Open date: February 8, 2024
Most recent review date: Thursday, Feb 29, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Friday, Jun 28, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
The University of California Observatories and the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for a postdoctoral scholar, under the direction of Professor Ryan Foley, in the areas of astronomical instrumentation, transient astrophysics, gravitational wave astrophysics, and cosmology.
Candidates should have interests in stellar astrophysics, transient science, supernovae, gravitational waves, cosmology and/or optical instrumentation. The researchers will work with Prof. Ryan Foley on various observational projects, including (but not limited to) SN Ia cosmology, SN explosions/progenitors, gravitational wave counterparts, compact objects, survey science, exotic transients, and telescope instrumentation. Particular potential projects for an incoming researcher include:
The postdoctoral scholar will work in part on the DARTS project, a fully automated low-resolution spectrograph that will be built at UCO and installed on the 2.4-m APF telescope at Lick Observatory. DARTS is designed for transient follow-up observations and when completed will be the largest-aperture fully robotic low-resolution spectroscopic facility in the world. This work can cover any of optomechanical design, fabrication, testing/commissioning, software development, or analysis with science verification data. No previous instrumentation experience is required.
Additional functions will be in support of on-going or new initiatives consistent with the broad goals of the research team. The postdoctoral scholar will be encouraged to lead existing and new programs.
The UCSC transient team is currently part of the Foundation Supernova Survey, Swope Supernova Survey, Young Supernova Experiment, Dark Energy Survey, the Keck Infrared Transient Survey, and One-Meter Two-Hemisphere Gravitational Wave Team. The postdoctoral scholar will have access to data from Keck, Lick, Gemini, Magellan, the Dark Energy Survey, Pan-STARRS, Swope, SOAR, KPNO, Swift, HST, and JWST, and will have the right to apply for Lick Observatory telescope time as the principal investigator.
Applicants with expertise in transient observing and optical instrumentation are strongly encouraged to apply.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
All documents and materials must be submitted as PDFs and should be forwarded to Prof. Ryan Foley at foley@ucsc.edu.
Please refer to Position JPF01692 in all correspondence.
Documents/Materials
RECRUITMENT PERIOD
Full consideration will be given to applications completed by February 29, 2024. Applications received after this date will be considered only if the position has not been filled.
University of California Observatories: https://www.ucobservatories.org/
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics: https://www.astro.ucsc.edu/
Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in Astrophysics, Physics, or related fields. Degree must be in hand at the time of initial appointment.
Help contact: foley@ucsc.edu
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