Faculty of Technology
Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Gravitational Lensing, Observational Cosmology and/or Time Domain Astrophysics x 2
Employment type: Fixed-term (3 years)
Employment basis: Full-time
Salary: £35,845 – 39,152 per annum
Post number: ZZ006486
Date published: 02 November 2020
Closing date: 13 December 2020
Interview date: 14 and 15 January 2021
We announce two Postdoctoral Research positions at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth. These positions are offered on a 3+2 year basis and aimed at promising early-career researchers in strong gravitational lensing, observational cosmology and time domain astrophysics.
Successful candidates will join the group of Dr Thomas Collett, working on the ERC funded project ‘The Statistical Era of Strong Gravitational Lensing’. Available projects include: strong gravitational lensing of supernovae, cosmological parameter estimation and strong lens discovery in wide field surveys with citizen science and/or machine learning. These projects will use data from the Vera Rubin Observatory LSST, Euclid, ZTF, 4MOST and DES. The successful candidates will work closely with the science collaborations of these international projects.
Candidates will be motivated and excited by observational cosmology. Candidates with pre-existing skills in any of time domain astronomy, strong lens modelling, citizen science and computer vision are desirable, but candidates bringing complementary skills and ideas from other fields will be highly valued as well.
The preferred start date is August 2021, the initial length of contract will be three years, with funding in place for a further 2 year extension, subject to performance review. Exceptional candidates may be offered a 5 year position.
The ICG consists of 17 academic staff, 17 postdoctoral researchers and around 30 PhD students, and has an active international visitors programme. Portsmouth is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the Dark Energy Survey (DES), the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), ESA’s Euclid satellite mission, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), the Gravitational Wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO), and other international collaborations. The University of Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics Network (SEPnet) and hosts the 3704-core SCIAMA supercomputer. More information is available at http://www.icg.port.ac.uk/
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but applications are particularly encouraged from traditionally under-represented groups in science. The University of Portsmouth and the ICG hold Athena SWAN Bronze awards which show a commitment to introduce organisational and cultural practices that promote diversity and equality and create a better working environment for women and men.
Applications (application form, CV, publication list and research proposal for the fellowship) should be submitted by the closing date via the online application system at https://port.engageats.co.uk. Applicants should also arrange for three reference letters to be sent by email to [email protected], to arrive by the same date.
Informal enquires are welcomed by Dr Thomas Collett, email [email protected].
All applications for this position will be processed and conducted in compliance with UK legislation relevant at that time.
Applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.
As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons and all appointments will be made on merit. As we are committed to the principles of the Race Equality Charter Mark, we would particularly welcome applications from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community who are currently under-represented at this level in this area.
For detailed information about University of Portsmouth, please select this link: Working at Portsmouth
For detailed information about the vacancy, please select this link: ZZ006486 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow.docx
It is the policy of the University to only accept applications submitted using the University’s application form.
All applications for this position will be processed and conducted in compliance with UK legislation relevant at that time.