Postdoctoral Position in 21 cm Cosmological Data Analysis

Submission Information
Publish Date: 
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Archive Date: 
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Job Summary
Job Category: 
Post-doctoral Positions and Fellowships
Institution Classification/Type: 
Large Academic
Institution/Company: 
University of British Columbia
Department Name: 
Physics & Astronomy
Street Line 1: 
6224 Agricultural Rd
City: 
Vancouver
State/Province: 
British Columbia
Zip/Postal: 
V6T 1Z1
Country: 
Canada
Announcement
Job Announcement Text: 

The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME, http://www.chime-experiment.ca) is a novel radio telescope conceived to map the 21 cm emission line of hydrogen over a good fraction of the observable universe.  CHIME will form a 3-dimensional map that will be used to measure the expansion history of the Universe.  The telescope is located at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) and is operated by UBC, the DRAO, McGill, and the University of Toronto.  It recently saw first light and is now in its commissioning, calibration, survey, and analysis phase. 

The next few years will be transformative for radio astronomy, as instruments like CHIME, with its unprecedented statistical power, come online. CHIME is poised to constrain the properties of dark energy through the epoch when it first emerged.  Back-end instruments on CHIME act as a pulsar timing array and a radio transient detector which will help to resolve puzzles such as the origin of fast radio bursts.

The Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of British is seeking an exceptional postdoctoral associate to play a lead role in the commissioning, operations, and data analysis for CHIME's hydrogen mapping survey.  The successful applicant will report to Professor Mark Halpern, with time reserved for their own research program.  The appointment will be for two years, with extensions possible contingent upon performance and funding, and will commence in the summer or fall of 2019 (start date is negotiable). Salary will be commensurate with experience and be competitive with leading international research centres.

UBC is home to a large and vibrant astrophysics research community including 10 astronomy faculty and several long-term research scientists. In addition to CHIME, UBC researchers are actively involved in several CMB and other cosmology experiments.  There is a related opening at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/fbc08d03). Applicants may apply to either or both positions according to their interests.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in physics, astronomy, or a closely related field, with a background in cosmology and/or radio astronomy. Experience in data analysis, theory, and observations are valued assets.

UBC is an equal employment opportunity employer. We encourage applications from qualified applicants of all sexual orientations and gender expressions, members of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.

To apply:

- Submit a cover letter, statement of research plans, and a curriculum vitae including a list of publications and significant research contributions to URL.
- Ask three references to submit letters of recommendation.

Apply by February 1, 2019 for full consideration; applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled or until April 30, 2019.

Application Deadline: 
Friday, February 1, 2019
Selection Deadline: 
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Current Status of Position: 
Accepting Applicants
Apply to Job
Attention To: 
Mark Halpern
Title: 
Prof.
Institution/Company: 
University of British Columbia
Department Name: 
Physics & Astronomy
Street Line 1: 
6224 Agricultural Rd
City: 
Vancouver
State/Province: 
British Columbia
Zip/Postal Code: 
V6T 1Z1
Country: 
Canada
Phone: 
604-822-2585
Inquiries About Job
Attention To: 
Mark Halpern
Subject: 
CHIME postdoctoral position