Postdoctoral Research Position in JWST-enabled Science

Description

The Department of Astronomy at the University of Michigan is seeking applications for a postdoctoral position in observational astrophysics, with an emphasis on JWST-enabled research. The successful candidate will work with Prof. Elena Gallo in collaboration with other members of the department, focusing on scientific areas where JWST is significantly advancing knowledge. These areas include, but are not limited to, active galactic nuclei, X-ray binaries, and exoplanets orbiting white dwarfs. 

Applicants are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the department's areas of expertise and develop a collaborative research proposal that aligns with the department's strengths, ideally including a component that leverages (proprietary or archival) JWST data analysis. More information can be found at this link: https://lsa.umich.edu/astro/research.html.

While the primary focus of this position is on JWST science, the postdoc will have significant freedom to develop and initiate new projects utilizing the resources available at the University of Michigan. These resources include institutional access to the twin Magellan 6.5-meter telescopes in Chile, the MDM Observatory in Arizona, the CHARA Interferometer, as well as institutional partnership with the Neil Gehrels/Swift space telescope. Additionally, the University of Michigan is a member of four international consortia contributing to the instrumentation program for the European Extremely Large Telescope: METIS, HARMONI, ANDES, and MOSAIC; several faculty serving on the respetive science workig groups.

Applicants must have prior experience with JWST data handling (one or more instruments). Experience in one or more of the following areas is considered advantageous: successful proposal writing with multiple observatories, multi-wavelength studies, and Bayesian inference.

The initial appointment as a Research Fellow is for one year with the possibility of annual renewal up to two additional years, contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of work and the availability of funding.

Information about working as postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan can be found here:  https://postdocs.umich.edu/ 

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD (in Astronomy, Physics, or closely related discipline) or expect to receive one before the start date, which can be as early as desired, and ideally no later than Sept 1, 2025. 

Application Instructions

All materials should be received by January 12 for full consideration and include: a one-page cover letter, a research plan (3 pages), and a CV that includes a list of publications. Questions should be directed to Prof. Elena Gallo: egallo@umich.edu. Please apply at http://apply.interfolio.com/160541. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.