Postdoctoral Fellowship in HI Radio Astronomy

The Rhodes University Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques & Technologies (RATT) is calling for applications for a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship in observational radio astronomy.
In collaboration with the Radio Astronomy Research Group (RARG) of the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO, Cape Town, South Africa), RATT conducts research into novel radio astronomy techniques required by the next generation of radio telescopes, with a focus on applying those techniques to MeerKAT data in order to answer key astrophysical questions. The RATT team led by Prof Oleg Smirnov is one of the leading groups in the world focused on the development of radio astronomy techniques, with a diverse range of science interests. We are leading the creation of a large HI database from the MGCLS sample, and using this to carry out extensive HI studies in collaboration with GASP. Among other projects, the group is closely involved in the MeerKAT Fornax Survey, which is a large science program reaching unprecedented depth and resolution. We are also part of the Virgo Filament survey with MeerKAT, featuring incredible resolution of nearby galaxies. We can therefore offer a broad range of projects related to HI studies.

We are looking for a candidate who is motivated and self-propelled, and will be able to spend a significant fraction of their time on their own research projects, within the context of
RATT's HI research interests. The focus of the science can include (but not be limited to): studying the effect of the environment on HI and star formation properties of galaxies in
varying cluster environments; imaging of HI in the intra-cluster/intergalactic medium. They will also be expected to contribute to processing and analysing other MeerKAT radio interferometric data, leading publications on the project, and presenting results at international conferences.

The positions will be based at Rhodes University (Makhanda/Grahamstown) and/or at SARAO (Cape Town).