Postdoctoral research in Weak Gravitational Lensing Cosmology at JPL/Caltech

Postdoctoral research in Weak Gravitational Lensing Cosmology at JPL/Caltech

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Postdoctoral Scholars Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) invites applications for a postdoctoral research position within the JPL ‘Dark Sector’ research group. Our group has leaders and members in the ongoing Dark Energy Survey, The SuperBIT balloon project, and the Subaru HyperSuprimeCam Survey as well as leadership roles in the Euclid and Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) missions and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.  

JPL provides a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment for researchers with interests spanning a range of astrophysics, with particularly strong efforts in exoplanetary science and dark energy cosmology, and the associated technologies that enable this work. There are many opportunities for collaboration with researchers at the Caltech campus including at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC).

The successful candidate will be expected to advance and publish research in any area related to weak lensing cosmology (some combination of theoretical, computational, observational, algorithm development, and detector systematics testing and mitigation), to interact and work with the other dark sector scientists at JPL, and to be a contributing member of one or more of the main ongoing or upcoming weak lensing surveys. Strong preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate willingness and potential to look to the future of the field, and who can articulate their vision. Candidates should have a recent PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, or related fields.

The annual starting salary will be commensurate with the established Caltech postdoctoral rates at JPL, which can vary somewhat according to the selected applicant's qualifications. The appointee will also receive health insurance and additional resources for research-related expenses and will have access to local facilities, including Palomar Observatory, the JPL Supercomputing Facility, and the JPL/Caltech Optical Observatory Precision Projector Laboratory (PPL) image sensor testing facility. Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum of one year and with sufficient progress may be renewed up to a maximum of three years.

A complete application will consist of 1) a cover letter describing the particular interest in the opportunity, and the specific connections and potential collaborations that are envisioned, 2) a CV that includes contact information, a bibliography which clearly shows the refereed publications, and contact information for three reference letter writers, and 3) a statement describing current and proposed research of no more than 3 pages.  For this last item, the applicant may choose to separate the current and proposed statements, or to have them written as one unit.  For full consideration, please submit these by October 27, 2017. 

Information about science at JPL can be found at https://science.jpl.nasa.gov. For more information, please contact either the JPL Postdoc Office at [email protected] or Dr. Jason Rhodes ([email protected]).

Caltech and JPL are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers. Women, minorities, veterans, and disabled persons are encouraged to apply.

Advisor Name: Jason Rhodes
Advisor Phone: 626-318-7165
Advisor Email: [email protected]
Advisor Address: 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 321-123, Pasadena, CA 91109