Research Associate/Assistant in Supernovae / Astrostatistics / Data Science (Fixed Term)

The Institute of Astronomy (IoA), Cambridge University expects to appoint one or more postdoctoral researchers to work with Professor Kaisey Mandel on projects in supernova cosmology, transient astronomy, astrostatistics and/or machine learning. Prof Mandel's interdisciplinary research group is funded by the European Research Council and spans the Institute of Astronomy, Kavli Institute for Cosmology, and the Statistical Laboratory of the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. Appointments to the StatsLab (DPMMS) are possible. Negotiable starting dates from ASAP through to October 2025.

Experience in statistical modelling / computation, machine learning, supernova observations / data analysis, transient surveys, and/or cosmological analysis is desirable. The successful applicants will have opportunities to work with novel optical / near-infrared datasets from current time-domain surveys, including the Young Supernova Experiment, and participate in upcoming next-generation surveys including LSST with VRO and TiDES with 4MOST.

The role-holder will contribute to research excellence as a member of a highly collaborative international research team, with the role providing substantial scope for exercising academic judgement, originality, interpretation and presentation of results. The role-holder will develop a high degree of interaction with staff and students, disseminate their research findings via publications or other appropriate media, such as international workshops and conferences, and will be encouraged to participate in teaching, learning, and outreach activities.

Applicants must have a PhD in Astronomy, Statistics, or a related field, or have satisfied the requirements for the PhD, by the time of appointment. Applicants must possess a scientific publication record and a clear outline of current and future research areas of interest. Applicants must have excellent communication and computing skills and are expected to produce scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals

Salary will be on the Research Associate scale (grade 7, from £36,924 to £45,163). Appointment as a Research Associate (grade 7) is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted their thesis but not yet been awarded their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant and amended to Research Associate when the PhD is awarded. The Research Assistant salary (grade 5) falls within the range £33,882 to £34,866.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role and how to apply, please click the apply button above. You will need an email address to register for our online system.  

Please advise referees that references will be requested for 13th January 2025, via our recruitment system.

Closing date: 23:59 GMT, Monday, 13^th January 2025.

Interviews are provisionally planned for w/c 20^th January 2025.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

Please quote reference LG44290 on your application and in any related correspondence.

If you have any queries about your application, please contact hr@ast.cam.ac.uk. Informal inquiries may be addressed to Professor Kaisey Mandel (kmandel@ast.cam.ac.uk)

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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