Post doctoral fellow on the effects of stellar evolution on planetary systems (PA2022/2057)

Lund Observatory at the Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics invites applicants to a Post doctoral fellow position on the effects of stellar evolution on planetary systems. We are seeking candidates with backgrounds in observations or theory of exoplanets, circumstellar discs, white dwarfs, or stellar evolution. The position is for two years. Anticipated starting date is no later than 1 Jan 2023.

Astrophysics at Lund Observatory further encompasses galaxy formation, galactic dynamics and evolution, star formation and dynamics, planet formation and dynamics, high-energy astrophysics, and stellar evolution. We have strong links with upcoming instrumentation, including involvement in Gaia, 4MOST, CHEOPS, PLATO, LISA and ELT instrumentation (HIRES and MOSAIC).

Description of work
The fellow will work primarily in collaboration with Dr. Alexander Mustill, partly funded by the Swedish Research Council grant "A Unified Picture of White Dwarf Planetary Systems". Applicants are encouraged to define their own research related to a range of possible topics, including the orbital dynamics of planets and asteroids around evolved stars; close-in discs and transiting phenomena around white dwarfs; and planetary and stellar abundances and compositions.

Teaching may also be included. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

Qualification requirements
Post doctoral fellow positions are research-focused appointments intended to form the early stages of a science career. The assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject. Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position (astronomy, astrophysics or a related field), completed no more than three years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Terms of employment
Postdoctoral fellow positions are full-time, fixed-term employments with a minimum of two 2 years and a maximum of three years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Arbetsgivarverket, SACO-S, and OFR/S, dated 1 February 2022.

Application procedure
The application should include a CV, a copy of the PhD degree diploma (or documents confirming that a PhD degree will be obtained by the start of the employment), a publication list, and a statement of research interests. The statement of research interests should not exceed four (4) pages and should include:
- a description of your research to date, emphasising your own contributions in the case of collaborative work;
- a description of your own planned research, to be carried out in Lund over two years;
- an indication of specific interests related to exoplanets, stellar evolution, and/or white dwarf planetary systems, and proposed collaborations with staff at Lund Observatory.

Please, we ask you to NOT put bias-sensitive information in your CV, like gender, date-of-birth, citizenship/country of birth, and a photographic portrait. The CV, publication list, and the statement of research interest should also not show your first name (only initials), nor your email address if it contains your first name. Reference letters will not be requested, and will not be assessed.