Research Fellow in Exoplanet Characterisation
Job Summary
Job Description
Closes: 24th March 2022, 23:59
The Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University College London (UCL) invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellows in the field of Extrasolar Planets. The successful applicant will be part of the ERC funded ExoAI project and work closely with Dr Ingo Waldmann (PI of ExoAI) on developing artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for the characterise exoplanet atmospheres. The post holder will also help organise machine learning efforts within the European Space Agency Ariel space mission consortium.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of statistical learning problems, ranging from observational data analysis (HST and JWST data) to modelling of planetary atmospheres. They will be joining a dynamic exoplanet group and one of the largest astrophysics departments in the UK. The applicant will be collaborating closely and build collaborations with leading AI institutes (e.g. The Alan Turing Institute).
The applicant should have good knowledge of machine learning, statistical techniques, and a track record in either data analysis or statistical modelling. Good programming skills are essential. Experience with Tensorflow/Pytorch or similar is highly desirable. Prior exposure to exoplanet research is advantageous but not required.
Among the duties and responsibilities, the successful applicant will help with the supervision of MSc and PhD students. The post holder will independently submit papers to peer reviewed journals and contribute to the drafting and submitting of papers of the group in a collaborative manner.
Appointments will be made at Grade 7 (£36,770 to £44,388 pa)
Compensation and Benefits
The applicant will have access to state-of-the-art equipment (dedicated clusters, HPC facilities, cloud computing) and will benefit from a wealth of expertise already in-house. While the post-holder will spend a significant amount of time at UCL, this work entails close collaborations with national and international institutes and the applicant should be able to travel abroad for collaborations and conferences, Covid-19 permitting. The PDRA positions are funded by the European Research Council (ERC) for the duration of 1 year in the first instance.
Health insurance is free of charge in the UK. A full list of UCL Staff Benefits can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/pay-benefits/staff-benefits