FONDECYT postdoctoral research projects in Physics, Astronomy, and Physics Education at Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE, Santiago, Chile)

The UMCE Physics Dept. is searching for candidates who may propose postdoctoral research projects to the Chilean science fund FONDECYT, sponsored by our professors:

• Mauricio Contreras ([email protected]): theoretical physics, gravitation, econophysics
• Cristián Cortés ([email protected]): stellar astrophysics, variable stars, chemical abundances
• Jorge Pinochet ([email protected]): physics education, astronomy education
• Andreas Reisenegger ([email protected]): neutron stars, stellar magnetic fields, high-energy astrophysics, CTA (cta-observatory.org) and SWGO (swgo.org) collaborations

Chile hosts many of the largest telescopes in the world, 10% of whose observing time is reserved to local scientists. It will also host several next-generation telescopes, including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (LSST), Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), and Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). Santiago has become an important center for Physics and Astronomy, with research groups at several universities and other institutions, and our university has a special interest in promoting related educational research.

FONDECYT is expected to open a call with deadline around the end of April for 2- or 3-year postdoctoral grants starting in April of 2024 and covering salary, research expenses, and a relocation allowance (if applicable). Candidates should have obtained their PhD within the last three years (precise dates to be announced), with extensions to earlier dates for female applicants who have had children during this time.

We urge candidates to contact ASAP (ideally by March 20) the professor closest to their interests, sending their CV (including PhD graduation date and a list of publications) and a brief description of research interests.