Post-Doctoral Fellow in Cosmology

Te Kura Matū | School of Physical and Chemical Sciences

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time at 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• Fixed-Term position (3 years from September 2024)
• Starting salary is $83,290.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
We welcome applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in the UC Gravity and Cosmology Group. You will collaborate with Professor David Wiltshire in the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences on the research project: Changing the face of the Universe: Cosmological simulations from first principles in general relativity. The project is funded by a Marsden grant administered by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

Together with our group and international collaborators you will explore foundational theoretical concepts at the interface of mathematical relativity, numerical relativity, quantum cosmology and observational cosmology. Together, we will critically and rigorously test hypotheses underlying an emerging paradigm shift. Will cosmological models with backreaction of inhomogenities resolve the observed tensions and anomalies now being uncovered in the new data-driven era of multimessenger astronomy?  Asking these questions in a framework more general than the standard cosmology, this project will add key ingredients to help define fundamental physics in the 21st century and beyond.

Mōu | Who You Are
You will have a PhD in mathematical / theoretical physics and have already begun to establish your research in theoretical cosmology, as demonstrated by recent, high-quality publications in international journals. You have deep analytic skills in general relativity, from first-principles theoretical versatility, and an appetite for understanding the results of large numerical relativity simulations in computational cosmology.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

The Schools of Physical & Chemical Sciences | Te Kura Matū and Mathematics & Statistics | Te Kura Pāngarau are a thriving community with a legacy spanning 150 years of academic excellence. Amongst the largest Schools within the University, we are driven by our collective commitment to search for innovative solutions that address the problems and challenges both within New Zealand and the world.

The UC Gravity & Cosmology group has access to a brand new dedicated High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster, which has been optimized for very large numerical relativity simulations using the Einstein Toolkit. In addition, the New Zealand e-Science Infrastructure (NeSI) can be used for larger simulations, as well as HPC facilities of our collaborators overseas.

Our Schools boast a vibrant tapestry of individuals, encompassing academic, technical, and administrative professionals from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. United by our shared purpose, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery.

Immersed within the Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre (RRSIC), our laboratories thrive amidst state-of-the-art teaching and research infrastructure.

The Schools of Physical & Chemical Sciences and Mathematics & Statistics offers degrees in Mathematical Physics, Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Statistics, Data Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, and Environmental Science.

By joining our collaborative tapestry, you will be a part of pioneering initiatives that shape the future of scientific discovery and leave an indelible mark on the world.

For more information about our team, please visit us at UC Gravity | University of Canterbury .

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga guide our decisions and behaviour and provide a roadmap for how we do things at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here .

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

We offer a range of fantastic benefits including flexible work practices, study opportunities and generous superannuation and leave provisions. For more information, please visit us: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinus/benefits/

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

The closing date for this position is: Tuesday, 16th January 2024 (23:59 NZDT).

Please note, applications may be reviewed as they are received.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted on our careers website using the APPLY button below and should include:

• a cover letter which includes a research statement of 1-3 pages outlining your background, suitability for the position, noting your expertise and your plans for adapting your skills to the project;
• a CV, include any publications;
• contact details, including email addresses of three referees. We will contact referees of those candidates who best fit the project. Please do not include letters of reference with your application.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact Prof David Wiltshire ([email protected] ) for further information or with any questions, please subject the email 'Postdoctoral fellow in theoretical cosmology'.

For citizens of countries other than New Zealand and Australia, please visit Immigration New Zealand website   to review the visa requirements for working in New Zealand.

We do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to [email protected]  Please note, the University of Canterbury will be closed from the 22/12/23 - 2/01/24. During this period, we will be unable to respond to queries regarding this role. We will follow up with you at our earliest convince once we return.

Job Details

Reference #	18052
Posted on	08 Dec 2023
Closes on	16 Jan 2024 23:55
Location(s)	Christchurch
Expertise	Science & Technology
Job level(s)	Academic, Experienced
Work type(s)	Fixed term full-time
More details (document)	Post-Doctoral Fellow in Cosmology PD.pdf
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