Karl Schwarzschild Fellowship 2018

In honour of Karl Schwarzschild (1873-1916), former director of the Astrophysical Observatory Potsdam, and his significant contributions to the field of astrophysics, in particular optics, stellar physics, stellar dynamics, and general relativity, the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) invites applications to the Karl Schwarzschild Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme.

The Karl Schwarzschild Fellowship will be awarded regularly with an alternating focus on extragalactic and stellar astrophysics. This year's competition focuses on extragalactic astrophysics and the selected fellow is expected to strengthen or complement current work on the Milky Way and the local volume, galaxies and quasars, cosmology and high-energy astrophysics. Schwarzschild fellows are identified in a competitive international search. The application deadline for the 2018 Karl Schwarzschild Fellowship in extragalactic astrophysics is November 30, 2017. (Self-nominations are welcome.) The successful Schwarzschild Fellows should have received their PhD within the last five years. Schwarzschild Fellows are expected to carry out an independent research program and to contribute to the scientific life of the AIP including co-supervision of students. The Fellowship is awarded for three years and may be extended up to five years, subject to a mid-term evaluation.

The fellowship provides a competitive salary based on the German public service scale (TV-L E14) and an individual research budget of 20,000 € for three years. The AIP is an equal opportunity employer and particularly encourages women to apply.

The AIP continues the tradition of the Astrophysical Observatory Potsdam and the Berlin Observatory. It is located in the beautiful Potsdam/Babelsberg area, at the South-western border of the Berlin metropolitan area. About 130 scientists work on a variety of astrophysical topics covering the full range from solar physics to cosmology. Potsdam is also the home of the Albert-Einstein Institute for Gravitational Physics, the Physics & Astronomy Department of Potsdam University and several other research institutions.

Applications for and inquiries about the Karl Schwarzschild Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme should be send to Prof. Matthias Steinmetz via [email protected]. To apply, please send a PDF file containing curriculum vitae including statements on education, skills, and experience as well as a research plan to the given address. Applicants should also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to the same address.