Tag: postdoctoral position

Area of Research:  Any field of theoretical astrophysics
CITA offers two types of Fellowships:

CITA Postdoctoral Fellowship: This fellowship will be held at CITA, University of Toronto. All CITA Postdoctoral Fellowship applicants with overlap in astroparticle physics will also be considered for a joint McDonald Institute-CITA Fellowship to be held at the University of Toronto. Salary: $81,500

CITA National Fellowships: These positions are jointly funded by CITA and a faculty member (host) from another Canadian university. The National Fellowship is based at the University of the host. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential hosts directly about these fellowships for more information. An applicant can select up to two possible hosts/locations for a National Fellowship. Salary: varies by location and is communicated in the offer letter.
Applicants can apply for one, or both Fellowship types listed above.
Application deadline: November 2nd 2026.

Description of duties: 

Fellows are expected to carry out original research in theoretical astrophysics under the general supervision of the permanent faculty whose interests include: astrophysical dynamics, early universe, physical cosmology, interstellar and intergalactic matter, plasma physics and compact objects, galaxy, star, black hole and planet formation, stellar physics, high energy astrophysics and gravitational waves.

Required qualifications: 

Recent PhD in any field relevant to theoretical astrophysics

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants should submit:

1. a curriculum vitae,
2. statement of research interests (up to 3 pages),
3. publication list (for papers to which you have contributed significantly, please describe in one sentence your role in the research),
4. three letters of recommendation.

All postdoctoral applicants have the option of applying simultaneously for a CITA Postdoctoral Fellowship (based at the University of Toronto) and/or a CITA National Fellowship (based at the respective university of their chosen academic host) through the same application portal. If you are applying as a National Fellow, choose up to two hosts from the list of host faculty for 2027 and connect with them by email to discuss your intention to apply.

Apply online at https://icat.cita.utoronto.ca/pdf/ by November 2, 2026.

Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

Please contact office@cita.utoronto.ca for inquiries

Supervisor:  Faculty members of CITA

Expected start date: September 1, 2027

Term:  3 years

FTE: 100%

The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week for a full-time postdoctoral fellow recognizing that the needs of the employee’s research and training and the needs of the supervisor’s research program may require flexibility in the performance of the employee’s duties and hours of work.

Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is covered by the terms of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.

Please find here full details.

Northwestern University and The University of Chicago are accepting applications for the Northwestern - UChicago Brinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Astrophysics, to start in Fall 2027. The Fellow will have the opportunity to pursue an independent research program and benefit from the diverse and dynamic intellectual environments at both Northwestern University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astronomy (learn more about CIERA’s programs and activities) and The University of Chicago (learn more about UChicago’s Astronomy & Astrophysics Department programs and activities). Candidates in all areas of Astronomy and Astrophysics are encouraged to apply.

Northwestern has institutional access to several mid- and large-scale optical/IR ground-based telescope facilities, including Keck, MMT, and Magellan, as well as the La Silla Schmidt Southern Survey (LS4). Postdoctoral researchers can apply for nights through CIERA’s internal time allocation process (see sites.northwestern.edu/cieraobserving for more information). CIERA members are also actively involved in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), JWST, HST, Roman, the Subaru Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS), and the MOTHRA telescope. Northwestern University is also a founding partner of the Giant Magellan Telescope. For current areas of research led by CIERA faculty, as well as research resources and facilities, see: https://ciera.northwestern.edu/research/. CIERA researchers have exclusive access to two high-performance computer clusters and additional HPC resources, including high-memory nodes, are available through Northwestern’s Quest cluster (see ciera.northwestern.edu/high-performance-computing for more information). A dedicated Computational Specialist is also on staff to assist CIERA researchers.

The University of Chicago provides institutional access to the Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile and proprietary access to high-performance computing resources. Members of the UChicago community are actively involved in the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-V), the South Pole Observatory (SPT and BICEP), the Simons Observatory, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), the Probe of Extreme Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (POEMMA), the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), and the Line Emission Mapper Mission (LEM), among many other projects. The University of Chicago is a founding partner of the Giant Magellan Telescope, and department members are involved in the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, the Enrico Fermi Institute, Fermilab, and Argonne National Laboratory. For more details about current areas of research by UChicago faculty, as well as resources and facilities, see https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/research/.

Fellowship appointments will be for a three-year term starting in September 2027. The annual stipend is $88,500, and the position comes with a competitive benefits package and a research budget of $18,500 per year. A $5,000 relocation budget will also be available. Successful candidates are expected to split their time, spending approximately half of their time at each institution. They will benefit from strong faculty mentoring at both institutions.

Please submit applications at the following link: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowship/32622

Applications should include a Cover Letter (stating your interest in and relevant experience/skills for the position, and identifying a potential faculty mentor at both Northwestern and U Chicago), a Curriculum Vitae, a list of publications (with the most important 1 to 3 publications indicated with an asterisk), a three-page Statement of Research accomplishments and plans, and email contact information should be provided for at least three references who can independently write a letter of recommendation for the applicant.

All questions should be sent by email to Jennifer Smith at jmsmith(at)uchicago.edu.

Applications received by November 1, 2026 will receive full consideration, and letters of recommendation will be due November 8, 2026. Later applications will be considered until all positions are filled. Please state that you are applying for the Northwestern – U Chicago Brinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Astrophysics in your cover letter. Applicants must complete their Ph.D. requirements prior to appointment.

Please finde here full details.

The Center of Gravity at the Niels Bohr Institute invites expressions of interest for Postdoctoral Fellowships in Gravitational Wave Astrophysics for a fixed period of up to four (3+1) years. The preferred starting date is Fall 2027.
Postdoctoral Fellows at the Niels Bohr Institute have the opportunity to guide more junior fellows, teach courses at various levels, participate in outreach activities, and organize international meetings. Interested individuals are encouraged to upload all material before November 15th, 2026. The search will remain open until finished.

We seek international outstanding individuals eager to join an ambitious research program addressing the exploration of black holes as engines of discovery. This call is seeking specifically outstanding candidates to study the effect of environments in gravitational wave physics and data analysis strategies to robustly identify these in future events. However, outstanding individuals in complementary fields are also warmly welcomed to upload their material.

We are also looking for a candidate to join the GWSkyproject. This project, funded by an ERC Synergy Grant, aims to use gravitational-wave measurements by existing and future observatories on the Earth and in space as precision laboratories for fundamental physics, cosmology, and astrophysics. The GWSky project aims to develop a groundbreaking framework capable of solving the highly nonlinear equations of Einstein’s General theory of Relativity, creating waveform models with unprecedented accuracy, and translating these results into practical tools for interpreting the data. For the GWSky position we are primarily looking for candidates in the field of Gravitational Self-Force and its applications to gravitational waveform modelling. While previous experience in this field is desirable, expressions of interest from excellent candidates with relevant related expertise will be considered.

This search is part of a vigorous expansion at the Niels Bohr Institute into the field of Gravitational Physics, bringing together several scientists from several areas of theoretical physics and astrophysics, and addressing some of the most burning questions related to gravity.

The Center of Gravity (CoG) is a center for new ideas about the foundations of physics. We bring together cutting-edge research in observations of black holes and in the formal theory of relativistic and quantum aspects of gravity, completing the visions of Bohr and Einstein for the gravitational interaction. Our research endeavor spans from data analysis to theoretical disciplines within astrophysics and high-energy physics, and we aim to drive gravitational-wave physics to an exciting future. We have our physical home in the beautiful and legendary building at Blegdamsvej 17, established by Niels Bohr. This is the place where quantum theory was born and where many exciting new developments in gravity are now taking place. Today, the Niels Bohr Institute carries an important legacy in physics and is one of the leading institutes in theoretical and experimental physics. At the Center of Gravity, we hope to carry on the pioneering spirit that has defined our predecessors at the Niels Bohr Institute through trailblazing and fundamental research.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes all qualified individuals regardless of personal background. Postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Copenhagen receive a competitive salary (including pension) and funds for travel and computing. Generous parental leave, state-subsidized childcare, vacation, and full medical care are provided to employees in Denmark. A favorable tax scheme is generally granted to international researchers.

Please find here full details.

The “Computational Relativistic Astrophysics" division at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute; AEI) in Potsdam led by Masaru Shibata (director) announces the opening of postdoc appointments. Each available postdoctoral position will be for a duration of 2 - 3 years.

The “Computational Relativistic Astrophysics” division is currently composed of two group leaders (Kenta Kiuchi, Kyohei Kawaguchi), 1 senior scientist (Takami Kuroda), and several postdoc researchers and students, and focuses on several research topics in relativistic astrophysics including neutron star mergers, collapsars, nucleosynthesis, stellar core collapse and explosion, formation and evolution of very massive and supermassive black holes, and multi-messenger astrophysics.

The researchers in the “Computational Relativistic Astrophysics” division can use high-performance computers at the Max Planck Computing and Data Facility (MPCDF: https://www.mpcdf.mpg.de).

To apply for a postdoctoral position at the AEI in Potsdam, please fill out this form.

Applicants will be asked to upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of publications and statement of research interests. Applicants will need to indicate the names of three referees for recommendation letters. Referees will be notified by email on how to upload the letters (in case of problems referees could send the letters directly to nrjobs(at)aei.mpg.de).

The deadline for the full consideration is December 13th, 2026. The positions will be available from September 1st 2027.

The salary and social benefits (e.g. health insurance) are based on the collective labor agreement “TVöD Bund” for the German public sector, usually at pay grade E13 (if the qualifications according to TVöD are met). A projection of the gross and net salary based on the TVöD regulations will be prepared in case an offer is made.

The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation or national origin. The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individual. The AEI and the Max Planck Society welcome persons with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusion (Code of Conduct). The institute promotes a healthy work-life balance by offering all employees a family support service, cooperation with a nearby international kindergarten, as well as an in-house parent-child office and nursing room.

For further information, please contact Matthias Blittersdorf: matthias.blittersdorf(at)aei.mpg.de.

Please find here details.

Applications are invited for a number of postdoctoral research fellowships in the Department of Physics and the Department of Statistics and Data Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Successful candidates will contribute to a Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF)-funded research programme on artificial intelligence for gravitational-wave astronomy, based at NRF's Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise, and supervised by a team of PIs at NUS: Alvin Chua, Li Cheng, Alexandre Thiery and David Nott. Application close October 31st 2026.

We seek applicants with strong expertise in scientific analysis for gravitational-wave astronomy and/or statistical machine learning for science. Those with a more general background in applied mathematics, statistics, data science or computational science will also be considered. Relevant areas of expertise can include (but are not limited to) topics such as surrogate modelling, representation learning, self-supervised learning, Bayesian optimisation, Gaussian processes, Monte Carlo methods, reinforcement learning, simulation-based inference, and model misspecification.

The ideal candidates for these positions will possess skills and interests in both theoretical and computational research, a willingness to diversify their expertise and to be involved in cross-disciplinary projects, as well as the disposition to work well independently and as part of a team.

The initial appointment is for one year, with expected renewal up to two or three years in total, and could start as early as March 2027. Each position comes with a competitive salary and personal benefits, as well as travel support for international conferences/visits. There will also be opportunities for successful candidates to gain additional experience in supervising research students during their appointment.

Applicants should submit the following materials via e-mail to ai4gw.nus(at)gmail.com: a cover letter, their CV and list of publications, a short statement of research, and the e-mail addresses of three academic referees who will provide letters of reference. All materials should be received by 31 October 2026 for full consideration.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) Laboratory seeks a highly motivated and skilled Research Engineer to join its team. LIGO Laboratory is a National Science Foundation major facility dedicated to observing gravitational-waves. Jointly operated by the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the LIGO Laboratory operates world-leading observatories near Richland, WA and Baton Rouge, LA as well as R&D centers on the Caltech and MIT campuses. The LIGO Laboratory’s mission spans a broad and vibrant array of activities related to gravitational-wave physics and astronomy, including detector operations, R&D toward detector improvements, gravitational-wave astrophysics, observatory operations, and education and public outreach. For more information, please visit the Laboratory website at www.ligo.caltech.edu. This position is an in-person role located in Pasadena, California.
As a Research Engineer in the LIGO Laboratory, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills to the design and implementation of technologies that increase the LIGO detector sensitivity and astrophysical reach, and to the development of the future interferometric detectors of the next decades. This position focuses on the development and characterization of the extremely high performance systems used for the LIGO interferometer, including but not limited to: the test mass mirrors, a critical component with state of the art performance: greater than 99.999% reflection, extremely low scatter, sub-part-per-million absorption and very low thermal noise; laser systems with unparalleled stability; seismic and vibration isolation systems; optical telescopes and sensors.

This is a highly multidisciplinary activity and your interests and passions will play a role in defining which research aspect you will focus primarily on.

You will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to many different parts and aspects of the current and future LIGO detectors, and there will be many opportunities to develop new skills and expertise.

Essential Job Duties

• Support the cutting edge R&D program at the LIGO laboratory aimed at improving the sensitivity of the current and future detectors, in collaboration with scientists and engineers in the LIGO Laboratory and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.
• Support the development, characterization and deployment of LIGO core optics components, such as test masses and other optical components.
• Design, construct and operate experiments and measurement systems to test new coatings and new technologies for current and future gravitational-wave instruments.
• Collaborate in the R&D for core components of the LIGO interferometers including: seismic isolation, suspensions, core optics, lasers, mode matching systems, adaptive optics systems.
• Collaborate with vendors and other research groups on the development of technologies and components relevant for the LIGO detector upgrades.
• Develop strong working relationships and collaborations with scientists and engineers at the two LIGO Observatories.
• This position requires occasional travel to other LIGO installations and collaborating institutions in Livingston, Louisiana, Hanford, Washington, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and possibly internationally.
• Applicants must be able to work in a cleanroom and laser environment for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift and/or carry 20 or more pounds of lab and/or prototype equipment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• A Bachelor in Physics, Engineering, Optics, or related experimental field.
• A minimum of 3 years post bachelor degree experience as an experimental physicist, engineer or equivalent laboratory setting; this can be in a professional work environment or as part of further education.
• A minimum of 2 years experience with scientific computations and modeling using MATLAB, python or similar tools; this can be a significant contribution to a research project or work for a private employer.
• Experience with the design and construction of engineered systems or research experiments.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, as presentation of your work and findings to senior member of the LIGO laboratory is critical.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully working with a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master or Ph.D. in Physics or equivalent experience.
• Experience with mechanical CAD (Solidworks or equivalent) and Optical Design CAD (Zemax or equivalent).
• Experience with gravitational-wave detector technology.

Required Documents

• A cover letter is a required document for this position. Please write a letter that summarizes your relevant experience and your interest in working at LIGO.
• Resume.

Please find here details.

LIGO Laboratory (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) seeks a highly motivated and skilled Senior Scientist to join its team with experience in research, design and problem solving in a collaborative environment. LIGO Laboratory is a National Science Foundation major facility dedicated to observing gravitational-waves. Jointly operated by the California Institute of Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the LIGO Laboratory operates world-leading observatories near Richland, WA and Baton Rouge, LA as well as R&D centers on the Caltech and MIT campuses. The LIGO Laboratory’s mission spans a broad and vibrant array of activities related to gravitational-wave physics and astronomy, including detector operations, R&D toward detector improvements, gravitational-wave astrophysics, observatory operations, and education and public outreach. For more information, please visit the Laboratory website at www.ligo.caltech.edu. This position is an in-person role located in Pasadena, California.  The successful candidate will report to the most senior engineers at LIGO Lab. Given how important core optics and optical coatings are for LIGO today and LIGO tomorrow this is an important position and offers the individual an important role within LIGO Lab. This is an exciting opportunity to work with world-leading scientists and engineers on cutting-edge science. This selected candidate will be a vital part of our talented team, helping to lead LIGO into the future.

A full list of the job duties including opportunities for creativity, direction and planning are listed below.  

Essential Job Duties

• Perform optical design and analysis.
• Conducting research on optical designs and optical coatings.
• Direct and assist with testing, analysis, and oversight of precision optical metrology instruments to test hypotheses and gather data.
• Support the operation and maintenance of world-class, precision optical characterization and metrology facilities. 
• Develop optical specifications, policies, and procedures. 
• Provide technical expert support for multi-million-dollar contracts with optics and coating fabricators providing cutting edge technology that enables LIGO’s extreme sensitivity. 
• Provide ongoing modifications and solution alternatives to meet current and future research and observatory requirements 
• Conceptualize the design and direct the development of enhanced measurement techniques and improved optics.
• Diagnose and design solutions and modifications in response to optic, optical equipment or component malfunctions and failures.
• Support the current lead with overseeing the Caltech Optical Sciences Group, including technical, budget, resource, and task management 
• Provide technical guidance as well as technical oversight to matrixed engineering and science staff working on optics, opto-electronics, and interferometry.
• Communicate (written and verbal) technical progress and budget/resource status on various projects, internally within the organization and externally to parties outside the organization
• Over time, take on people-management responsibilities and coach junior staff, encourage professional development, conduct annual reviews and nurture the team.
• Other Duties as Assigned

Basic Qualifications

• BS in Physics, Astronomy or Engineering.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience with high precision optics.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in mentoring junior scientists and/or students.
• Comprehensive knowledge of optical design, analysis, and testing for interferometry.
• Experience directly using scientific observation and analysis, creative thinking, and method development to solve problems related to optics and optical systems. 
• Significant experience with precision optical metrology.
• Significant experience with technical specifications and support for contracting optical fabrication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or a PhD. in a related field.
• Significant experience in technical supervision of a group of 5 or more staff.
• Experience in project management including use of MS Project for project management and planning.
• History of working in and with International Collaborations with Optical scientists and other professionals, including mechanical, electrical, and computer engineers, physicists, and research scientists, to invent original concepts for optical products and improve existing devices.

Required Documents

• Resume. 
• Cover Letter is a required document for this position. Please summarize your relevant experience and your interest in working at LIGO Lab.

Please find here full details.

The STAR Institute at the University of Liège, Belgium invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher position to work with the OGrav group, starting on November 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The postdoctoral researcher will focus on deep-learning-based Newtonian Noise subtraction for the Einstein Telescope. The work will include the development, implementation, and in-situ tests of the method on the E-TEST prototype developed in Liège by Prof. Christophe Collette. The successful candidate will also collaborate with members of the Applied Geophysics (APGEO) group led by Prof. Frédéric Nguyen, and the Belgian gravitational-wave community (GraviBel/BelGrav).

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED / PROFILE

• A PhD in science, engineering, applied sciences, or a related field;
• Strong knowledge of machine-learning and deep-learning methods and practical experience with modern machine-learning tools;

Applicants must not have spent more than 24 months as residents of Belgium over the last 3 years.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The selection procedure will be in accordance with the regulations of the University of Liège. Our institutional policy is based on diversity and equal opportunities. We select candidates on the basis of their qualities, regardless of age, sexual orientation, origin, beliefs, disability or nationality.

APPLICATIONS

Applications should be sent to maxime.fays(at)uliege.be, specifying the reference number of the post.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• A motivation letter;
• A complete curriculum vitae;
• A complete publication list;
• A short report on previous and current research activities;
• Two letters of recommendation, to be sent directly to the above address.

RECRUITMENT CONDITIONS

The position is allocated for 2 years and may be extended to a third year in exceptional cases.

The position includes support for travel to collaboration meetings, workshops, and conferences, with an indicative travel budget of approximately EUR 3,000 per year. Recent comparable postdoctoral contracts at the University of Liège corresponded to a net salary of approximately EUR 2,900 per month, depending on personal circumstances and applicable tax and social security rules.

INFORMATION

Any information concerning the nature of the tasks can be obtained from Prof. Maxime Fays maxime.fays(at)uliege.be

The position is part of project “Developing ET Noise Budget: Reliability, Accessibility and Completeness.” The project will develop reliable, documented, and publicly accessible ET noise budgets for detector-design decisions; expand models for effects such as control noise, scattered light, and Newtonian noise; and help build a robust open-source software framework based on pygwinc.

The role combines scientific modelling, Python software development, verification and review of detector-noise models, and close collaboration with European ET experts and partner projects.

We are seeking an experienced postdoctoral researcher with a PhD in physics or a related field, strong quantitative modelling and Python skills, and interest or experience in gravitational-wave detectors, interferometry, precision metrology, controls, or scientific software. Experience with Git-based development, testing, documentation, code review, pygwinc, FINESSE, IfoCAD, or related tools is particularly welcome.

Application deadline: 17 August 2026

Please finde here full advertisement and application details.