Author Archives: Office Administrator

We invite applications for multiple postdoctoral fellowship applications at the McGill Space Institute (MSI).

MSI is an interdisciplinary research centre within McGill University consisting of 20 affiliated faculty members from the Departments of Physics, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, and Natural Resource Sciences at McGill (http://msi.mcgill.ca/index.php?page=faculty-staff). Research topics include (but are not limited to) astrophysics, cosmology, astrobiology, geophysics, life in extreme environments, and the search for extraterrestrial biosignatures.

We anticipate offering multiple positions tailored to the successful applicants’ research interests. MSI Fellowships can be held at any MSI-affiliated department by researchers who specialize in any of the above areas or some interdisciplinary combination thereof.

The successful applicant will have a background in either theoretical, observational, experimental, or computational research in any of the MSI’s research areas. Postdoctoral fellows will work within the research group(s) of one or more faculty members at McGill. Applicants are strongly recommended to contact potential supervisors ahead of time; while not strictly required, most successful candidates in the past have done so.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, a curriculum vitae including a list of publications, and a research statement, and should arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent through AcademicJobsOnline (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/fellowship/23089). Extra letters will be disregarded.

A successful cover letter will provide a quick summary of your research background, a brief statement of future research directions, and how this fits into the research at McGill. We value an inclusive community, and thus we (optionally) welcome descriptions of any barriers that you may have faced in your research career, descriptions of community-oriented activities that have contributed to a more equitable and diverse work environment, or plans for such work that you may have as a postdoctoral fellow at McGill.

A successful research statement will describe both your past research as well as your research plans, with the best balance to be determined by the applicant. The research plans should include a description of how they relate to research currently being performed by faculty members at McGill. While we appreciate that the finest nuances of one’s research may be understandable only by experts, applicants are advised to make the broadest strokes of their research (and its significance) understandable to an interdisciplinary selection committee consisting of members coming from the entire breadth of MSI’s research mission. The total length of the research statement should not exceed two pages (including figures), although an additional page of references is acceptable.

This position offers a competitive salary and benefits, and will be for two years with a possible renewal for a third year, dependent on supervisor approval and the availability of funds. Preference is given to applicants within 3 years of the PhD. All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by the deadline of December 1, 2022.

We expect to make first-round offers and to notify the waitlist by late December. Later-round offers will be made after the new year through mid-February.

We also encourage applicants to consider applying for a CITA National Fellowship to be held at McGill. A separation application must be submitted directly to CITA. See https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/b6b7a598 for details (deadline: Nov.7).

McGill University is committed to diversity and equity within its community. We welcome applications from: women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized people/visible minorities, ethnic minorities, 2SLGBTQIA* people (sexual orientation and/or gender identity minorities), and others who may contribute to diversification.

Postdoctoral researchers at McGill enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, see: https://www.mcgill.ca/gps/postdocs/fellows/healthcare

CITA is a national centre for theoretical astrophysics located at the University of Toronto. As part of its mandate to promote research throughout Canada, the Institute provides partial support for postdoctoral fellows working in theoretical astrophysics or closely related fields at Canadian universities other than the University of Toronto, through its National Fellows Program.

If you are interested in a CITA National Fellowship, please contact any of the following faculty by email or check department websites for further research projects and details. Apply through the CITA application website and check off the Fellowships you are interested in applying to. You will be required to submit a CV, research statement and arrange for three letters of recommendation.

Please apply online at: https://icat.cita.utoronto.ca/pdf

The deadline for applications and all letters of recommendation is November 7, 2022 for fellowships to start in September 2023.

Lorne Nelson, Bishop’s University (lnelson@ubishops.ca)
Brett Gladman, University of British Columbia (gladman@astro.ubc.ca)
Mark Halpern, University of British Columbia (halpern@physics.ubc.ca)
Alan Coley, Dalhousie University (alan.coley@dal.ca)
Samar Safi-Harb, University of Manitoba (samar.safi-harb@umanitoba.ca)
Robert Brandenberger, McGill University (rhb@hep.physics.mcgill.ca)
H. Cynthia Chiang, McGill University (hsin.chiang@mcgill.ca)
Nicolas Cowan, McGill University (nicolas.cowan@mcgill.ca)
Vicky Kaspi, McGill University (vkaspi@physics.mcgill.ca)
Adrian Liu, McGill University (adrian.liu2@mcgill.ca)
Katelin Schutz, McGill University (katelin.schutz@mcgill.ca)
Jonathan Sievers, McGill University (jonathan.sievers@mcgill.ca)
Ralph Pudritz, McMaster University (pudritz@physics.mcmaster.ca)
Marcin Sawicki, Saint Mary’s University (marcin.sawicki@smu.ca)
Levon Pogosian, Simon Fraser University (levon_pogosian@sfu.ca)
Ruobing Dong, University of Victoria (rbdong@uvic.ca)
Sara Ellison, University of Victoria (sarae@uvic.ca)
Julio Navarro, University of Victoria (jfn@uvic.ca)
Shantanu Basu, University of Western Ontario (basu@uwo.ca)
Evan McDonough, University of Winnipeg (e.mcdonough@uwinnipeg.ca)
Mike Hudson, University of Waterloo (mike.hudson@uwaterloo.ca)
James Taylor, University of Waterloo (taylor@uwaterloo.ca)
Will Percival, University of Waterloo (will.percival@uwaterloo.ca)

Please visit CITA’s website at www.cita.utoronto.ca and click on “Opportunities” for more information.

Further information on NRC Herzberg can be found at https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/research-centres/herzberg-astronomy-astrophysics-research-centre

Information on the staff and their research interests is available at http://astroherzberg.org.

More information on the Fellowship is available at https://nrc.canada.ca/en/corporate/careers/plaskett-fellowship

Desired starting date: September 2023

The Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre of the National Research Council (NRC) is pleased to announce the 2022 competition for a Plaskett Postdoctoral Fellowship (Research Associate) position tenable at Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) in Victoria, BC, Canada. The successful candidate will be an outstanding recent doctoral graduate in astronomy/astrophysics who is highly motivated to exploit astronomical facilities administered by NRC and contribute to forefront research projects conducted using those facilities.

This hiring is at the postdoctoral level, but at NRC Canada, PDFs are effectively term limited staff scientists with all the associated benefits, including paid maternity and parental leave, vacation, accruable pension contributions and others.

We encourage researchers in any area of astrophysics to apply. For reference, the following are active fields of research at NRC Herzberg:

• Exoplanets and debris disks (direct detection, planetary atmospheres, dynamical evolution, collisional evolution, composition), utilizing Gemini, ALMA, HST, JWST and/or exploitation of existing large survey data from Kepler, Spitzer, Herschel, WISE and other missions.
• Outer solar system bodies (accretion processes, size-frequency distributions, surface properties, orbital dynamics, binaries, space-craft exploration), utilizing CFHT, Gemini, ALMA, HST, Subaru, and the New Horizons spacecraft, as well as leadership of the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS).
• Star or planet formation processes (protostellar evolution, cluster formation, circumstellar disks, super-star clusters in external galaxies), utilizing ALMA, the Jansky VLA, GBT, or other facilities, and leveraging results from Herschel, Spitzer, or JCMT legacy programs (e.g., the JCMT Gould Belt Survey and the JCMT Transient Survey).
• Photometric and spectroscopic studies of the structure and stellar content of the Milky Way, Local Group, and other nearby galaxies, including all areas of research associated with the broad field of near-field cosmology.
• Multi-wavelength investigations of galaxies and clusters, including studies of galaxy distances, dynamics, and structural properties; super-massive black holes and galactic nuclei; and star clusters and star formation at UV, optical, IR and sub-mm wavelengths.
• Cosmological evolution of galaxies including physical processes such as accretion, outflow, feedback, metal enrichment, star formation, super-massive black hole growth, mergers, and strong lensing.

Candidates should have an observational background or an interest in constraining theories with observations.

The successful candidate will:

• Conduct original research independently and in collaboration with NRC Herzberg staff members.
• Contribute to the scientific exploitation of NRC Herzberg’s resources, particularly, but not limited to, the expertise of scientific and technical staff, and the astronomical facilities and infrastructure administered by NRC Herzberg, such as ALMA, CFHT, the Gemini Observatory, the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (CADC), and the instrumentation labs.
• Engage with the astronomical community to advance NRC Herzberg’s mandate to provide astronomical facilities and services to Canadian researchers. NRC Herzberg is a leading developer of instrumentation for current and future ground- and space-based telescopes (e.g., ALMA, CFHT, Gemini, JWST, MSE, SKA, and TMT). NRC Herzberg also hosts CADC, which provides scientific data preservation, distribution, and analysis services to the community. The CADC is also home to the Canadian Virtual Observatory, the CANFAR cloud computing network, and extensive data archives (including those for CFHT, CGPS, HST, and JCMT).
• Share with other postdoctoral research associates the organization of the NRC Herzberg weekly seminars, which run from September to April.

The initial appointment is of three years duration, which may be extended (subject to performance and availability of funds). In addition to highly competitive benefits and salary, the Plaskett Fellow will receive support for observing and conference travel, page charges, and access to professionally managed computation infrastructure and resources.

Applicants must have acquired their Ph.D. within the last five years or will complete all requirements for their Ph.D. within 6 months of assuming the Fellowship.

NRC is an equal opportunity employer.

Applications should be made by 30 November 2022 via the process described at the URL provided.

Compensation Notes:
The intent of this hiring action is to staff through the Research Associate (RA) Program at the AsRO level, which is an early-career level position with a salary range of $74,230 to $103,093 (CAD).

Included Benefits:
NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including comprehensive health and dental plans, pension and insurance plans, vacation and other leave entitlements.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Apply to Job:
Attention To: Hiring Manager
Institution/Company: National Research Council Canada
Department Name: Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics
Country: Canada
Website: https://recruitment-recrutement.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/job/Victoria-Research-Associate-Plaskett-Fellowship-BC/563616917/

Inquiries:
Attention To: Hiring Services
Subject: 17630 Plaskett Fellowship (Research Associate)
Email: NRC.NRCHiring-EmbaucheCNRC.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/tJrJj16meHwTxoqZ8
DEADLINE: December 2, 2022

—————————————————
The Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx), affiliated with the Department of Physics of the Université de Montréal (UdeM), invites applications for the Trottier Postdoctoral Fellowship in experimental, observational or theoretical astrophysics applied to the study of exoplanets, which enables forefront independent research related to exoplanets. All areas of exoplanet research will be considered.

A PhD in physics, astronomy or related discipline is required at the time when the position starts. Preference will be given to applicants within 3 years of obtaining their PhD. Applicants with career interruptions due to parental, medical or family leaves, or other causes are invited to mention it in their cover letter, if so desired. The position start date is between May and September 2023, and is for two years, renewable for a third year subject to performance and availability of funds.

Applicants should submit a cover letter (optional, max 1 page), a CV, a list of publications, and a statement of research interests (max 2 pages), and should arrange to have three referees send a letter of reference to irex-applications@umontreal.ca by December 2nd 2022 for full consideration.

The iREx consists of a growing team of about 60 people working on a variety of observational, theoretical and instrumental projects related to the study of exoplanets and other related fields of astrophysics. They work within several research institutions located in Quebec, Canada. Our team is actively involved in large international projects related to the detection and characterisation of exoplanets, notably the JWST and the SPIRou and NIRPS spectrographs, and have privileged access to time and data from these instruments.

The iREx advocates for diversity, inclusion and employment equity. We strongly encourage applications from women, visible and ethnic minorities, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to apply.

More information on the position and on our institute and its members, research programs, EPO initiatives as well EDI efforts can be found on our website:

http://www.exoplanetes.umontreal.ca/the-institute/job-advertisements/trottier-postdoctoral-fellowship/?lang=en.

If you have any questions, contact us at irex-applications@umontreal.ca.
—————————————————

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto (UofT) seeks to appoint a postdoctoral researcher to work on scientific and technical problems related to two new wide-field polarimetry surveys: the Polarization Sky Survey of the Universe’s Magnetism (POSSUM) and the Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS).

The appointee is expected to contribute to the success of the POSSUM and VLASS projects via the development of relevant software, data processing and catalogue products, working under the supervision of Prof Bryan Gaensler. Applicants will also be encouraged to conduct independent research in areas relevant to POSSUM and VLASS. People with skills in software pipelines, source finding, large astronomical surveys/catalogues and radio polarization are all encouraged to apply. Prospective candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Prof. Gaensler (bryan.gaensler@utoronto.ca) for additional information on the position and on the POSSUM and VLASS surveys before submitting their application.

The Dunlap Institute pursues groundbreaking astronomical research through innovative approaches to instrumentation, data-driven science and observations, alongside a substantive commitment to outreach and training. The Dunlap Institute is co-located with and has strong ties to the University of Toronto’s David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (DADDAA) and to the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA). These three units together host more than 150 faculty, postdocs, staff and students, who conduct a diverse research program across instrumentation, observations, computation and theory. The Dunlap Institute is located on a beautiful 19th century campus in the heart of one of the world’s great cities. Rated as having one of the highest standards of living in the world, Toronto offers a huge range of indoor and outdoor pursuits, and a vibrant and diverse cultural community.

The initial appointment will be for two years, with the possibility of further extensions subject to funding availability. The position has a starting annual salary of CAD$66,996 plus generous benefits, an annual research allowance, relocation assistance, and the opportunity to request additional research funds.

The Dunlap Institute is committed to an inclusive and flexible workplace. We encourage applications from qualified applicants of all sexual orientations and gender expressions, racialized people, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. Subject to immigration regulations, the successful candidate will be given the option to take up the position as a part-time appointment (such a request need not be made as part of a candidate’s initial application).

The nominal starting date for the position is September 1, 2023, but some flexibility is available. All application materials must be submitted online at AcademicJobsOnline by December 1, 2022. Applicants should submit (in PDF format): a cover letter explicitly addressing the above selection criteria; a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, and a one-page summary of current and future research interests. Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference (on letterhead and signed) uploaded through AcademicJobsOnline directly by the writers by December 1, 2022.

For more information and to apply: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/22777

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto (UofT) and the Racah Institute of Physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) seek to jointly appoint a postdoctoral researcher to work on astrophysical transients. The appointment will be for four years: two years at UofT and two years at HUJI (with the ordering as per the preference of the successful candidate).

As part of a new partnership between UofT and HUJI involving 7 faculty (Maria Drout, Bryan Gaensler, Assaf Horesh, Chris Matzner, Re’em Sari, Nicholas Stone, Jeremy Webb) and several PhD students, we seek applicants interested in one or more of the following topics:

. tidal disruption events (TDEs), quasi periodic eruptions (QPEs) and micro-TDEs
. fast blue optical transients
. fast radio bursts
. gravitational-wave events and their electromagnetic counterparts
. compact objects and mergers in globular and nuclear star clusters

Researchers with interest in observations, theory and/or computation related to any of the above topics are encouraged to apply. The appointee is expected to collaborate with faculty and students in our team, to play leadership roles in some of the research projects being pursued within this partnership, and to develop independent research projects. Prospective candidates are strongly encouraged to contact project leads Bryan Gaensler (bryan.gaensler@utoronto.ca) or Assaf Horesh (assafh@mail.huji.ac.il) for additional information on the position and on the collaboration before submitting their application.

The Dunlap Institute pursues groundbreaking astronomical research through innovative approaches to instrumentation, data-driven science and observations. The Dunlap Institute is co-located with and has strong ties to the University of Toronto’s David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (DADDAA) and to the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA). These three units together host more than 150 faculty, postdocs, staff and students, who conduct a diverse research program across instrumentation, observations, computation and theory.

Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science in the Racah Institute of Physics are pursuing the answers to some of the top open questions in astronomy using advanced theoretical and observational approaches. The center hosts about 50 faculty members, postdoctoral researchers and students, who conduct diverse theoretical, computational and observational research programs.

The position has a starting annual salary of CAD$66,996 plus generous benefits, an annual research allowance, relocation assistance, and the opportunity to request additional research funds.

The Dunlap Institute and the Racah Institute are both committed to an inclusive and flexible workplace. We encourage applications from qualified applicants of all sexual orientations and gender expressions, racialized people, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.

The nominal starting date for the position is September 1, 2023. All application materials must be submitted online at AcademicJobsOnline by December 1, 2022. Applicants should submit (in PDF format): a cover letter explicitly addressing the above selection criteria; a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, and a two-page summary of current and future research interests. Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference (on letterhead and signed) uploaded through AcademicJobsOnline directly by the writers by December 1, 2022.

For more information and to apply: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/22885

The Division of Natural Science (NATS) in the Faculty of Science at York University invites highly qualified applicants for a teaching stream tenure-track appointment in Astrobiology at the rank of Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, to commence July 1, 2023.

NATS specializes in developing and delivering high quality undergraduate general education science courses to non-science students. The successful candidate must demonstrate dedication to a teaching- focused position and will be expected to teach undergraduate general education science courses to non- science students. The successful candidate will be expected to provide creative leadership in enhancing teaching and learning through curricular and pedagogical innovation.

Candidate Qualifications:
• PhD in Physical or Life Sciences, to be completed by the start of the appointment, with research expertise in Astrobiology required.
• Experience teaching Astrobiology and Life Science courses preferred.
• Excellence, or clear potential thereof among early career scholars, in teaching university-level general education courses for non-science students, as evident in: the letter of application; teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations including in high priority areas such as experiential education, technology enhanced learning and community-based learning; teaching evaluations; and letters of reference.
• Strong commitment to pedagogy and student success, the capacity to bring a theoretical and practical orientation to general education teaching, learning and program design, and evidence of good judgment and a reflective approach to innovation in teaching. Experience with curriculum development and universal design approaches to teaching and assessment is preferred.
• Clear record of, or potential for, service contributions through administrative and committee work.

Hiring Policies:
• Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous peoples in Canada will be given priority.
• York University has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and to expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities. Candidates who require accommodation during the selection process are invited to contact Robin Metcalfe, NATS Director, srchnats@yorku.ca.
• York University is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, within its community. The AA Program, which applies to women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and those who self-identify as 2SLGBTQ+, can be found at www.yorku.ca/acadjobs/ or by calling the AA line at 416-736-5713. Applicants wishing to self-identify as part of York University’s Affirmative Action program can do so by downloading, completing and submitting the voluntary self-identification form at https://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/affirmative-action/self-identification-form/.

Application Instructions:
• Due date for completed applications: December 1, 2022.
• Required components:
1. Letter of application outlining professional experience.
2. Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Concise teaching dossier (10 pages maximum) that demonstrates the applicant’s potential for excellence and innovation in teaching. The dossier may include elements such as sample course outlines, selected course materials, teaching evaluations, conference papers and publications relating to pedagogy, but it must be prefaced by a clear one-page statement that briefly outlines the applicant’s teaching philosophy and justifies the materials included in the dossier.
4. A brief description of a proposed astrobiology course for non-science students.
5. Name, title and contact information of three (3) professional references who can address the candidate’s qualifications and experience in relation to the position.
6. Candidates must also download, complete, and submit a Work Status Declaration form (https://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/affirmative-action/work-authorization-form/). This is a mandatory form and no application will be considered without it.

Submit all materials electronically to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/22643

University Context:
• York is a leading international teaching and research university, and a driving force for positive change. Empowered by a welcoming and diverse community with a uniquely global perspective, we are preparing our students for their long-term careers and personal success. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet and our future.
• York is located in Toronto, Canada’s largest city and one of the world’s most diverse. In 2022, Forbes named Toronto one of the Ten Best Cities to Live. York is accessible from Toronto by subway.

[Original job ad posted at http://webapps.yorku.ca/academichiringviewer/viewposition.jsp?positionnumber=2286]