Post-doctoral position in galaxy cluster studies

We invite applications for a postdctoral position to work on the analysis and interpretation of observations from the 3 Megasecond XMM-Newton Heritage program "Witnessing the culmination of structure formation in the Universe", on z < 0.5 Planck SZ-selected clusters (PIs M. Arnaud, S. Ettori). The large (~80 member) international (>10 countries) collaboration team is using X-ray data from XMM-Newton and Chandra of more than 160 systems, and additional multi-wavelength (SZ, lensing) observations, to obtain an accurate vision of the properties of the local cluster population. The candidate will join a dynamic, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary team, and will be encouraged to take responsibilities and to bring their own ideas to the project.

The position is available for two years, with a possible third year depending on funding. The start date is September 2019, but applications to start a few months later will also be considered. Funding for conferences, collaborations, personal equipment, and publications is available.

Minimum qualifications include a PhD degree in astronomy, physics, or a related field. Demonstrated experience in the general research area of clusters and/or in X-ray observations will be an asset.

CEA Saclay is a government research centre located 25 km south of Paris, France. The Astrophysics Department is a major space and ground-based astrophysics laboratory of more than 100 staff with interests encompassing instrumental development, data analysis and interpretation, and theoretical modelling. Major projects include significant contributions to JWST/MIRI, Euclid, ELT/METIS, Integral, Fermi, and the future SVOM and Athena missions, and the HESS and CTA TeV instruments.

To apply please submit to [email protected] a curriculum vitae, a publication list, a summary of previous research, and a statement of future research interests relevant to the XMM-Newton Heritage Collaboration. In addition, please arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent the above address by the deadline of May 20th, 2019.