Postdoctoral position at Paris Observatory (LESIA) on Cepheids and the calibration of the extragalactic distance ladder

We advertise a postdoctoral position to work on the determination of the Hubble constant H0, using Cepheids and other standard candles, within the framework of the ERC Advanced Grant CepBin (2016-2021, PI: G. Pietrzynski).

Our international team recently established the distance to the LMC to an accuracy of 1% using eclipsing binaries as distance calibrators. Based on this solid reference, we are assembling a high precision calibration of Cepheids and other variable stars as distance indicators, in view of their application to the calibration of the extragalactic distance scale.

This position is funded for a maximum of three years, to start between September and November 2018. The successful applicant will join our group at LESIA (Paris Observatory) located in Meudon near Paris, under the supervision of Dr Pierre Kervella. S/he will have access to cutting edge facilities such as the VLT and other world-class telescopes.

A PhD in Astrophysics is required at the time of the contract signature. The applicant is expected to have excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ideal candidate should be familiar with the analysis of different types of observational data sets at multiple wavelengths. Previous experience with variable stars or observational cosmology is highly desirable.

How to apply for this position:

The applicants are invited to send via email a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a brief statement of research interests (~4 pages maximum) with links to recent publications, and names/contact information of at least two referees to Pierre Kervella ([email protected]).

The applications should be received by 12 August 2018.