Author: Marcus Mohring

We invite applications for a 3-year postdoctoral research position in the field of cosmology and gravitational wave data analysis. The successful candidate will join the Instituto de Estructura de la Materia (IEM - CSIC) in Madrid to work with Dr. Mauro Pieroni and Dr. Jesús Torrado. The proposed starting date is October 1st, 2026. The deadline for application is on the 15th of November.

The research focus is the development and application of advanced inference techniques to extract cosmological and astrophysical information from gravitational wave observations. Specific areas of interest include Bayesian methodologies (hierarchical modelling, classical and machine-learning approaches), synergies between gravitational waves and other cosmological probes, and theoretical and computational developments in multi-messenger cosmology. Strong candidates with only partial overlap will also be considered.

Qualifications

• A PhD in physics, astronomy, or a related field by the start date.
• Expertise in cosmology, gravitational wave physics, or data analysis.
• Strong background in statistical inference and computational methods, preferably including MCMC/nested sampling/variational inference, and machine learning methods.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Application Instructions
Applicants should submit the following materials to mauro.pieroni(at)csic.es and jesus.torrado(at)csic.es:

• Cover letter (max 1 page)
• Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages) and list of publications.
• Research statement, briefly summarising past work and current interests (max 2 pages).

Please, arrange for 3 letters of recommendation to be sent to the same email addresses by the deadline.

Deadline for full consideration
November 15th, 2025 (but applications will be considered until the position is filled).

For inquiries, please contact
mauro.pieroni(at)csic.es and jesus.torrado(at)csic.es

Please find here full details.

Syracuse University is seeking two gravitational-wave experimentalist postdocs. The positions begin on or around January 1, 2026.

Postdoc in High Power Laser Applications under Professor Craig Cahillane, who is working on building a ultra-high power photoneutralization cavity for applications in nuclear fusion and gravitational wave detectors. Read more

Postdoc in Quantum Optics under Professor Georgia Mansell, who is working on understanding the interactions of squeezed light with complex interferometers, as well as building an electrostatic violin mode damper for Advanced LIGO. Read more

Both are involved in the optical design of Cosmic Explorer, the United States’ third generation gravitational wave observatory.Open until filled.

To increase the scientific return from its space science missions, ESA welcomes applications from scientists interested in pursuing research based on publicly available data in the ESA Space Science Archives. The Archives host data from all current and past ESA space science missions in astronomy, planetary science, and heliophysics.

The ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme is open to scientists at all career levels who are affiliated with institutes in ESA Member States and Cooperating States (note that all visits must comply with the ESA Security Directives, which may necessitate additional checks). Early-career scientists are particularly encouraged to apply, including PhD students (see below). We encourage applications from women and minorities. The peer-review evaluation process is anonymised to ensure equal opportunities for all applicants. 

Residence lasts typically between one and three months, also distributed over multiple visits, depending on the complexity of the research project. The research projects can be carried out at ESAC (Madrid, Spain) and at ESTEC (Noordwijk, Netherlands). To offset the expenses incurred by visitors, ESA covers travel costs from and to the home institution and provides support for lodging expenses and meals.

During their stay, visiting scientists have the opportunity to interact with archive and mission specialists for questions on the retrieval, calibration, and analysis of archival data. In principle, all areas of space research covered by ESA science missions can be supported. To ensure that technical expertise in the specific area of interest is available at ESAC or ESTEC, applicants should consult the table of expertise and contact the relevant scientists in their field of interest (this is very important). In case of doubts, write to the programme coordinators for assistance at arvp(at)cosmos.esa.int.

The next deadline for applications is Monday 10 November 2025, 23:59 UTC

Call for applications

Applications can be submitted at any time by sending email to arvp(at)cosmos.esa.int. The email should contain a single PDF document of at most three pages detailing:

• description of the goals of the research project
• public archival data on which help is sought
• which type of expertise you expect to gain
• proposed time and duration of the visit
• expected publications
• contact information

Please keep it short (max 3 pages) and follow the simple template provided here. Note that this is just a template, you can use the font type and size that you prefer (not smaller than 10), but please do not exceed three pages. You must indicate the (expected) year of your PhD.

To prevent unconscious biases, your name, email address, and other contact information (on the third page) will not be visible to reviewers. To help in the process, you must write your application in an “anonymous” way, i.e. do not identify yourself in the text. For instance, do not mention the name of your institute or collaborators in the scientific description of the project (page 1 and 2) and when you are referring to one of your papers, do not write “I have shown that … (Author Name, 2023, Journal, 954, 125)”, but rather write “It has been shown that … (Author Name, 2023, Journal, 954, 125)”. If you identify yourself, the application will not be considered.

We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions about the data that could support your research project. You will find the names of our experts in the various science areas in the table of expertise below. Or write to the programme coordinators for assistance at arvp(at)cosmos.esa.int. 

Students

We welcome proposals by graduate students. The proposals can be submitted by the students themselves or in collaboration with their supervisors. If you are a student and would like to visit ESA to learn more about doing science with archival data, make sure that you coordinate and agree your research project with your supervisor. Mention this in the application, but omit the name of the supervisor, otherwise the application is not anonymous.

Deadlines

Applications can be submitted at any time and are reviewed twice a year, with deadlines usually on 30 April and 31 October. The results of the review will be communicated to applicants within about two months of the deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to contact the ESA scientists or the programme coordinators well ahead of the deadlines in order to discuss their research plans. 

Applications received by 10 November 2025 (23:59 UTC) will be considered for visits in spring and summer 2026. 

Please find here full details.

Leiden Observatory invites applications for a postdoctoral position on theoretical and computational astrophysical studies of gravitational wave-related phenomena, with a strong preference for Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals (EMRIs), and Quasi-Periodic Eruptions (QPEs). The postdoctoral position is within Prof. Elena M. Rossi’s group, which currently consists of five PhD students and one post-doc, who work on various galactic nuclei phenomena. It is funded by Rossi’s grant awarded within the National Roadmap for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). This consortium coordinates activities in the Netherlands in preparation for LISA data.

The position is for 2+2 years, and preferentially targets candidates straight out of their PhD.

Leiden Observatory, founded in 1633, is the oldest university astronomy department in the world. It is ranked the 7th best Space Science Department in the world, and the first outside the USA. With about 35 faculty, over 60 postdoctoral associates and about 80 PhD students, it is one of the largest and most international astronomy departments in the world. Leiden is a charming university town with an international flair. Most English is the common language at the Institute and in town.

Compensation and Benefits

The positions include all employees’ benefits, including but not limited to parental leave, holiday bonus, retirement benefits, etc

Application Details

Applicants are requested to send an email to emr(at)strw.leidenuniv.nl, attaching their CV, list of publications (link to a website is also ok), cover letter (important!) and a maximum of one page of research experience and plans. The email subject should be: “your surname_LISA_application. All files must contain in the title your surname (e.g., Rossi_CV, Rossi_cover_letter, etc..). Please, arrange to have three letters of reference to be emailed to emr@strw.leidenuniv.nl with the application deadline, with subject “your surname reference LISA position” (e.g., Rossi reference LISA position) and the pdf file of the letter should be named “your surname_surname-of-letter-writer” (e.g., “Rossi_UgoFoscolo”).

The successful candidate must have a PhD degree by the starting date. The starting date is 1st of September 2026, but an earlier start is possible.

Complete applications received by November 15, 2025, will receive full consideration.

Inquiries
Elena Maria Rossi emr(at)strw.leidenuniv.nl

Please find here details.

Multiple postdoctoral positions in gravitational-wave science, as well as general relativity, astrophysics, and cosmology more broadly, are available at UChicago. 

Of particular interest to the LIGO/GW community may be the KICP, Fermi, Schmidt, SkAI, and Leinweber Fellowships. UChicago is a member of SkAI and the Simons Collaboration on Black Holes and Strong Gravity. Please contact Daniel Holz with questions.

The William H. Miller III Department of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships in the general area of gravitational physics and gravitational-wave astronomy. These fellowships offer the opportunity for postdoctoral research that combines academic freedom with strong faculty mentorship in an intellectually vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming department. The Department has strong programs in condensed-matter physics, particle physics, astrophysics, and biological physics and is embarking upon a significant expansion, including growth into new areas of physics. The department also benefits from its close relationship with the Space Telescope Science Institute, located on the Johns Hopkins campus.

The candidates are expected to work in my research group (https://pages.jh.edu/eberti2/about/). The group currently includes 6 postdocs, 7 Ph.D. students, and various undergraduate students supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, the John Templeton Foundation, the Simons Foundation, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The postdoctoral fellows will be provided with support for travel across the nodes of the recently established Simons Collaboration on Black holes and Strong Gravity (SimonsC-BHSG). The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University has a vibrant and interdisciplinary research environment, and the candidates are encouraged to collaborate with other faculty members, students and postdocs working in closely related research areas. More details about the department and its research can be found at https://physics-astronomy.jhu.edu

Consideration of applications will begin on 1 December 2025 and continue until all available positions are filled. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests, and a list of publications, and arrange for at least three letters of reference on their behalf to be submitted to the application website:

https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30711