Postdoctoral Research Associate In Astrophysics And Cosmology

Salary: £33,966 to £36,024 per annum
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Closing Date: 21 January 2024
The Role
We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Astrophysics and Cosmology. You will join the Newcastle University Cosmology/Astrophysics groups and work with Marika Asgari.
The position is for 3 years, with a possible early starting date of 1 April 2024, full time (37 hours per week).
The research is focused on modelling baryonic physics for probes of large scale structures and analysis of data using these models.
You will work with the simulation group in Leiden, who will use state of the art simulations, such as FLAMINGO, to guide and validate the models. Travel funds are available to facilitate this. The candidates are encouraged to also develop and pursue their own related projects within this topic.
You must have or about to obtain a PhD or equivalent with a strong track record in original research in probes of large scale structure. Other essential and desirable attributes are detailed below.
To apply, please complete an online application and upload a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter is a supporting statement, and you should outline how you meet the essential criteria of the role and evidence this with examples.
Please also include a list of publications. For your most relevant publications (up to 5) include a short description of how they connect to the research aims of this post and your contribution to them (maximum 150 words per publication).
For informal enquiries please contact or .
For more information about the school of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, please click .
Key Accountabilities

• Conduct research in the relevant topics to the research funding
• Present outputs of the research from the research team in written and oral form
• Work with the full research team and the wider collaborators across the world
• Contribute to the positive culture and general strengths of the research group and the School; for example, through supervision of project students, participation in outreach, leading initiatives to promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and organising/ participating in research events
• Any other duties that may be required from time to time, commensurate with the grade of the post

The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• A track record of high-quality research outputs related to the goals of the project (e.g., publications, software, research tools etc.)
• Excellent communication skills. A track record of presenting research at conferences, symposia, or meetings, commensurate with stage of career
• Experience in analysing and/or modelling of data from the probes of large scale structures

Desirable

• Analysing and working with simulated data, in particular from hydrodynamical simulations
• Developing/utilising the Halo Model formalism
• Developing Perturbation Theory for probes of large scale structures
• Modelling baryonic physics for probes of large scale structures
• Utilising Machine Learning methods for modelling and analysing data

Attributes and Behaviours

• Ability to think critically and to work rigorously
• Ability to work independently using own initiative
• Ability to meet strict deadlines
• Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings and working on joint research projects
• A commitment to the values of equality, diversity and inclusion

Desirable

• Demonstrable evidence of promoting a positive and healthy research culture (e.g., by actively supporting/mentoring students, supporting initiatives to improve the work environment etc.)

Qualifications

• PhD awarded in a relevant discipline (or exceptionally equivalent professional experience)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a silver award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 26527