Research Associate in Cosmology

South Kensington Campus

Fixed Term: up to 18 months

As part of the UKRI Africa-UK Physics Partnership Collaborative Research Projects programme we are inviting applications for a Research Associate position. We are actively seeking applicants from Africa to join our collaborative team.

You will be expected to help produce independent and original research, submit publications to refereed journals and support the activities of Imperial Astrophysics and the wider project team.

The principal scientific aim of the project is to address an important source of systematic errors affecting the international and world-leading Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, which is based in Africa and Australia. Radio frequency interference (RFI) from cell phones and satellites will corrupt a large part of the data from the SKA and removing it is key in order to reach the scientific goals of the SKA. We plan to use an artificial intelligence (AI), simulation-based inference (SBI) approach, which encompasses a number of elements: simulation; emulation; data compression; and statistical inference. These elements form the basis of simulation-based inference, which is rapidly becoming a powerful Bayesian analysis tool in cosmology.

You will hold a PhD* in Astrophysics or have an equivalent level of professional qualifications and experience.

You must also be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

• Knowledge of Astrophysics, statistics, and machine learning
• A strong track record with clearly defined individual contributions
• Experience in machine learning and statistics
• Experience in taking initiative and/or developing your own ideas independently
• Experience in computing and advanced programming in C++ or Python
• Experience of working in a collaborative environment
• Experience with Monte Carlo simulation techniques and tools
• Evidence of ability to write high quality research papers

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within the salary range £43,003 - £46,297 per annum.

Applications can be made online via our website. Please click the 'Apply' button, above.

The Astrophysics group hosts the ICIC, an internationally recognised centre for astrostatistics, with emphasis on Bayesian analysis of large-scale astronomical surveys and cosmology. In addition, it has a strong programme in solar and stellar physics, exoplanet physics, protoplanetary disc physics, including observations, numerical simulations and theory. The group has connections with cosmologists in the Theoretical Physics group at Imperial, and with Statistics in the Mathematics Department.

The Department of Physics is an IoP JUNO Practitioner and an Athena Silver SWAN Award winner reflecting our commitment to building a supportive, inclusive and highly motivated community. The Department is committed to being a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone and has put in place a number of measures to promote a collaborative and stimulating culture. We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds. Individuals who identify as female and those who consider themselves as underrepresented are particularly encouraged to apply. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment, sex or sexual orientation. Further information about how the College strives to create and support an equitable workplace can be found here.

Visit our webpages for more information about the Department of Physics and Imperial Astrophysics.

Further details about the position are available from: Professor Alan Heavens a.heavens@imperial.ac.uk

Should you have any queries about the application process please contact: Louise Hayward, Section Administrator, l.hayward@imperial.ac.uk.

If you experience any technical issues when applying online please email support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk