Postdoctoral researcher developing techniques in X-ray spectral imaging

The Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites applications for a three year postdoctoral research position for developing new techniques in X-ray spectral imaging of extended sources (e.g., clusters of galaxies, supernova remnants, diffuse Galactic emission, etc.) at high-energy resolution. The candidates should have a PhD in astrophysics (or closely related field); be experienced with current X-ray analysis techniques and tools; should be excited by the possibility of developing the advanced multi-dimensional data analysis tools needed to take full scientific advantage of new data from XRISM, Athena, and other future X-ray missions. A strong interest in data analysis methods and astrostatistics is highly desirable.

The field of X-ray astronomy is poised to make amazing discoveries in the next decade, in particular due to upcoming missions that combine excellent angular resolution with high-resolution spectroscopy. For example, ESA’s flagship X-ray mission Athena, to be launched in 2031, will for the first time deliver angular resolution of a few arcsecs with unprecedented spectral resolution of a few eV. The project will focus on developing methods to optimally extract and model high spectral resolution X-ray data in which spectral complexity, complicated spatial structure, geometrical projection effects, radiative transfer, velocity structure, and complex instrumental effects can all play an important role. This project forms part of the Netherlands preparatory Roadmap for Athena, and its main goal is to prepare for the future analysis with the X-IFU instrument by developing a cohesive set of modern data analysis tools to support Athena science.

The research will take place at the UvA, at the Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy/GRAPPA, in close collaboration with other Athena consortium members, in particular SRON, the Netherlands Institute for Space Research. SRON is the co-PI institution for the X-IFU spectrometer instrument onboard Athena as well as contributing flight hardware to the XRISM mission.

The project will be supervised by Dr J. Vink at the UvA  in collaboration with Drs P. Uttley (UvA), A. Simionescu (SRON/Leiden), and M. Wise (SRON/UvA).

Review of candidates will start by November 1, but we accept applications till November 15, 2019.

Applications should be submitted online.