The Star and Planet Formation Area of the Center for Astrophysics and Associated Technologies (CATA) calls for applications to a CATA postdoctoral research fellowship position focused on observational and/or theoretical aspects of planet formation. Successful fellowship applicants are expected to work in close collaboration with one or more faculty members of the CATA Star and Planet Formation area, these are Prof. Viviana Guzmán, who studies astrochemistry and planet formation at Universidad Católica, Prof. Gijs Mulders, who investigates exoplanet demographics and its connection to planet formation at Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, and Prof. Laura Pérez, whose research focuses on protoplanetary disks and young planets at Universidad de Chile.
The position will be funded initially for two years with a one-year extension subject to a performance evaluation. The successful fellow could participate in the analysis of several accepted ALMA programs, a few examples of different projects are: “The ALMA Disk-Exoplanet C/Onnection” ALMA Large Program (V. Guzmán) that will investigate chemical diversity at the disk stage and its connection to the diversity of exoplanet populations; “The grand architectures of planetary systems” (G. Mulders) that will study exoplanet populations at different distances from the star and connect those to dust sub-structures in protoplanetary disks observed with ALMA; and a follow-up program to the ALMA Large program “AGE-PRO: the ALMA survey of Gas Evolution in PROtoplanetary disks” (L. Pérez) that will study dust evolution in planet-forming disks from the early stages to the end of disk lifetime. Collaboration with multiple CATA members is welcome and encouraged, contact any of the members above for specific questions.
The Center for Astrophysics and Associated Technologies (CATA) is a large government-funded astronomical Center, in 7 scientific areas ranging from cosmology and large scale structure of the Universe, to Solar System research, including most fields in observational, theoretical, and computational astrophysics, as described here.
Successful fellows will have privileged access to the Chilean 10% time allocation on all telescopes in Chile, as well as Chilean access to membership in selected large surveys (e.g., LSST, SDSSV). CATA fellows will have access to supercomputers and GPU clusters, as required by their projects. In addition, CATA fellows will have access to CATA-provided administrative support, as well as the opportunity to explore the varied and striking natural landscapes of Chile, from high deserts to lush rainforests.
Please apply here, with a single pdf including: CV, list of publications highlighting a selection of works that are most relevant for the position, statement of research (max. 3 pages), and a list of at least 3 contact emails for letters of reference. Deadline: 14 December 2022
