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GW position in France

This year CNRS opens a permanent position on Gravitational waves in France. The main target are young researchers (between 1 and 3 postdocs). For more information, please contact Stas Babak (APC: stas(at)apc.in2p3.fr) or Yves Lemiere (LPCC: lemiere(at)lpccaen.in2p3.fr).

Please find the first announcement here (position N 04/08).

PhD Position in Theoretical Cosmology at University of Groningen

Applications are invited for a PhD position under the supervision of Ema Dimastrogiovanni, starting in Fall 2026. The research will focus on cosmic inflation, with applications to primordial magnetic fields and their cosmological signatures. The position is part of the NWO-XL funded "Magnetic Universe" Consortium and is hosted at the Van Swinderen Institute for Particle Physics and Gravity at the University of Groningen. Application deadline: January 16th 2026.

Interested candidates should submit the following application material: – CV – short motivation letter – full academic transcripts – grades scale explanations – a minimum of 2 reference letters – preprint of publications (optional)

Note: please DO NOT send application material or expressions of interest by email, only use contact email for questions about the position.

Please find here full details.

Postdoctoral Position in Cosmology at University of Groningen

Applications are invited for a three-year postdoctoral position with Ema Dimastrogiovanni and Daan Meerburg, starting in Fall 2026. The position is part of the NWO-XL funded "Magnetic Universe" Consortium (https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/64-million-euros-for-groundbreaking-fundamental-research-projects) and is based at the Van Swinderen Institute for Particle Physics and Gravity at the University of Groningen.  Application deadline: January 16th 2026.

Candidates with an interest in theoretical cosmology and possible applications to cosmological data are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to collaborate with consortium members, including Matthieu Schaller at Leiden University, Elisa Chisari and Tomislav Prokopec at Utrecht University, as well as other partners within the consortium, on related projects.

Both Ema and Daan are members of the Cosmic Frontier within the VSI. Research in their groups focuses on early universe physics, gravitational waves, primordial non-Gaussianities, Cosmic Microwave Background, 21cm cosmology and AI enhanced data inference. They currently supervise a total of seven PhD students (including two joint appointments) and one postdoctoral researcher. The newly recruited postdoctoral researcher will be encouraged to take a leading role across both groups, fostering and spearheading collaborative research projects.

Application material: CV, cover letter, research statement, publication list, at least 3 reference letters.


Please find here full details.

PhD positions at the Charles University in Prague

The Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University in Prague has opened new PhD positions. Some of the topics offered have a direct connection to LISA science, including the project on waveform modeling and probing black hole physics using gravitational waves led by myself and Petr Kotlařík. Applications will open 15 December 2025 and close 15 January 2026, and the positions start on 1 October 2026.

The successful applicant will be a student of the Charles University while doing cutting-edge research at either the Charles University or the Czech Academy of Sciences. The positions are fully funded for the standard duration of 4 years with a salary level determined by Czech law.

For the list of projects, details of the application procedure, and more, see this link.

Postdoctoral Position in Gravitational Wave Physics (m/f/d, E13 TV-L, 100%) in Tübingen

The Theoretical Astrophysics section (TAT) at the University of Tübingen invites applications for one (1)

Postdoctoral Research Position (Wissenschaftlicher Assistent/ Research Assistant)
in Gravitational Wave Physics (m/f/d, E13 TV-L, 100%)

The position is expected to start as early as 1 March 2026 and is initially funded until 30 September 2027, with the possibility of an extension for one additional year, subject to funding availability and performance. The salary will be determined according to the German public service scale (TV-L E13). Application deadline: January 25th, 2026.

The position is expected to start as early as 1 March 2026 and is initially funded until 30 September 2027, with the possibility of an extension for one additional year, subject to funding availability and performance. The salary will be determined according to the German public service scale (TV-L E13). Application deadline: January 25th, 2026.

The research activities of TAT are centered on the study of sources of gravitational waves, with an emphasis on the dynamics of neutron stars and black holes. The team currently consists of two (2) postdoctoral researchers, three (3) PhD students, and seven (7) MSc students.

The successful applicant will carry out independent and original research on the dynamics of relativistic compact objects and the associated emission of gravitational and electromagnetic radiation. In addition, the successful applicant will be expected to contribute to teaching activities for four (4) hours per week.

Applications, including a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, a statement of research interests and experience, and the names (address, and email) of up to three potential referees, should be sent to:

Prof. Dr. Kostas Kokkotas

Theoretical Astrophysics (IAAT), University of Tübingen, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany

Please find here full details.

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Theoretical and Gravitational Wave Astrophysics at NBI Copenhagen

The Theoretical Astrophysics Group in the Niels Bohr International Academy (NBIA) at the Niels Bohr Institute invites expressions of interest for a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship at the interface between astrophysical fluid dynamics and gravitational wave astrophysics. The fall of 2026 would be the preferred starting date. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit all material using this website before January 7th, 2026 but the search will continue beyond this date. 

We are seeking highly motivated, outstanding individuals who will contribute and develop research programs related to the dynamics and observational signatures of compact binary mergers. Expertise in astrophysical fluid dynamics, magnetohydrodynamics, radiative transfer, gravitational wave astrophysics, and/or high-performance computing will constitute valuable assets. Group members have access to some of the largest dedicated astrophysics computer resources in Scandinavia, including a general-purpose cluster with more than 10,000 cores, a GPU cluster, a petabyte of storage, and dedicated data analysis servers.

Postdoctoral fellows are expected to carry out an independent research program and interact with other NBIA members. They have the opportunity to guide students, teach courses at various levels, participate in outreach activities, and organize international meetings and PhD schools.

The Niels Bohr International Academy fosters the traditions of internationalism, interdisciplinary science and excellence in physics which have characterized the Niels Bohr Institute for more than a century. The NBIA functions as a primary center for fundamental research including theoretical and computational astrophysics, particle astrophysics, gravitational physics, high energy particle physics, quantum physics, and biophysics.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes expressions of interest from all qualified individuals regardless of personal background.

If needed, specific inquiries can be addressed to nbia(at)nbi.ku.dk.

Please find here full details.

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.

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.

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

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.