Postdoctoral position in stellar astrophysics with a focus on participation in the Plato mission - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Are you interested in working with stellar astrophysics, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

The research conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy encompasses a wide range of physics topics, distributed over ten divisions. Research in astronomy and astrophysics within the Division of Astronomy and Space Physics places particular emphasis on combining state-of-the-art instrumentation and observations with advanced physics-based modelling from first principles. The division has a broad teaching activity at the undergraduate and graduate level, participates in leading national and international research projects including the space missions Plato and Gaia, has access to observational and computing infrastructures, and is active in public outreach activities. For more information, please visit www.astro.uu.se.

Project description
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Uppsala University invites applications for a postdoctoral position in stellar astrophysics, funded through a grant from the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) for participation in the Plato space mission. The position is hosted by the Division of Astronomy and Space Physics. Plato is an ESA mission dedicated to detect and characterise terrestrial exoplanets in the habitable zones of their host stars. The launch is planned for 2026. Science preparation and exploitation is the responsibility of the international Plato Mission Consortium, which includes a considerable part focusing on stellar science.

Duties
The postdoctoral researcher is expected to join the Plato team in Uppsala and to work on the analysis and characterization of M dwarfs among the Plato targets. This involves among others adapting and testing a stellar abundances and atmospheric parameters pipeline based on a Bayesian inference method and artificial neural networks, the calculation of grids of synthetic spectra, and the collection and preparation of all further input data for the analysis pipeline.

Requirements
PhD degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in Physics, Astronomy or equivalent. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree in the three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc. Proficiency in written and spoken English is required.

Additional qualifications
A background in stellar physics and stellar spectroscopy, as well as experience with the usage of astrophysical codes and general programming skills are considered an advantage.

Candidates will also be assessed on their potential for performing the relevant duties and contributing to the positive development of the research environment.

Your application should contain a letter describing yourself and your qualifications and research interests (max 2 pages). It should also contain a CV including contact information for at least two reference persons (e-mail address and phone number), a copy of your PhD degree certificate, and a full publication list. Personal circumstances that may be of relevance in the evaluation, for example periods of parental leave, should be mentioned in the CV. The application should be written in English.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position, minimum two years, with possibility of a third year according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 2024-02-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact:
Ulrike Heiter, ulrike.heiter@physics.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 20 December 2023, UFV-PA 2023/3996.

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