Category: News

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.

The Adelaide Node of the ARC Centre for Excellence for Gravitational Wave Detection (OzGrav) is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to develop new instrumentation and techniques that ensure quantum enhancements of the world's most sensitive detectors realize their full potential. Fixed-term full-time position for 3 years. Applications close 11:55pm, 27 October 2025, or until position is filled.

We are seeking a Research Associate/ Senior Research Associate who will contribute to one or more of our current research projects as part of a dynamic multi-faceted team that explores the development of current and next-generation gravitational wave detectors (GWD), including the LIGO detectors.

Current projects include the development of wavefront sensors and actuators for improved laser-beam mode control in GWD, including a new facility for full-aperture testing of advanced thermal compensation schemes; advanced numerical simulation and analysis tools; improved opto-mechanical sensors for current GWD; high-precision measurement of optical absorption and birefringence in low-loss materials and optical coatings; and new IR laser technologies.

You will also mentor graduate students and guide their research projects in collaboration with other post-doctoral researchers and the group leaders. Mentoring and professional development opportunities will also be available as part of your membership of the OzGrav Centre of Excellence.

The position includes collaboration with our national and international partners, and the opportunity to participate in on-site and remote commissioning of the LIGO gravitational wave detectors, and to present your work at national and international conferences. You will also enjoy the benefits of being a member of OzGrav and Adelaide Universities Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)

To be successful you will need:

• PhD (or thesis submitted) or equivalent experience in experimental laser physics, photonics, optics, optical engineering and/or optical sensing.
• A commitment to research excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research in addition to working effectively as a member of a research team in a complex setting.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.

The path to Adelaide University

We are on an exciting path to Adelaide University as we prepare to open our doors in January 2026. Adelaide University will combine the strengths of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, and we are dedicated to creating an accessible and future-focused educational powerhouse that fosters economic and social wellbeing through ground-breaking research and innovative teaching. You can learn more about Adelaide University HERE and more information will be provided throughout the recruitment process.

Enjoy an outstanding career environment

We offer a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs – including significant industry, government and community collaboration – offers you vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

It also enables us to attract high-calibre people in all facets of our operations, ensuring you will be surrounded by talented colleagues, many world-leading. Our work’s cutting-edge nature – not just in your own area, but across virtually the full spectrum of human endeavour – provides a constant source of inspiration.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and our Values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery. We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

We embrace flexibility as a key principle to allow our people to manage the changing demands of work, personal and family life.

In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive staff benefits. These include: salary packaging; flexible work arrangements; high-quality professional development programs and activities; and an on-campus health clinic, gym and other fitness facilities.

Learn more at adelaide.edu.au/jobs

Your faculty’s broader role

The Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology is a multidisciplinary hub of cutting-edge teaching and research. Many of its academic staff are world leaders in their fields and graduates are highly regarded by employers. The Faculty actively partners with innovative industries to solve problems of global significance.

Learn more at set.adelaide.edu.au

If you have the talent, we’ll give you the opportunity. Together, let’s make history.

Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to be taken through to the online application form. Please ensure you submit a cover letter, resume, and upload a document that includes your responses to the selection criteria for the position as contained in the position description or selection criteria document.

Applications close 11:55pm, 27 October 2025, or until position is filled.

The University reserves the right to close this advertisement before the closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.

For further information

The Princeton Gravity Initiative is seeking exceptional Ph.D. recipients in theoretical gravitational theory for an honorific postdoctoral fellowship program. The Princeton Gravity Initiative is a collaborative effort between Princeton University's Astrophysics, Mathematics, and Physics Departments to explore the fundamental nature of gravity; see https://gravity.princeton.edu for more information.

Candidates from all areas of research focusing on gravitational theory, including gravitational wave astrophysics, mathematical relativity, early universe cosmology, and quantum gravity, will be considered.

Appointments, to be made at the rank of Associate Research Scholar, will be for three years with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2026. The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University.

This position is subject to the University’s background check policy.

To apply online, please visit https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/39981 and submit a cover letter (which can include a research statement of up to three pages in length), CV, and contact information for three references. PhD must be completed prior to the start of the appointment.

To ensure full consideration, all materials, including letters of reference, must be received by October 30, 2025. Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Expected Salary Range: $77,000 The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly. The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees.

Please see this link for more information.

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

The Relativity group at University College Dublin (UCD) invites expressions of interest for multiple ERC-funded postdoctoral positions in gravitational wave source modelling, with a focus on small mass-ratio binaries.

The successful candidates will work with Prof. Barry Wardell and will join the EMRIWaveforms project, funded by an ERC Advanced grant. We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in black hole perturbation theory, gravitational-wave data analysis for extreme mass-ratio inspirals, numerical relativity and post-Newtonian theory, although we are open to all candidates with a strong background in gravitational-wave science. Candidates will have ample opportunities to collaborate with the broader Relativity Group at UCD.

The preferred start date is between January and September 2026, and the positions are envisioned for a period of 2 years with possible extension conditional on satisfactory performance. The positions include ample funds for travel and computing.

The Relativity Group at UCD consists of 6 faculty members (Prof. Barry Wardell, Dr Sarp Akcay, Dr Chris Kavanagh, Prof. Adrian Ottewill, Dr Christiana Pantelidou, and Dr Niels Warburton), four postdoctoral fellows (Dr Susanna Barsanti, Dr Mikel Sanchez, Dr Andrew Spiers, and Oleksii Yanchyshen), a visiting Fulbright Fellow (Dr Thomas Osburn), and several PhD and MSc students. Together they form a vibrant and friendly research group whose expertise include gravitational self-force, numerical relativity, quantum fields on curved spacetimes, effective-one-body theory, and many other aspects of gravitational-wave source modelling.

We strive to build a diverse and inclusive environment and welcome expressions of interest from traditionally underrepresented groups.

Successful candidates will have a PhD in Theoretical Physics or a related discipline and previous experience in gravitational-wave source modelling. Applications should comprise a CV (including details of two reference letter writers) and a two-page statement covering research interests and plans. To receive full consideration, interested candidates should submit their application using the form at https://forms.gle/VARZsnqbz4SeGM39A by Friday October 31st, 2025. The search will remain open until the optimal candidates are found.

The gravitational-wave physics group at SISSA (Trieste, Italy) invites expressions of interest for several postdoctoral research positions on the following topics: numerical-relativity simulations; environmental effects for binary systems; gravitational-wave data analysis and machine learning; waveform modeling. The positions will start in the fall of 2026 and will be for two years, with possible extension conditional on satisfactory performance. These positions will be part of the GWSKy ERC synergy project.

Applications should consist of a cover letter, a CV, a publication list, a research statement and three reference letters, and should be received by December 19th to receive full consideration.

Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research statement
• Publication list
• Three reference letters (to be submitted online by the reference writers on this site help popup)

And anything else requested in the position description.

Please find here details.