Applications are invited for a post-doctoral position in astronomy in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). We are looking for an individual to lead public outreach and education activities in the Astronomy Group. This will include developing and leading outreach and lab modules for the group’s optical and radio telescopes, defining research projects for high school students and undergraduates at UCR using these facilities, organizing stargazing nights for the community as well as public talks and visiting local schools to introduce students to the latest activities in astronomy. Collaborations with the nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will be encouraged. Time will also be available for collaborative or personal research. The group owns a 14” optical educational telescope with a spectrograph located near Joshua Tree (about one hour drive from Riverside), a radio telescope (under construction), a number of smaller telescopes (including a portable 12” optical telescope equipped with a CCD camera), and a state-of-the-art Visualization Lab.
The Astronomy Group at UCR has ten faculty members working on a range of projects in observational/theoretical astrophysics as well as in data simulations and application of Data Science to astronomy. The faculty receives regular observing times on ground- and space-based observatories that includes the two 10m Keck telescopes on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. This position is ideal for a candidate with a passion for public outreach and teaching who may also be interested in research.
The applicant is expected to have a PhD degree in Physics, Astronomy, or a related field before starting the position. Deadline for the receipt of applications is February 20th. We expect a starting date of September 2022. The position is available for 2 years with the possibility of extension for an additional year subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance. To apply, please submit a copy of your CV along with a statement explaining your experience and vision for science outreach and your research experience. Applicants should also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be submitted by the deadline. All the material (including references) should be submitted in pdf files to [email protected]. For any questions please contact professors: Bahram Mobasher ([email protected]), George Becker ([email protected]) or Anson D’Aloisio ([email protected]).
The University of California is an equal opportunity employer.