Research Assistant/Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The Institute of Astronomy (IoA) at the West Cambridge site has a vacancy for a postdoctoral researcher to collaborate with Professor Mark Wyatt on a programme seeking to understand the nature of the planetary systems of nearby stars through study of their debris disks and exozodi. The research covers both observations of nearby stars (e.g., with ALMA, LBTI, VLTI, JWST), and analytical and numerical modelling of debris disks (e.g., dynamical interactions with planets, collisional evolution and fragmentation, gas disk evolution), and aims to forge strong links to the fields of planet formation, extrasolar planets, proto-planetary disks and planetary sciences. The successful applicant would complement the team already working on the programme, and join a growing concentration of researchers in Cambridge working on topics related to extrasolar planets and disks. Synergies with complementary interdisciplinary research are also being fostered through the newly established Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe (https://www.lclu.cam.ac.uk/).

The successful applicant will be expected to pursue research within the context of the above programme and would also be encouraged to pursue their own research. They would be expected to develop a high degree of interaction with the faculty, postdoctoral researchers and research students, to conduct a highly competitive programme of scientific research, prepare proposals to secure research resources (for example, access to high-performance computing and telescopes) and write scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Applicants must have excellent communication and computing skills.

Applicants must have a PhD in Astronomy or a related field, or have satisfied the requirements for the PhD, by the time of appointment. Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant (Grade 5, Point 38 £30,497) moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of your PhD award.

The University of Cambridge thrives on the diversity of its staff and students. The Institute particularly welcomes applications from women and/or candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented. We have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee which continually works to further the aims of the Athena SWAN charter. The University has a number of family-friendly policies and initiatives, including a returning-carer scheme, childcare costs support, university workplace nurseries, university holiday play-schemes, and a shared parental-leave policy. As part of its commitment to providing a family-friendly environment for researchers, the IoA ensures that should parental leave be needed during the course of employment, there is provision for extension to contract to compensate for the parental leave taken.

Please submit your application by 23:59 GMT of the closing date of Friday 26th May 2023. Please refer to further particulars for full instructions and be aware that referees will be asked to supply reference letters by 26th May 2023. If you have any queries about your application please contact Mrs Ashley Worman (hr@ast.cam.ac.uk). Informal enquires may be addressed to Professor Mark Wyatt (wyatt@ast.cam.ac.uk).

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

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Closing Date: 26th May 2023

Interview Date: to be confirmed

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

Please quote reference LG36452 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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