Postdoctoral position in Galaxy Evolution research with JWST

Description

The Carnegie Institution owns and operates the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, which includes the twin 6.5-meter Magellan telescopes as well as the 2.5-meter du Pont and 1.0-meter Swope telescopes. Carnegie is also a full institutional member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V.

We invite applications for a postdoctoral research position to work on the study of the connection between the interstellar medium and the environment in high-redshift galaxies using JWST NIRSpec and NIRCam observations. In particular, the selected applicant will participate in the data reduction, analysis and publications of two JWST Cycle 2 (programs IDs 4265 and 3777). The programs will use JWST NIRCam imaging, and NIRSpec/IFU and NIRSpec/MOS spectroscopy to characterize the ISM and CGM of star-forming galaxies and constrain the physical properties of galaxies in a protocluster environment at z~4.5. The programs are part of the ongoing ALMA CRISTAL large program (https://www.alma-cristal.info/) and the ARCTOMO (https://sites.google.com/view/arctomo/home) collaborations, respectively, and the candidate will be encouraged to actively participate of those collaborations.

The appointment is for two years with the possibility of extension depending on performance and funding possibilities. The selected candidate will be located in the offices of Las Campanas Observatory in La Serena, Chile. The offices are surrounded by other large international observatories such as La Silla, CTIO, Gemini South, SOAR, and some of the biggest astronomical projects in the world for the next decade, such as LSST and GMT. 

The position can be hosted in Las Campanas observatories offices in La Serena, Chile, or on the Carnegie Observatories campus in Pasadena, CA. Priority will be given to the candidates who can be located in the offices in La Serena. 

At Carnegie, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community. We believe academic environments should be places where diverse groups of people with a variety of viewpoints and ideas can thrive and work together. As such, we encourage applicants from under-represented groups and backgrounds to apply.

Qualifications

The successful applicant must have a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Physics, or equivalent before starting the position. Experience with multi-object and IFU spectroscopy is desirable, and prior experience with JWST NIRSpec and NIRCam data reduction and analysis will be considered an important asset.

Application Instructions

The application should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of publications, and an essay describing the applicant's previous research and current research (up to 3 pages, including references). These materials and the names of three references must be submitted via the "Apply Now" button by January 12, 2024.