Postdoctoral Research Associate in Transient Astrophysics
Lancaster University · United Kingdom
Postdoctoral Research Associate position in transient astrophysics at Lancaster University, part of the TRANSCEND collaboration. Four posts available across four institutions. Research focuses on supernovae, black holes, and dark energy using LSST and 4MOST survey data. Full-time, five-year appointment.
This opportunity has closed.
About this opportunity
Lancaster University’s School of Physics and Astronomy, together with the University of Oxford, the University of Southampton, and Queen’s University Belfast, is seeking to appoint one Postdoctoral Research Associate in Transient Astrophysics at each institution as part of the five-year STFC Large Award “TRANSCEND”. TRANSCEND is a collaboration between Lancaster University, Universities of Oxford and Southampton, and Queen’s University Belfast that will use Vera Rubin/LSST transient data and the 4MOST Time-Domain Extragalactic Survey (TiDES) to address pressing questions in modern astrophysics: how stars explode and drive chemical enrichment, how supermassive black holes grow, and the true nature of dark energy. Each Postdoctoral Research Associate will lead one of the following areas:
Simulations and selection effects for SN Ia cosmology and beyond (Lancaster University): lead the forward-modelling of the combined LSST+TiDES sample, and characterise its associated sample selection effects. This project will include building galaxy population catalogues validated against state-of-the-art cosmological simulations (e.g. IllustrisTNG). This simulation effort will be the foundation underpinning every rate, host-galaxy and cosmological result in TRANSCEND.
SNe Ia cosmology groundwork or rare transient follow-up and characterisation (University of Oxford): use over 30,000 spectroscopically confirmed SNe Ia and 150,000 host-galaxy redshifts to improve SNe Ia standardisation and lay the groundwork for using this sample in future SN cosmological measurements. Alternatively, focus on follow-up and modelling of rare transients.
Host galaxies of transients (University of Southampton): derive host-galaxy properties from LSST+TiDES photometric and spectroscopic data, and use the unprecedented LSST+TiDES transient sample to study how transients correlate with their environments and measure rates of different classes of transient.
Transient physical properties and the black hole mass function of tidal disruption events (Queen’s University Belfast): measure key parameters such as luminosity and nickel masses for thousands of transients from TiDES and follow-up data to characterise population demographics, and use hundreds of live TDEs and thousands of host galaxies to derive scaling relations and occupation fractions for SMBHs.
While each position will be associated with a TRANSCEND deliverable, all postdocs will have opportunities to follow up interesting transients and be encouraged to pursue projects that maximise the science from TiDES.
All Postdoctoral Research Associate posts are full-time, funded for 5 years from 1st April 2027. This advertisement is for the post at Lancaster University specifically; separate applications are required to each university for the other three posts. Applicants are encouraged to apply for more than one post and, once appointed, all four researchers will be expected to work closely, through regular collaboration visits, to maximise the overall scientific outcomes of TRANSCEND; please state your order of preference (topic and institution) in your application.
Qualifications: A PhD (or near completion) in astrophysics, physics, cosmology or a related field; strong scientific programming skills (Python); research experience in time-domain astrophysics, supernovae, galaxy evolution, cosmology or survey science. Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
Application Requirements: CV, publication list, and a 2-page research statement describing past research experience and its relevance to the TRANSCEND science goals. If applying to more than one post, state your order preference in the research statement.
Deadline: Applications received by Thursday 5 th November, midnight UK time will receive full consideration.
Compensation: Salary commensurate with a standard postdoctoral researcher role at Lancaster/Oxford/Southampton/Queen's.
Application instructions: Shortlisting and interviews will be carried out via a cross-institutional panel.
Contact info: mat.smith@lancaster.ac.uk , i.hook@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note: unless specified otherwise in the advert, all advertised roles are UK based.
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