Research Fellow in Exoplanets

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to October 2027

Closes: 21/07/2024

Role Summary

The Sun, Stars and Exoplanets research group at the University of Birmingham invites inventive and talented individuals to apply for a postdoctoral research position for an ERC/UKRI funded project entitled “CandY: Circumbinary AND rockY” that starts on 01 November 2024 and finishes on 31 October 2029.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant group of astronomers. The Sun, Stars, and Exoplanets group consist of six permanent researchers: Amaury Triaud, Guy Davies, Annelies Mortier, Anjali Piette, Bill Chaplin and Yvonne Ellsworth, along two main research themes: exoplanets and asteroseismology. Members of the group have responsibilities in SPECULOOS, ASTEP, BiSON, TESS, Kepler and the PLATO mission. The group benefits from newly refurbished offices at the heart of a beautiful campus.

The successful applicant will work primarily with Prof. Amaury Triaud as part of the CandY project. We particularly welcome applicants with expertise in ground & space transit photometry. Experience with photo-dynamical modelling and/or spectro-photometric observations of exoplanet atmospheres will be particularly welcomed. Candidates will be asked to go on observing missions in France and Chile.

The appointment will be for a three-year term starting on 01 November 2024 with the potential to be extended depending on available funding. The position comes with an allowance to cover international travel and computing.

Person Specification

• PhD degree (or near to completion) in Physics and/with Astrophysics, and experience with photometric data analysis and a high level of statistics. Candidates with experience modelling orbital dynamics, and/or experience with studying exoplanet atmospheres will be favoured
• High level analytical capability
• Evidence of multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications, with preference to publications related to exoplanetology and exoplanet photometry
• Technical and practical experience in dealing with telescope will come as a bonus to any application
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models (transits, ETVs & TTVs, RV modelling, atmospheric modelling), techniques or methods (MCMC, nested sampling) and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively 
• Understanding and evidence of an ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Willingness to travel international for extended periods of time, in remote locations on Earth, and work by night

Applications should include a CV (max 2 pages) with a list of publications (as long as necessary), and a two-page statement describing your research interests and plans, and important a description of what expertise and skills you bring to the project, and also to the wider research group. Applicants should also provide contact details for 3 referees. Complete applications should be received by 21 July 2024 for full consideration.

In the application form, you will get a question asking to specify your reasons to apply. You should just point to your uploaded documents.

We anticipate interviews will take place the week starting on 12th August 2024.

Enquiries can be made to Amaury Triaud at: A.Triaud@bham.ac.uk.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply Online button:

https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/4949/?utm_medium=jobshare

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

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