Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Computational Astrophysics

Description

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Colgate University invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellowship in Computational Astrophysics. The anticipated start is September 2024, although other start dates are possible. The fellowship is initially for one year, with the possibility of annual renewals for up to a total of three years, contingent on performance and availability of funds. The initial funding for this position comes from a major grant awarded by the Picker Interdisciplinary Institute to a collaboration between Cosmin Ilie (Assistant Professor, Colgate University), Katherine Freese (Jeff and Gail Kodosky Endowed Chair in Physics, UT Austin) and Andreea Petric (Associate Research Scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute).

What You Will Do as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow:

The main goal of our group is to use the fist stars and galaxies in the Universe as probes of Dark Matter. The postdoctoral researcher’s primary role will be the inclusion of heating from Dark Matter annihilations into the widely used Module for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) code. For those interested, the option exists to supervise undergraduate students in research and to gain valuable teaching experience by occasionally guest lecturing at Colgate, an elite liberal arts college.

Where You Will Work:

Colgate is a vibrant liberal arts university of 3,200 students situated in central New York state. Colgate faculty are committed to excellence in both teaching and scholarship. The Department of Physics and Astronomy has 11 faculty members with active research agendas in quantum and optical physics, green electronics, condensed matter physics, superconducting low-temperature physics, biophysics, planetary science, observational astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, particle physics, computational neuroscience, and engineered environmental processes. The department is housed in the Ho Science Center, which is configured to facilitate interdisciplinary teaching and research. Please visit our website for information regarding our facilities, programs and faculty expertise. 

Why you should apply:

Your work will help usher a new era in astronomy: the observational study of Dark Matter powered stars. Those objects could be natural solutions to two of the most pressing puzzles in Astronomy today: i. the seeds of the Supermassive Black Holes powering the most distant quasars ever observed, and ii. the unexpectedly bright compact galaxies observed at high redshifts with JWST.

The position comes with dedicated funds for travel to collaboration meetings and other related workshops and conferences.

As a postdoctoral scholar at Colgate University, you will be eligible to apply for discretionary and publication grants from Colgate’s Research Council, both of which can be used to develop or further refine your independent research agenda.

The opportunity to gain teaching experience and be mentored in teaching excellence at a top liberal arts college.

Campus Crime Reporting and Statistics

The Department of Campus Safety at Colgate University will provide upon request a copy of Colgate’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page. Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e-mail at [email protected].

Qualifications

Minimum Job Requirements:

Education: Completion of a PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or related field prior to the start date of the position.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with using MESA and/or coding in Fortran.
• Familiarity with the basics of Dark Matter particle phenomenology.

Application Instructions

Applicants should upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a brief (2-3 page) description of research interests through Interfolio at Interfolio. The CV should include a publication list and the names of three individuals who have been asked by the candidate to submit letters of recommendation. Colgate strives to be a community supportive of diverse perspectives and identities. All applications should speak directly to the candidate’s ability to work effectively with colleagues and students across a wide range of identities and backgrounds. 

Review of applications will begin on April 15th and continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration applicants should submit all materials by April 15th. If you have any questions about the position, please email [email protected]. Colgate is able to sponsor a J-1 visa for this position.