FONDECYT postdoctoral research projects in Physics, Astronomy, and Physics Education at Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (Santiago, Chile)

The Department of Physics of Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE) in Santiago, Chile, is searching for candidates who may propose research projects to the Chilean National Fund for Science and Technology (FONDECYT) with the sponsorship of its faculty members, which include:

Prof. Luis Barrera ([email protected]): Solar System, stellar astrophysics

Prof. Mauricio Contreras ([email protected]): theoretical physics, econophysics

Prof. Cristián Cortés ([email protected]): stellar astrophysics, variable stars, chemical abundances

Prof. Jorge Pinochet ([email protected]): physics education, astronomy education

Prof. Andreas Reisenegger ([email protected]): high-energy astrophysics, neutron stars, astrophysical constraints on fundamental physics

Chile hosts many of the largest telescopes in the world, 10% of whose observing time is reserved to scientists in the country. Santiago has thus become an important center for Physics and Astronomy, with research groups at several universities as well as the local ESO and ALMA centers.

FONDECYT is calling for 2- or 3-year postdoctoral projects to be submitted (with a faculty sponsor) by September 24. Approved projects will start on April 15, 2021, and cover the researcher’s salary, research expenses, and a relocation allowance. Candidates need to have Chilean citizenship or resident visa and to have obtained their PhD between 1 January 2017 and 1 October 2020, except for female applicants who have had children in that interval, for whom special rules apply.

We encourage potential candidates to contact ASAP the faculty member closest to their research area, sending their CV (including actual or expected PhD graduation date and a list of refereed publications) and a brief description of research interests.