship is open to any area of astronomy and astrophysics; applicants should be nearing submission or within 4 years of their PhD. People from historically marginalized communities are particularly encouraged to apply.

UC SPCS has a dynamic research community in New Zealand’s second-largest city. Our research strengths include: astro-particle & high-energy physics; black holes & cosmology; dark energy & dark matter; exoplanets & planetary systems; galactic archaeology; microlensing; Solar System small bodies; stellar systems & populations; supernovae & transients; variable & pulsating stars. Major collaborations include Comet Interceptor, DART, 4MOST, GALAH, IceCube, IAU-CPS, KMTNet, LISA, LSST, and SALT. We operate UC's Mt John Observatory with four telescopes: a 1-m with a high-res fibre-fed echelle spectrograph, 1.8-m with 2.2 sq. deg. imager & two 0.6-m. Applicants with interests in instrumentation or in Indigenous astronomy are also welcomed.

Engagement opportunities include outreach with the Observatory, which hosts Ngāi Tahu’s Dark Sky Project; an annual Astronomy School for high school students; mentorship of undergrad Snowden Scholars; and undergraduate teaching and supervising experience (capped at 15% of time).

Salary NZ$85k, 4 wks/yr leave, parental leave available, $15k/yr independent research fund, airfare to NZ. The nominal start date is 1 November 2023; flexibility is possible.

To apply, please identify a faculty mentor in UC SPCS, and discuss your proposed research program with them. Only then submit a CV, 2-page research statement linking plans to this post, cover letter with contacts for three referees, and mentor’s statement of support to by 15 July, 2023.

For any questions regarding the position, please contact Prof. Rudi Marquez-Mazlin rudi.marquez-mazlin@canterbury.ac.nz.