The Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science and the Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) solicit applications for a joint postdoctoral fellowship position in observational astronomy. The fellowship is to begin in the fall of 2024 and offers the opportunity for an outstanding recent Ph.D. recipient to perform research for three years in Pasadena, California. Throughout the fellowship term, the Brinson Fellow will be expected to split their time evenly between the Carnegie and Caltech campuses (separated by <2 miles).
Fellows will be selected by a joint committee between the two institutions. It is anticipated that the fellow will carry out a research program that makes compelling use of the premier astronomical facilities operated by either or both institutions.
For further information on accessible facilities, including both the Magellan and Keck telescopes, see https://obs.carnegiescience.edu/astronomers and https://www.astro.caltech.edu/research/observatories. Highest consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate how their postdoctoral research will enhance the collaborative opportunities between the two institutions. These most naturally fall within areas of exoplanet, stellar, galactic, extragalactic, and transient object astronomy, but all research fields will be considered.
The application should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, bibliography, and an essay describing the applicant's previous research and future research plans (up to 5 pages including references). Applicants may optionally provide a 1 page statement explaining how their proposed research will be synergistic with Caltech and Carnegie facilities and/or astronomers, if this is not already clear from their cover letter and research proposal. The Carnegie Institution additionally requires a 1 page broader impact statement articulating the applicant’s past accomplishments and future plans in any of the following areas: contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, mentoring, service work, and outreach (see https://obs.carnegiescience.edu/broader-impact-statement-overview for more information). These materials, along with the names of three references, must be submitted via the web to https://obs.carnegiescience.edu/fellowships/ by October 30, 2023. Letters of reference will be due on November 6, 2023.
