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Canada Excellence Research Chair in Astronomical Instrumentation

Tenured appointment at the rank of Full Professor, or Associate Professor with promotion to Full Professor within two years of starting the appointment. Bishop’s University invites applications for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Astronomical Instrumentation. The successful candidate will be an internationally recognized leader in the conception, design, development, and deployment of cutting-edge astrophysical instrumentation, broadly defined. Closing date for full consideration: 15 January 2026.

Areas of focus may include, but are not limited to:

  • Optical, UV, and infrared instrumentation (e.g., detectors, spectrographs, imagers, adaptive optics, astrophotonics)
  • Radio and sub-millimetre instrumentation, including digital backends and large-N interferometric arrays
  • High-energy and X-ray instrumentation
  • Time-domain and multi-messenger astronomy instrumentation (including gravitational-wave and neutrino observatories)
  • Space-based or sub-orbital platforms, cubesats, or balloon-borne experiments
  • Software infrastructure, instrument control, data acquisition, and real-time data processing systems (including applications of AI)

The specific research vision is intentionally broad: we seek a transformative instrumentation leader whose program will enable major advances in astrophysics and aligns with the objectives of the CERC program, including the generation of social and economic benefits for Canadians through innovation, training, partnerships, and knowledge mobilization. This CERC position aligns with federal Science, Technology, and Innovation Priorities, specifically “Technologically Advanced Canada”:

https://www.cerc.gc.ca/program-programme/priority_areas-domaines_prioritaires-eng.aspx

The CERC chairholder will be expected to:

  • Establish an ambitious, internationally visible research program in astrophysical instrumentation;
  • Build and lead a diverse research team of highly qualified personnel (HQP), including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers;
  • Develop and sustain strong collaborations with Canadian and international observatories, space agencies, research institutes, and industry partners;
  • Contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching in Physics & Astronomy, with a reduced teaching load appropriate for a CERC-level research appointment, in accordance with the faculty collective agreement and program guidelines;
  • Play a leading role in enhancing Bishop’s capacity in experimental and instrumental astrophysics, including mentoring of junior faculty and fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations (for example, with computer science, engineering partners, or data science groups);
  • Demonstrate leadership in equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and accessibility in research, training, outreach, and team culture.

The position will be tenured at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor. Appointment at Bishop’s will be conditional upon the successful nomination of the selected candidate to the CERC program and the subsequent confirmation of the CERC award by the Tri-agency Institutional Program Secretariat.

Candidate profile and qualifications

Consistent with recent CERC competitions at Canadian universities, we anticipate that the successful nominee will:

  • Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in astronomy, physics, engineering, or a closely related discipline (required by Bishop’s University but not by the CERC program);
  • Be currently at the rank of Full Professor, or Associate Professor who would be promotable to Full Professor within two years of starting the appointment, or have equivalent senior-level research experience in a non-academic setting;
  • Have an internationally recognized track record of excellence in astronomical instrumentation, including leadership roles in major projects or facilities (e.g., principal investigator, project scientist, instrument lead), and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications;
  • Demonstrate a sustained ability to attract significant external research funding and to build large, collaborative, multi-institution teams;
  • Show clear evidence of leadership in training and mentoring diverse groups of HQP, including graduate students and postdoctoral fellows;
  • Demonstrate excellence in teaching and supervision at the undergraduate and/or graduate level;
  • Demonstrate a strong and sustained commitment to EDI, reconciliation, and inclusive excellence in research, training, and recruitment, consistent with CERC program expectations.

Proficiency in English is required, as Bishop’s is an English-language institution. Familiarity with French, or a willingness to learn French to function effectively in the Québec context, is considered a strong asset.

Please find here full details.

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Research Fellow in Gravitational Wave Observations at the University of Birmingham

The Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, invites applications for a fixed-term postdoctoral position in gravitational-wave astronomy from April 1, 2026 until September 30, 2028. The appointment may be extended depending on the availability of funds and comes with a generous travel budget.

The successful candidate will work with Dr Gregorio Carullo, Dr Geraint Pratten, Dr Patricia Schmidt and Prof Alberto Vecchio on topics including gravitational-wave data analysis and parameter estimation, analytical modelling of gravitational-wave sources, numerical relativity simulations of compact binaries, surrogate modelling and machine learning. 

The applicant is expected to have a PhD in physics or a related subject, with a background in data analysis techniques and analytical and/or numerical modelling of compact binaries. They will contribute to the activities of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, and will also have the opportunity to join the LISA Consortium, the Einstein Telescope Collaboration, and the Cosmic Explorer Consortium. 

The Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy provides a vibrant and diverse environment with expertise across key areas of gravitational-wave astronomy: From theoretical to experimental gravitational-wave research, with applications to present and future-generation detectors, theoretical astrophysics, transient astronomy, gravitational-wave data analysis and source modelling, including numerical relativity and general relativity theory. The candidate will have the opportunity to engage in collaborative research within the Institute.

The University of Birmingham is an equal opportunity employer. The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Athena SWAN Silver Award holder and JUNO Champion, welcomes people from all backgrounds and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who we are. We encourage applications from all qualified applicants; those from minority groups who are under-represented in this discipline are particularly welcome. 

Applications should include a CV, list of publications, and a statement of past and future research activities of two pages. The deadline for application is January 18th, 2026 for full consideration. 

Applications should be submitted through the University of Birmingham job portal at the link [1] (Research Fellow in Gravitational Waves – Physics and Astronomy – 106778 – Grade 7).

Applicants should also arrange for three reference letters to be sent to Ms Nicola Holloway (n.holloway[AT]bham.ac.uk) by the application deadline. Remote interviews are expected to take place in the period January 23rd to February 6th, 2026.

For further information and informal inquiries please contact Dr Gregorio Carullo (G.Carullo[AT]bham.ac.uk), Dr Geraint Pratten (G.Pratten[AT]bham.ac.uk), Dr Patricia Schmidt (P.Schmidt[AT]bham.ac.uk) and Prof Alberto Vecchio (A.Vecchio[AT]bham.ac.uk).

Please find here details.

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Positions in GW lensing at IFT Madrid

We invite applications for PhD and Postdoctoral positions at the Instituto de Física Teórica (IFT UAM–CSIC, Madrid) in the areas of gravitational waves, gravitational lensing, and fundamental physics. Positions are funded by the ERC Consolidator Grant GLOW, CSIC-MAX, and Atracción de Talento programs. Starting date is October 2026 or later.

Successful candidates will work with Miguel Zumalacárregui (joining IFT in Summer 2026). Research topics include:

  • Wave-optics phenomena in gravitational lensing
  • Searches for lensed gravitational waves (data analysis, machine learning…)
  • Gravitational lensing of stars by binary black holes
  • Tests of dark matter, dark energy and modified gravity

We are looking for creative and highly motivated individuals with interest or experience in cosmology, gravitational lensing, gravitational waves, compact-object astrophysics, data analysis, and/or computational methods. Expertise in these topics is not a prerequisite: candidates with strong motivation and willingness to acquire the relevant skills are encouraged to apply.

IFT is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence with a vibrant international community, active visitor programs, and strong research in cosmology, gravitation, high-energy and astroparticle physics. The group is involved in the Euclid and LISA missions and maintains collaborations with AEI (Potsdam), IAS (Princeton), Oxford, NBI Copenhagen, and UC Berkeley.

IFT is an equal-opportunity employer. Applications from women and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

POSTDOC POSITIONS:

Application link: https://calls.ift.uam-csic.es/convocatoria/NTY=

We seek creative and independent researchers with experience in gravitational waves, gravitational lensing, cosmology, astrophysics, or related fields. Applicants must hold a PhD in Physics (or equivalent) by the starting date. Positions are typically 2–3 years with competitive salary, travel funding, and support for collaboration visits.
Review of applications will begin on December 15 and continue until the positions are filled.

PhD POSITIONS:

Application link: https://calls.ift.uam-csic.es/convocatoria/NTk=

Applicants must hold, or be close to completing, a Master’s degree in Physics or a closely related field, as required for enrollment in the UAM PhD program and for Spanish predoctoral contracts. Students will have opportunities to develop independent research directions and participate in international collaborations.
Review of applications will begin on January 10th and continue until the positions are filled.

Please feel free to distribute this announcement.

For inquiries, contact: miguel.zumalacarregui(at)aei.mpg.de

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Dark Matter and Stars: Multi-Messenger Probes of Dark Matter and Modified Gravity, July 13-15 2026, Southampton

The International Conference "Dark Matter and Stars: Multi-Messenger Probes of Dark Matter and Modified Gravity" aims to bring together scientists working across the different research fields of astrophysics, cosmology, and modified gravity. We want to look at the dark matter problem from different perspectives, considering it to be of particle nature, as well as modification of gravity. This meeting is intended to initiate cross-field discussions of dark matter searches, their current status, and future prospects.

Conference Website

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Postdoc (m/f/d) in the field of interdisciplinary Physics at TU Braunschweig

The Institute of Theoretical Physics at the Technische Universität Braunschweig invites applications for a postdoc position in the field of interdisciplinary physics (salary scale E13 TV-L, full-time). The appointment begins in April 2026 and will end in September 2027. Extension of the position depends on the performance of the research and teaching as well as the funding availability in the institute.

Interdisciplinary physics focuses on establishing new connections between different branches of physics. In particular, the institute welcomes applications which will connect astrophysics with quantum science through linear and nonlinear waves, resonance phenomena, and beams. Intersections and interactions between astrophysics and quantum science (atomic/molecular physics, quantum sensors, quantum computing) are encouraged for the position. Applications should provide detailed, in-depth knowledge about the interdisciplinary aspects of astrophysics and quantum science to emphasize the integration of difference branches. Application deadline January 6th 2026.

The successful candidate will have higher degrees of freedom in research (i.e., topics and methods are not specified). The candidate will establish a new branch of interdisciplinary physics through the interactions with the institute research staff, and contribute actively to publications and research grant proposals. The candidate will participate as a teaching assistant in the graduate courses in Solar System Physics or Quantum Material at the university.

The candidate must hold a PhD degree in the field of physics or related subjects, and must be fluent in English communication. The application includes (1) cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae with academic and employment tracks, (3) publication list (and project funding list if any), (4) research experience up to 2 pages, (5) research plan up to 2 pages, (6) certificates of the Bachelor, Master, and PhD degrees, and (7) two contact points for reference (name/address/phone/email). Recommendation letters sent by the applicants will not be considered as reference.

Please send the application as a single PDF file (up to a file size of 10 MB) by email to y.narita(at)tu-braunschweig.de with the email header “LS202502 application for postdoc position” before 6 January, 2026. For inquiries, please contact Prof. Dr. Yasuhito Narita by phone +49 531 391 5186 or by email at the same address as above.

The institute welcomes applicants of all nationalities. At the same time, the institute encourages people with severe disabilities to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Please attach a proof of disability to your application.

The personal data will be stored for the purpose of processing the application. By submitting your application, you agree that your data may be stored and processed electronically for application purposes in compliance with the provisions of data protection law. Further information on data protection can be found in our data protection regulations: https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/datenschutzerklaerung-bewerbungen

Please find here details.

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Postdoc in Theoretical/Numerical Cosmology in Montpellier

The Particles, Astroparticles & Cosmology Theory (PACT) group at LUPM (Université de Montpellier, France / CNRS) invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the field of Theoretical/Numerical Cosmology. Particular emphasis will be laid on the study of the evolution and observational signatures or primordial magnetic fields, analysis of cosmic tensions such as the Hubble tension, mining of cosmic CMB and BAO data, and possibly the study of primordial black holes and gravitational waves. Application deadline: January 31st, 2026.

LUPM pursues a broad research agenda at the interface of particle physics and cosmology. Key activities include dark matter, early Universe physics, cosmological tensions, gravitational lensing, and high-energy phenomenology. Permanent members of LUPM are Felix Bruemmer, Pierre Fleury, Cyril Hugonie, Karsten Jedamzik, Julien Larena, Julien Lavalle, Gilbert Moultaka, Vivian Poulin, and Theo Simon. There are furthermore a number of post-docs and students, providing an altogether very lively and accommodating work climate.

Candidate Profile
We are looking for candidates with:

  • a PhD (or nearing completion) in theoretical cosmology, astroparticle physics, and/or numerical magneto-hydrodynamics
  • possibly background in early-Universe physics
  • possible experience with analytical and/or numerical methods (e.g., MHD simulations, Boltzmann codes, MCMC)
  • ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a research group.
  • good communication skills in English (French is not required)

The candidate is also expected to collaborate with Karsten Jedamzik.

Please find here details.

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Postdoc positions in particle theory and cosmology in Louvain

The theory group at UCLouvain is inviting applications for two 2+1-year postdoctoral positions starting in the fall of 2026, with focus on the following profiles: Particle phenomenology: effective field theories, their collider phenomenology, precise predictions, and on-shell amplitude techniques, primarily supervised by Céline Degrande and Gauthier Durieux. Application deadline: by January 5th, 2026.

Particle cosmology, broadly defined, primarily associated with the team of Marco Drewes, where current research activities include:

nonequilibrium quantum field theory, thermal quantum field theory
applications in cosmology and astroparticle physics (cosmic inflation and reheating, neutrino decoupling, leptogenesis, dark matter production, …)
phenomenology of cosmologically motivated extensions of the Standard Model (collider and non-collider experiments)

We kindly ask candidates to indicate the alignment of their interests and expertise with one or several of these topics.

Candidates should have obtained their PhD degree no longer than six years before the start of the appointment.

To apply, please submit, preferably in a single PDF file:

  • a cover letter
  • a curriculum vitae
  • a list of publications
  • a research statement
  • the contact details of three references

Please find here details.

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Quantum Gravity and Cosmology 2026, February 9-13, Bologna

General Relativity (GR) perfectly describes a variety of phenomena in gravity at energy scales much less than the Planck mass. However, this theory calls for an ultraviolet (UV) completion at higher energies.

Various approaches have been developed in this direction in the past decades, including (but not limited to) string theory, which naturally contains the limit of GR. The low-energy effective field theory (EFT) of GR can also have a UV completion which is formulated as a field theory, perturbatively including higher curvature operators or non- perturbatively with an asymptotically safe fixed point. Formulation of new methods, especially working for gravity in the non-perturbative regime, requires more exchanges between the scientific communities that used to be separated. We believe that cross-team discussions will lead to significant progress in understanding the self-consistency and potential phenomenological implications of UV complete descriptions of gravity.

The goal of the workshop is to bring together the experts working on different UV complete approaches to quantum gravity, from string theory to various perturbative and non-perturbative approaches. Given the promising opportunity to probe quantum gravity effects in the very early Universe with future CMB and gravitational wave experiments, we expect the in-depth discussions on predictions and self-consistency of low- energy effective theories on top of cosmological backgrounds.

The meeting will be mainly focused on the following directions:

  • Non-perturbative methods, in application to quantum gravity, such as string theory, amplitudes bootstrap, functional renormalisation group, loop quantum gravity, etc.
  • Quantum gravity effects in the early Universe: inflation, cosmological correlators, non-gaussianities, gravitational waves.
  • EFT of gravity in connection with cosmology and Black Holes.
  • other related topics.

Workshop Website

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CosPA2026 and ACGRG13, July 6-10 2026, Christchurch, New Zealand

The International Symposium on Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (CosPA2026) and the 13th Australasian Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation (ACGRG13) will be held jointly, bringing together two complementary scientific communities. CosPA2026 is part of an annual conference series organized in the Asia-Pacific region under the Asia Pacific Organization of Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (APCosPA), while ACGRG13, convened by the Australasian Society for General Relativity and Gravitation, is a biennial forum for regional researchers in all areas gravitational physics from mathematical relativity to experimental gravitational wave detection.

Together, these meetings aim to unite theorists, experimentalists, and observers working across gravitation, particle physics, cosmology, astrophysics, and astroparticle physics. Participants will engage in discussions on the latest observations, theoretical developments, and emerging directions in these intersecting fields.

Key areas of focus include:

  • Classical and Quantum Theories of Gravity
  • Cosmology
  • Radio Astronomy
  • Gravitational Waves
  • Dark Matter
  • Neutrino Physics
  • Relativistic Astrophysics
  • Mathematical and Numerical Relativity

Conference Website

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Postdoc Position at University of Hamburg

The research group for gravitational wave detection at the University of Hamburg studies metrology and develops instrumentation for current and future ground and space-based detectors like the Einstein Telescope, LIGO, the Lunar Gravitational Wave Antenna and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) with a focus on laser interferometry with a focus on inertial sensing, scattered light, compact interferometers, digital readout and control. Application deadline: January 4th 2026.

The candidate is expected to contribute to the efforts to understand, model and reduce controls noise in current and future detectors and, specifically, to support the design of the Einstein Telescope low-frequency seismic isolation and active noise mitigation system. Relevant findings will also be contributed to current detectors such as LIGO.

The local seismic isolation, sensor, and control test bed VATIGrav provides opportunities for in-house experiments that use compact interferometric sensors developed by our group in combination with mechanical systems such as beam balances and suspended masses to create and test multi-degree-of-freedom inertial sensors and to integrate them into the active isolation system using modern or even machine-learning based control strategies. This work shall specifically also involve the exchange with other groups in e.g., the Einstein Telescope and IGWN collaborations by conducting tests of sensors from other collaborating groups and by contributing to experiments in other international R&D facilities.
The candidate will join the LIGO collaboration and the Einstein Telescope collaboration.

For any questions please contact Oliver Gerberding (oliver.gerberding(at)uni-hamburg.de)

Please find here full details.