Research Associate in machine learning for 21 cm science with the SKA

Applications are invited for a Research Associate position at the ICIC (Imperial Centre for Inference and Cosmology) within the Astrophysics group in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London. We are seeking candidates with expertise in machine learning and modelling of cosmology/epoch of reionization, with a view to developing improved methods for the interpretation of future 21cm observations of the epoch of reionization with the Square Kilometre Array. The successful candidate will work on these topics with Dr Jonathan Pritchard at Imperial, although collaboration will be encouraged with other UK co-Is of the grant, especially Prof Martin Haenhelt and Dr Anastasia Fialkov at Cambridge, and with Indian co-Is Prof Tirthankar Roy Chourdhury at NCRA and Prof Girish Kulkarni at TIFR.

This position will be part of a larger project, titled "Building Indo-UK Collaborations Towards the Square Kilometre Array" funded under the DAE-STFC Technology and Skills Programme 2023. The work will focus on enabling and carrying out cutting-edge science using Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) pathfinders, including the uGMRT. The project also aims to address common data processing challenges and to develop advanced cosmological simulations which will help develop and grow the proto SKA regional centres, in both the UK and India. There will be substantial opportunities for travel within the UK and to India for collaboration visits and meetings.

This position is supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the UK Research Innovation (UKRI). The position is for up to 2 years (funding avaialble until 31 March 2026).

The Astrophysics group hosts the ICIC, an internationally recognised centre for astrostatistics, with emphasis on Bayesian analysis of large-scale astronomical surveys and cosmology.  In addition, it has a strong programme in solar and stellar physics, exoplanet physics, protoplanetary disc physics, including observations, numerical simulations and theory. The group has connections with cosmologists in the Theoretical Physics group at Imperial, and with Statistics in the Mathematics Department.

You will be expected to help produce independent and original research within the Astrophysics group, submit publications to refereed journals and support the activities of the research group. You will have the freedom to develop your own research program alongside other members of the astrophysics group and have access to Imperial's significant HPC resources.

You will join a vibrant, broad and growing astrostatistics and cosmology research group at Imperial with opportunities to collaborate not only with members of the Astrophysics group but also with other researchers in Physics and Mathematics.

You must hold a PhD* (or equivalent) in Astronomy, Physics, or Mathematics, or exceptionally with other relevant expertise.

You must also be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

• Relevant research experience in cosmology, machine learning and reionization
• Experience in giving talks at internationally recognised conferences and workshops
• Experience in programming, modifying and testing numerical software
• Experience in carrying out research of high quality, independently and in a team, evidenced by a portfolio of high quality research publications.

In addition, knowledge and experience in the following areas would be desirable:

• Relevant research experience in numerical simulation
• Relevant research experience in epoch of reionization/21 cm cosmology
• Relevant research experience in simulation based inference

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within the salary range £40,694 - £43,888 per annum.

Applications can be made online via our website. Please go to www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs  and search for NAT01565.

More information about the Department of Physics and the Astrophysics Group can be found on our webpages.

The Department of Physics is an IoP JUNO Practitioner and an Athena Silver SWAN Award winner reflecting our commitment to building a supportive, inclusive and highly motivated community.  See our EDI webpage for more Information. We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, especially those historically underrepresented in Physics.

Contacts

• Further details  Dr Jonathan Pritchard [email protected].
• Application process Louise Hayward [email protected]
• Technical issues [email protected]