Applications are invited for postdoctoral positions funded through the ERC AdG project "COSMICLENS: cosmology with strong gravitational lensing" (PIs: F. Courbin - EFPL, Switzerland / D. Sluse - Uni. Liège, Belgium) and focusing on cosmography with time delays in lensed quasars and supernovae.
The project is based on 1- massive lens monitoring at various telescopes, 2- lens modeling (incl. development based on sparsity methods) 3- analysis of ancillary data with e.g. VLT, HST, JWST, 4- lens finding in existing surveys as well as in Euclid, 5- testing lens model degeneracies with hydro simulations. Eventually, combining all 5 points above will yield full cosmological analysis, in the context of the COSMOGRAIL and H0LiCOW programs.
The successful candidate(s) will be based at the STAR institute of University of Liège, in Belgium and will work mostly on quantifying the impact of lensing degeneracies on cosmological and astrophysical inference, through the development of a complete lens simulation framework. He/she will join a team of 8 researchers in extragalactic astrophysics (incl. 3 PhD students). Close collaboration with the group of F. Courbin (EPFL - Switzerland) is expected.
The STAR institute gathers more than 100 researchers carrying out cutting-edge research in extragalactic astrophysics, astro-particles, planetology, stellar physics and instrumentation. Ithas direct access to the full suite of ESO observing facilities, and excellent computing facilities. Both D. Sluse and F. Courbin are involved in the ESA Euclid satellite mission, as will be the successful applicant if he/she desires.
Applicants should submit a CV, publication list, and a research statement, via email to [email protected] (1 single pdf file) together with three reference letters before Oct 15, 2018. The position(s) is (are) initially for 2 years, with possible extensions up to 3 years in total and comes with competitive salary, benefits and generous travel funding. Earliest possible start: 1 January 2019.