Postdoctoral Position in Observational Studies of Reionization Astrophysics

The Astronomy Department at the University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a postdoctoral position to work with Prof. John Chisholm. Applicants with extragalactic observational experience, especially those interested in exploring the astrophysics of the first galaxies, are especially encouraged to apply. There are potential projects with data from the Hubble Space Telescope, the McDonald Observatory, and the Keck Telescopes which aim to understand the production of ionizing photons by massive star populations, the escape of ionizing photons from neutral gas in star-forming galaxies, and the determination of the astrophysics of low-metallicity massive stars. The successful applicant will be expected to spend a portion of their time aiming to promote the diversity and inclusivity of the Department. A successful application will demonstrate their interest in reionization physics, future projects using the McDonald Observatories, and the applicant’s commitment to promoting an equitable and diverse research experience at the University of Texas at Austin. The University of Texas at Austin is an EEO/AA employer, and we particularly encourage women and members of underrepresented groups to apply.

UT Austin has a large astronomy department with a diversity of interests in reionization science. UT Austin postdocs have access to high-performance computing resources at the Texas Advanced Computing Center and to McDonald Observatory facilities, including the 10m HET and 2.7m Smith telescopes (both with exceptional IFU capabilities), as well as the high-spectral resolution IGRINS NIR spectrograph currently on the Gemini-South Telescope. UT Austin is also a founding partner in the Giant Magellan Telescope and there is incredible interest in upcoming projects with the James Webb Space Telescope.

The start date is anticipated to be September 2021, but there is flexibility for an earlier or later start date. The appointment is for a period of two years, with the possibility for an extension for a third year contingent on performance. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Applicants should submit a CV, a statement of research interests (limited to a total of four pages), and the names of 3 references. The application deadline is December 11, 2020. Questions are greatly encouraged. Applications should be sent as a single PDF to [email protected] with the subject “Postdoc Position — YOUR NAME”.