Research Fellow (in Strong Gravitational Lensing and/or Lensed Supernovae) x 2

Faculty of Technology

Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Strong Gravitational Lensing and/or Lensed Supernovae x 2

Employment type: Fixed-term (until 31 July 2026)

Employment basis: Full-time

Salary: £37,474 - £40,931 per annum

Post number: ZZ006487

Date published: 17 November 2022

Closing date: 16 December 2022

Interview date: 10 January 2023

We announce two Postdoctoral Research positions at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth. These positions are offered on a 3 year basis with possible 1 year extension. They are aimed at promising early-career researchers in strong gravitational lensing, observational cosmology and time domain astrophysics.

Successful candidates will join the group of Dr Thomas Collett, working on the ERC funded project ‘The Statistical Era of Strong Gravitational Lensing’. Available projects include: strong gravitational lensing of supernovae, cosmological parameter estimation and strong lens discovery in wide field surveys with citizen science and/or machine learning. These projects will use data from the Vera Rubin Observatory LSST, Euclid, ZTF, 4MOST and DES. The successful candidates will work closely with the science collaborations of these international projects.

Candidates will be motivated and excited by observational cosmology. Candidates with pre-existing skills in any of time domain astronomy, strong lens modelling, citizen science and computer vision are desirable, but candidates bringing complementary skills and ideas from other fields will be highly valued as well.

The preferred start date is August 2023, the initial length of contract will be three years, with a 1 year extension possible.

The University of Portsmouth is a dynamic and ambitious institution with a track record of success. One of only four universities in the south east of England to achieve a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and ranked in the top 150 in the Times Higher Young University World Rankings.

The ICG consists of 17 academic staff, 17 postdoctoral researchers and around 30 PhD students, and has an active international visitors programme. Portsmouth is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the Dark Energy Survey (DES), the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), ESA’s Euclid satellite mission, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), the Gravitational Wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO), and other international collaborations. The University of Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics Network (SEPnet) and hosts the 3704-core SCIAMA supercomputer. More information is available at http://www.icg.port.ac.uk/

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but applications are particularly encouraged from traditionally under-represented groups in science. The University of Portsmouth and the ICG hold Athena SWAN Bronze awards which show a commitment to introduce organisational and cultural practices that promote diversity and equality and create a better working environment for women and men.

Applications (application form, CV, publication list and research proposal for the fellowship) should be submitted by the closing date via the online application system at https://port.engageats.co.uk. Applicants should also arrange for three reference letters to be sent by email to [email protected], to arrive by the same date.

Informal enquires are welcomed by Dr Thomas Collett, email [email protected].

The University of Portsmouth believes this role is eligible for sponsorship with UKVI under the Skilled Worker Route visa, and meets the minimum salary requirements to obtain the minimum points requirement.

Information about us and our benefits.

For detailed information about the vacancy: ZZ006487 - Post-Doctoral Research Fellow X2.docx

It is the policy of the University to only accept applications submitted using the University’s application form.

All applications for this position will be processed and conducted in compliance with UK legislation relevant at that time.