Category Archives: PhD Postings

Shared Postdoctoral Position in Precision Radial Velocity Studies of Exoplanets (McMaster & Grenoble)

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The exoplanetary research groups at McMaster University and l’Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) invite applications for a shared, full-time postdoctoral position in the field of precise radial velocity (RV) studies of exoplanets. The successful applicant will work under the joint supervision of Dr. Ryan Cloutier (McMaster) and Dr. Xavier Bonfils (UGA).

The successful applicant will join the NIRPS (https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/nirps/) GTO science team and enjoy access to data from its ongoing GTO program. NIRPS is a precise near-IR RV spectrograph that was recently commissioned on the ESO 3.6m telescope in Chile and is operating alongside the HARPS optical spectrograph. Work hours will be split between focused (80%) and independent research programs (20%) with the former focusing on NIRPS+HARPS data analysis to characterize the global architectures of M dwarf exoplanetary systems. We particularly invite applicants whose scientific backgrounds include leveraging observations to discover and characterize exoplanetary systems.

The duration of the appointment is 36 months with the first 18 months to be spent at McMaster before transferring to UGA for the remainder of the appointment. Master University is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and UGA in Grenoble, France. Considerations for a term extension are conditional on satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. The start date of the position is negotiable but must begin before December 31, 2023.

Interested candidates should submit an application (single PDF file format) that includes:

  1. a cover letter
  2. a 3-page statement of research interests, including interests that pertain to NIRPS’s scientific capabilities (figures and references included)
  3. an up-to-date CV
  4. names and contact details for three consenting reference letter writers who may be contacted

Application materials should be submitted by email to ryan.cloutier@mcmaster.ca. The position will remain open until filled but evaluations of applications will begin on August 1, 2023.

McMaster University and UGA are strongly committed to employment equity within its community and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. Both universities seek qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from underrepresented minorities including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, members of other racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

At McMaster University, this position will be part of a Collective Agreement for Postdoctoral Fellows, CUPE 3906, Unit #3. This position carries a competitive salary and standard benefits package at both universities, including medical benefits.

Useful links

Ryan Cloutier, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy | McMaster University

Pronouns: He/Him/His
A.N. Bourns Science Building | 1280 Main St W | Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8
Office: ABB 318
https://physics.mcmaster.ca/~cloutr1/
ZOOM meeting room

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Astronomy & Astrophysics at Queen’s University

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The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy at Queen’s University invites applications for a tenured faculty position at the rank of Professor with specialization in Astronomy or Astrophysics, with a preferred starting date of January 1, 2024. The successful candidate will submit an external nomination for a seven year term position as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, eligible for renewal once, to a maximum of two seven year terms as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair.

This appointment is open only to qualified individuals who self-identify as members of one or more of the Four Designated Groups under the Canada Research Chairs Program[1]: women, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and racialized persons/visible minorities.

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree completed at the start date of the appointment. The main criteria for selection are academic and teaching excellence. The successful candidate will provide evidence of high quality scholarly output in their field as well as strong potential for outstanding teaching contributions at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and an ongoing commitment to academic and pedagogical excellence in support of the department’s programs. Candidates must provide evidence of an ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and student-centred environment. The successful candidate will also be expected to make contributions through service to the department, the Faculty, the University, and/or the broader community. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Canada Research Chairs were established as part of a national strategy to foster research excellence (www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca). The successful candidate must submit an external application to the Tri-agency Institutional Program Secretariat that meets the requirements for the successful nomination of Tier 1 Chair as defined by the Canada Research Chairs Program:

– be outstanding and innovative world-class researchers whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their fields;
– be recognized internationally as leaders in their fields;
– have superior records of attracting and supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows (taking into account different practices in the relevant field or discipline) and, as chairholders, be expected to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers; and
– be proposing an original, innovative research program of the highest quality.

People from across Canada and around the world come to learn, teach and carry out research at Queen’s University. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package including prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long term disability insurance, life insurance and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. You will also participate in a pension plan. Tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses and dependent children.  Queen’s values families and is pleased to provide a ‘top up’ to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave.  In addition, Queen’s provides partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for employees with dependent children in daycare. Details are set out in the Queen’s-QUFA Collective Agreement. For more information on employee benefits, see Queen’s Human Resources.

Additional information about Queen’s University can be found on the Faculty Recruitment and Support website. The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural, recreational, and creative opportunities. Visit Inclusive Queen’s for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

This new CRC will enable Queen’s to advance the vital research in Astronomy and Particle Astrophysics at Queen’s.  This research has been advanced by the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute (McDonald Institute) led by Dr. Tony Noble and complements the extraordinary talent within the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy. The successful candidate for this position will be an astronomer or astrophysicist with a research program that complements and extends the existing research activities of the Queen’s Astronomy and Particle Astrophysics research groups.  Current Astronomy and Astrophysics research includes interests in cosmology, dark matter, general relativity, galaxy structure and formation, globular clusters, the interstellar medium, and star & planet formation.  This research is closely related to research in Particle Astrophysics, whose members study neutrino physics, direct detection of dark matter, cosmic rays, cosmology, and high energy theory.

Queen’s University is committed to diversity and inclusion and has an employment equity program that meets the goals of the Canada Research Chairs program and the requirements of our collective agreement with the Faculty Association. Queen’s recognizes targeted hiring as one essential strategy to address under-representation, remove systemic barriers, and enhance existing employment equity procedures. This appointment is open only to qualified individuals who self-identify as members of one or more of the Four Designated Groups under the Canada Research Chairs Program: women, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and racialized persons/visible minorities.

All applicants will be invited to self-identify once they have applied; those who wish to be considered under our employment equity provisions are required to self-identify.  Self-identification information will be held in confidence by the Human Rights and Equity Office and one specially trained member of the selection committee. Shortlisted candidates who self-identify as Indigenous will be asked to verify their identity in accordance with the Hiring of Indigenous Specific Positions – Interim Policy prior to being invited to interview. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada will be given priority.

To comply with federal laws, the University is obliged to gather statistical information as to how many applicants for each job vacancy are Canadian citizens / permanent residents of Canada.  Applicants need not identify their country of origin or citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements: “I am a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada”; OR, “I am not a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada”. Applications that do not include this information will be deemed incomplete.

In addition, the impact of certain circumstances that may legitimately affect a nominee’s record of research achievement will be given careful consideration when assessing the nominee’s research productivity. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

A complete application consists of:

1) a cover letter (including one of the two statements regarding Canadian citizenship / permanent resident status specified in the previous paragraph);
2) a current Curriculum Vitae that includes a comprehensive list of publications (with supervised students on publications clearly identified), awards, and grants received;
3) a statement of research interests and achievements;
4) a short statement of teaching interests, experience and vision which should include a discussion of mentorship;
5) an equity, diversity, and inclusion statement that details how the candidate’s past and/or future contributions to diversity and inclusion will advance the University’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization (EDII). We recommend reviewing best practices for EDII in research as laid out by Canadian funding agencies here https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/edi-eng.aspx.
6) Three letters of reference to be sent directly to Prof. Rob Knobel, physhead@queensu.ca

In their application package, candidates should also identify their strengths and experiences with respect to increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion in their institutional environment.

The deadline for applications is July 16, 2023 OR Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed only if the position remains unfilled OR Applications will continue to be reviewed until the position has been filled.

Applicants are encouraged to send all documents in their application packages electronically as PDFs to Prof. Robert Knobel at physhead@queensu.ca, although hard copy applications may be submitted to:

Prof. Robert Knobel, Head,
The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy
Stirling Hall
64 Bader Lane
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
CANADA K7L 3N6

The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs.  If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Melissa Balson in The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, at 4mjb5@queensu.ca.

Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA), which is posted at http://queensu.ca/facultyrelations/faculty-librarians-and-archivists/collective-agreement and at http://www.qufa.ca.

Appointments are subject to review and final approval by the Provost. Only nominees external to Queen’s University will be considered. (Please note that, for the purposes of this competition, Queen’s Term Adjuncts and Adjunct-1s will be considered as external nominees).

For additional information: https://www.queensu.ca/physics/tier-1-canada-research-chair-astronomy-astrophysics

[1]The CRC Program currently employs the categories of the four federally designated groups (FDG) – Women, Indigenous Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, and Members of Visible Minorities – to monitor progress towards meeting equity goals. Queen’s has an under-representation across the FDG’s among Canada Research Chairholders. The Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) has established targets for CRC representation, with staggered deadlines for meeting targets between the period of 2020 to 2029.

Post-Doctoral Position: Mount Allison University

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The Physics Department at Mount Allison University invites applications for a a one-year McCain Post-Doctoral (teaching) fellowship position commencing July 1, 2023, subject to budgetary approval. The successful candidate will have recently completed a Ph.D. in Physics or related field. The candidate will be required to teach three courses, and possible classes will depend on the candidate’s field of expertise.  The candidate will also have an opportunity to participate in undergraduate student research supervision/mentorship. Current areas of research specialization in the Physics Department include theoretical particle physics; medical physics; experimental subatomic physics; stellar astrophysics; and materials science.

A complete application will include a letter of application, curriculum vitae, statements of teaching and research interests. When available, submission of evidence of effective and inclusive teaching is encouraged. The complete application should be submitted to academic jobs online. https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/24587

Review of applications will begin April 30, 2023 and continue until the position is filled.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Catherine Lovekin
Chair of the Search Committee
Department of Physics
Mount Allison University
Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1E6
Email: physics@mta.ca

Mount Allison acknowledges, honours, and respects that the land named Sackville, NB is part of the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People who are the historic inhabitants, custodians, and dwellers on the land where our University is built and confirms its commitment to strengthening relationships with all Indigenous people.

Mount Allison is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage applications from members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual and gender identities. We seek candidates with qualifications and knowledge to contribute specifically to the further diversification of our campus community.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents are given priority. Canadians and permanent residents should indicate their citizenship status in their application.

Canadian Gemini News

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By Eric Steinbring (Canadian Gemini Office, NRC Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Centre) with contributions from Stéphanie Côté
(Cassiopeia – Winter 2022)

Growth in the CGO and at Gemini

After 15 years of strong, dedicated leadership of the CGO, Stéphanie Côté has passed the baton, and stepped down in the role of Group Leader. I will now take on this role, and thank Stéphanie for her years of faithful guidance and oversight. She will remain in the CGO, and together with Tim Davidge and Joel Roediger, we are now joined by a new member of the CGO team: Wes Fraser. Wes brings deep expertise in planetary science and the Kuiper Belt, and is involved in coordinating participation in the Vera Rubin Observatory and its Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). We all look forward to helping Canadian astronomers get the most from Canada’s premier optical/near-infrared facilities. Gemini Observatory itself is hiring; both tenure-track Scientific Staff and Science Fellow positions, along with a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position, especially intended for that indivdual to have the opportunity to engage in meaningful diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activities. Please see the latest job advertisements for details and the closing dates.

DARP Progress

Semester 2023A was the third semester for which it was requested in Canada to write the proposals anonymously following the Dual-Anonymous Review Process (DARP). Over each of these three semesters the success rates of women PI proposals has been higher than men PI proposals, which had never happened in the previous 6 years that we had monitored this. The difference in success rates between women and men PI proposals is becoming smaller, which is what you might expect, with the goal that these rates oscillate around zero eventually.

It is most important for Canadians to become familiar with these DARP guidelines as many other astronomical facilities have implemented similar requirements for their observing proposals (NASA, ALMA, ESO amongst others), and might reject a DARP non-compliant proposal.

We were pleased to see that the great majority of Gemini proposals for 2023A successfully followed the DARP guidelines, however we still received 6 proposals that did not (= 19% of proposals). Those proposals had made an effort to follow DARP but had one minor slip. This minor slip always happened in the same context, which was when referring to some of their previous observations, or other related accepted programs. Here we remind you again on how to write DARP-approved texts in these situations:

  • Do not refer to previous observing programs at any observatories in an identifying fashion, including past Gemini programs. Replace “We have observe this galaxy in our previous 2023A program”, instead say “GN-2023A-Q33 observed this galaxy previously”, without taking ownership for the program, ie: never say “Our GN-2023A-Q33 program”.
  • Same goes if your targets are selected by one of your past or ongoing surveys on another facility or are Target-of-Opportunity targets to be triggered by data from another of your programs. Replace “Our targets were selected from our 1.45 micron WIRCAM imaging survey of this star-forming region from our program 21BC08”, say instead “Our targets were selected by the 1.45 micron WIRCAM imaging survey of this star-forming region from program 21BC08”.
  • And same goes if you need to refer to an accepted proposal at another facility for which you have not yet received data. Replace “These data will complement our NIRSPec data from our accepted JWST program 1686 PI=Smith”, say simply “These data will complement the NIRSpec data to be acquired by JWST program 1686”. Do not take ownership of the program.

In all these cases when it is written anonymously in this way it does not make it obvious if you are the PI or Co-I of this other previous/future program, or have an arrangement with a co-I to get the data, or maybe are simply ready to scavenge the archives when the data are made public.

Please make sure to consult the ‘DARP guidelines’ page for your future Gemini proposals, and feel free to consult with us (CGO at Gemini@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca) before the deadline in case of doubt or questions.

New Instrument, New Opportunities

The Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph (GHOST) is now on sky at Gemini South, and is completing its commissioning phase. This is a next step, following along a well-honed track of Canadian expertise in high-resolution optical spectroscopy, a prior one being Gemini Remote Access to CFHT ESPaDOnS Spectrograph (GRACES) at Gemini North. GRACES is also fibre-fed, running to that Canada France Hawaii Telescope instrument. Just this year a Gemini press release has highlighted a stream of old stars detected, via GRACES, at the edge of the Galaxy as a “shredded” star cluster: C-19. From that press release: “GRACES provided the critical clues that C-19 is a disrupted globular cluster and not the more common disrupted dwarf galaxy,” explained Kim Venn of the University of Victoria, the lead investigator for the GRACES observations. “We already knew that this was a very metal-poor stream, but identifying it as a globular cluster required the precision metallicities and detailed chemical abundances only available with high-resolution spectra.”

Got a big, new idea? Gemini is calling for letters of intent for Large and Long Proposals, to begin in semester 2023B. Letters are due by 13 February 2023. The deadline for full proposals will be 1 April 2023. See the official Call for Proposals for more information, including all the available instrument resources here. Don’t forget Fast Turnaround! The next deadline will be at noon Hawai’i Standard Time on 31 December 2022; in the South you can ask for GMOS-S (Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph) and F2 (Flamingos 2), available for most of this coming cycle, while IGRINS (Immersion Grating INfrared Spectroph) and Zorro (speckle imaging) are expected to be available for at least part of that time. The latest news on Gemini North, which had been in regular maintenance shutdown since 10 October, but then offline longer due to an incident during mirror maintenance, is that the Observatory expects to complete repairs in January. It should return to nighttime operations sometime in late February; the 2023A semester programs have been planned out to adjust for that.

Postdoctoral Position in Extreme Astrophysics – University of Manitoba

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Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the eXtreme Astrophysics group of Prof. Samar Safi-Harb in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. As part of expanding the group’s research area into multi-messenger astrophysics, supported by the Canada Research Chairs program, the successful candidate will work on astrophysical studies of Compact Objects (compact objects mergers, neutron stars/magnetars, black holes) and/or associated environments (kilonova remnants, supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae), with focus on their multi-messenger science.

Over the next several years, advancements in sensitivity and detector development for both High-Energy and Gravitational Wave (GW) observatories will revolutionize our understanding of some of the most extreme events in the Universe. In particular, the upcoming Fourth Observing Run (O4) of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaborations, expected to start in Spring 2023, will accelerate the growth of the multi-messenger astrophysics field, and lead to the discovery of new GW events to be followed up across the electromagnetic spectrum and with other messengers. The successful applicant will contribute to one or more of the following projects, depending on their interest and expertise: data analysis and interpretation of new GW transient events, targeted searches of continuous GW from known pulsars, directed searches of continuous GW waves from compact objects in supernova remnants and pulsar wind nebulae, follow-up and analysis of electromagnetic counterparts to GW events. Other projects that would align with multi-messenger studies of extreme astrophysical events can be proposed. The applicant will be given opportunities to (co-)supervise students, collaborate with researchers nationally and internationally, and contribute to outreach and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion activities at the University.

Applicants are required to have their PhD by the time they start their position, and preference will be given to candidates within three years of their PhD (official leaves not counted towards that timeframe). Applicants who are experienced with compact objects and gravitational wave (GW) astrophysics, GW data analysis, and/or follow up of electromagnetic counterparts of GW sources are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given preference. Knowledge of machine learning methods, Bayesian analysis, or surveys’ cross-matching will be an asset. This position will be full-time employment at the University of Manitoba with a negotiable starting date, ideally in May 2023, or soon after for a period of two years. A third year is possible subject to funding and performance.

The eXtreme astrophysics group of Prof. Safi-Harb collaborates with researchers nationally and internationally on multi-wavelength studies of high-energy astrophysical objects and phenomena; and is actively involved in the planning of future missions, particularly in the high-energy domain. Research in Astrophysics at the U. of Manitoba is enabled by observations conducted with state-of-the-art international telescopes and high-performance computing clusters. Additional facilities are available through Compute Canada. The Astronomy & Astrophysics group will soon commission the Peebles Astrophysics Lab: a new space for astronomy trainees that will facilitate interactions and interdisciplinary collaborations. We are supported by research links with other University of Manitoba departments, through the recently launched Data Science Nexus (https://sci.umanitoba.ca/data-science-nexus/) which is housed in the Faculty of Science.

The City of Winnipeg (www.tourismwinnipeg.com), located where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet, is recognized for its vibrant, multicultural community and diverse culture. The city, with a growing population of more than 766,000, is home to internationally renowned festivals, galleries and museums, the historic Exchange District and The Forks, and ever-expanding research, education, and business sectors. From the Hudson Bay waters, across the farmland fields, to the pulse of the cities and towns, The Province of Manitoba’s (www.travelmanitoba.com) people and places – its 100,000 lakes, 92 provincial parks, winding river valleys and storied prairie skies – inspire.
The cost of living in Winnipeg is relatively low, housing is affordable, and Manitobans are renown for their friendliness. Winnipeg is home to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and the NHL’s Jets. Furthermore, the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus houses the stadium that hosts the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football games. The region provides ample opportunities for outdoor recreation in all seasons and has been identified by Time magazine as one of 2021’s “World’s Greatest Places”.

The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities). All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact UM.Accommodation@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.

To apply, please provide the following documents:
• A cover letter (1 page maximum) including the names and contact information of at least three professional references.
• A CV including a publications list.
• A research statement (3 pages maximum) addressing the candidate’s interest in the position and proposed research program.
• A statement (1 page maximum) addressing past and/or proposed contributions to supervision of students, public outreach, teaching, professional service, and/or Equity/Diversity/Inclusion activities.

All documents should be merged as a single PDF and sent by email to samar.safi-harb@umanitoba.ca, with the Subject: Postdoctoral Position in Extreme Astrophysics. Review of applications will begin Dec 16, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled.
Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Please note that curricula vitae may be provided to participating members of the search process.

(this job ad can be also viewed on the AAS Job register: https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/692fa3c6)

David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto

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The David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the area of Astrophysics. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2023.

Applicants must have earned a PhD degree in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a related area by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching.

We seek applicants in any area of Astrophysics whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths. The successful candidate will be expected to establish and lead an innovative, externally funded research program; supervise research projects carried out by graduate and undergraduate students; teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses; and engage in university service activities.

Candidates must provide evidence of excellence in research, which can be demonstrated by the applicant’s cover letter, a record of publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, and strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

We seek candidates who perform innovative research that will advance our understanding of the Universe. In their application materials, the successful candidate must:

Provide a demonstrated record of innovative research;
Provide a strong research plan with a vision for how this can be achieved at the University of Toronto;
Demonstrate their capacity to prepare the leaders of the future in astrophysics by recruiting, supervising, training and mentoring research students, early-career researchers, and/or technical staff from a diverse range of backgrounds and levels of ability.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated by teaching accomplishments and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong endorsements by referees. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading workshops or seminars, or student mentorship. The successful candidate for this position must demonstrate experience in or capacity for teaching effectively and communicating clearly to a diverse student body, in a way that meaningfully advances equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The University of Toronto offers the opportunity to teach, conduct research, and live in one of the most diverse cities in the world. The successful candidate will benefit from proximity to two other astronomy units based at the University: (1) The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, an endowed research institute dedicated to innovative technology, ground-breaking research, world-class training, and public engagement. (2) The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, a renowned National theory institute. University of Toronto astronomers have access to a wide range of observational facilities with guaranteed access to CFHT, Gemini, SDSS-V, LSST, JWST, ALMA, MWA and CHIME.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply by clicking on the link below. Applicants must submit:

a cover letter.
a current curriculum vitae including a full list of publications.
a research statement, and
a teaching dossier that includes a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above.

The Department is committed to an inclusive and flexible workplace. We encourage applications from qualified applicants of all sexual orientations and gender expressions, Black and racialized people, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. For additional information about the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics please visit http://www.astro.utoronto.ca. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact astrochair@astro.utoronto.ca to ask questions about the position or to seek further information.

Candidates are expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning working environment demonstrated through the application materials.  The research and teaching statements must each address the applicant’s capacities to teach, train and support a diverse body of students/trainees and to meaningfully advance equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the relevant contexts, as per the expectations listed above. For information about the University’s approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and innovation see  https://ediri.utoronto.ca/.

Submission guidelines can be found at: http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF or Word format.  If you have any questions about this position, please contact Professor Roberto Abraham at roberto.abraham@utoronto.ca.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each once an application is submitted (this happens overnight). Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references submit letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date.

All application materials, including reference letters, must be received by the closing date, January 4, 2023.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY: https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job-invite/26085/

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

Herzberg Instrument Science Fellow

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City: Penticton, BC or Victoria, BC
Organizational Unit: Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics
Classification: RO
Tenure: Term
Duration: This is a 2 year term position with the possibility of a 1 year extension
Language Requirements: English

Your Challenge
Help bring research to life and drive your career forward with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canada’s largest research and technology organization.

We are looking for a Herzberg Instrument Science Fellow (Research Associate) to support our Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre. The Fellow would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity, and who is motivated to become the Principal Investigator for next generation astronomical instruments and facilities.

The Fellow will be an active research astronomer/instrumentalist who is able to become a key interface between astronomers and instrumentation teams working on new astronomical instruments and facilities. They will work at NRC’s Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre (NRC-HAA) within the Astronomy Technology Directorate (ATD; Science and Projects Team), that brings together leading astronomy researchers with engineers and technicians working on instrumentation design, development and integration.

NRC-HAA has a rare combination of staff involved in astronomy research, instrumentation design and development, engineering, data science and observatory support. This fellowship is intended to leverage this environment to help develop researchers who will become the leaders necessary to enable ambitious new instrumentation for cutting edge astronomy research in the coming decades.

The ATD is a leading developer of instrumentation for Canada’s current and future ground- and space-based telescopes at radio through to optical wavelengths (e.g., the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the Attacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Gemini. Its multi-disciplinary team includes project managers, optical, electrical, mechanical and systems engineers and technicians, signal processing experts and astronomers. Current major activities include correlator upgrades and central signal processing architectures for the SKA, ALMA and the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), composite dish antenna designs for new observatories including ngVLA, development for the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) expansion and the Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD), participation in the development of optical/near infrared spectrographs for Gemini, and adaptive optics systems for TMT.

In addition to leadership and participation in facility class instrumentation, the ATD maintains a strategic research and development program specialising in radio receivers, radio dishes, signal processing, adaptive optics, and optical/near infrared instrumentation,. This includes the development of modest-scale pathfinder instruments and on-sky demonstrators. This is in addition to astronomical research activities undertaken by astronomers in the ATD and elsewhere in HAA, that spans exoplanets, star and planet formation, near field cosmology and resolved stellar populations, galaxy evolution, supermassive black holes, high redshift galaxies, time domain astronomy, survey astronomy, and other fields. Activities are split between the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in Penticton, which houses most of the radio expertise, and the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, which houses the millimeter-wave receiver group as well as most of the optical and near-infrared expertise.

The successful candidate will be a recent doctoral graduate in astrophysics or another closely related discipline who is highly motivated to engage in astronomical instrumentation and technology projects in the ATD. They will want to become the Principal Investigators for the next generation of astronomical instruments and facilities, and the ATD will provide them with the experience, support and professional development to help them develop into this role. Instrument Science Fellows will be expected to undertake research activities in astronomical instrumentation, or observational astronomy of relevance to the instrumentation that they support.

The successful candidate will:

* Engage with the instrumentation teams in the ATD and provide scientific support, advocacy and insight through close interactions with the technical teams and the science user community, under the mentorship of existing ATD instrument scientists. Scientific support could include the development of science cases, science requirements, survey planning, development of observing simulators, supporting the design, build and integration of instruments, on-sky testing and commissioning, science exploitation, etc.
* Participate in professional development activities focused on supporting their development into the next generation of Principal Investigators for astronomical instruments, including leadership, project management, systems engineering, communication, and grant writing.
* Conduct original research in astronomical instrumentation and/or observational astronomy, independently and in collaboration with NRC-HAA staff members.
* Contribute to the scientific exploitation of other NRC-HAA resources, particularly, but not limited to, the expertise of scientific and technical staff, and the astronomical facilities and infrastructure administered by NRC-HAA, including the observatories as well as the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (CADC) and the instrumentation labs.
* Engage with the astronomical community to advance Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics mandate to provide astronomical facilities and services to Canadian researchers.

The Herzberg Instrument Science Fellowship is intended to provide flexibility given the applicant’s interests and personal circumstances. It may be held in either Penticton or Victoria, depending on the instrumentation interests of the applicant.

Screening Criteria
Education
As part of the RA Program you must have received your PhD in astronomy or astrophysics or a closely related discipline within the last 5 years or you expect to receive the degree within the next 6 months.

**Exception may be considered to recognise maternity/parental leave.

Experience
* Five years or less experience in astronomical instrumentation and/or observational astronomy research beyond the PhD.
* Experience in reducing and analysing/modelling astronomical data in one or more of the radio, centimeter, millimeter/sub-millimeter, infrared, optical and ultraviolet wavebands from ground- and/or space-based observatories or from astronomical data archives.
* Experience in the development of science cases and/or science requirements and/or survey requirements for astronomical facilities and instruments; experience in the development, design, build and integration of astronomical facilities and instruments; experience in the on-sky testing and/or commissioning of astronomical facilities and instruments.
* Experience in publishing international calibre research papers relating to astronomical instrumentation and/or observational astronomy in the refereed scientific literature.

Language Requirements
English

To apply, visit our website: https://recruitment-recrutement.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/job/Victoria-Herzberg-Instrument-Science-Fellow-BC/564413517/

Assistant Professor – Astrophysics (University of Toronto)

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The David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the area of Astrophysics. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2023.

Applicants must have earned a PhD degree in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a related area by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching.

We seek applicants in any area of Astrophysics whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths. The successful candidate will be expected to establish and lead an innovative, externally funded research program; supervise research projects carried out by graduate and undergraduate students; teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses; and engage in university service activities.

Candidates must provide evidence of excellence in research, which can be demonstrated by the applicant’s cover letter, a record of publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, and strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

We seek candidates who perform innovative research that will advance our understanding of the Universe. In their application materials, the successful candidate must:
Provide a demonstrated record of innovative research;
Provide a strong research plan with a vision for how this can be achieved at the University of Toronto;
Demonstrate their capacity to prepare the leaders of the future in astrophysics by recruiting, supervising, training and mentoring research students, early-career researchers, and/or technical staff from a diverse range of backgrounds and levels of ability.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated by teaching accomplishments and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong endorsements by referees. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading workshops or seminars, or student mentorship. The successful candidate for this position must demonstrate experience in or capacity for teaching effectively and communicating clearly to a diverse student body, in a way that meaningfully advances equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The University of Toronto offers the opportunity to teach, conduct research, and live in one of the most diverse cities in the world. The successful candidate will benefit from proximity to two other astronomy units based at the University: (1) The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, an endowed research institute dedicated to innovative technology, ground-breaking research, world-class training, and public engagement. (2) The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, a renowned National theory institute. University of Toronto astronomers have access to a wide range of observational facilities with guaranteed access to CFHT, Gemini, SDSS-V, LSST, JWST, ALMA, MWA and CHIME.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply by clicking on the link below. Applicants must submit:

a cover letter.
a current curriculum vitae including a full list of publications.
a research statement, and
a teaching dossier that includes a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above.

The Department is committed to an inclusive and flexible workplace. We encourage applications from qualified applicants of all sexual orientations and gender expressions, Black and racialized people, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. For additional information about the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics please visit http://www.astro.utoronto.ca. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact astrochair@astro.utoronto.ca to ask questions about the position or to seek further information.

Candidates are expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning working environment demonstrated through the application materials.  The research and teaching statements must each address the applicant’s capacities to teach, train and support a diverse body of students/trainees and to meaningfully advance equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the relevant contexts, as per the expectations listed above. For information about the University’s approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and innovation see  https://ediri.utoronto.ca/.

Submission guidelines can be found at: http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF or Word format.  If you have any questions about this position, please contact Professor Roberto Abraham at roberto.abraham@utoronto.ca.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each once an application is submitted (this happens overnight). Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references submit letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date.

All application materials, including reference letters, must be received by the closing date, January 4, 2023.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY: https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job-invite/26085/

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy University of Waterloo

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The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo invites applicants for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level. A broad range of areas will be considered including, Astrophysics, Quantum Matter, Photonics, Biophysics, and Soft Matter. Applications from outstanding candidates in other areas will be considered. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2023.

We are seeking applications from theorists and/or experimentalists. A Ph.D. degree and evidence of outstanding promise in research and teaching are required. Successful applicants are expected to develop and maintain a research program of exceptional quality and impact, to attract and supervise graduate students, to attract external funding at the level required to maintain a thriving research group, and to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The salary range is $105,000 to $125,000, depending on experience. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

Candidates should submit electronically a curriculum vitae, an outline of research accomplishments, a brief research plan, a statement of teaching philosophy and goals, and make arrangements for four letters of reference to be sent to Professor Brian McNamara, Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1. Telephone: (519) 888-4567; extension 36831; e-mail: physics@uwaterloo.ca. Materials should be received by January 15, 2023.  Further information about the Department can be found on our web page: https://uwaterloo.ca/physics-astronomy/

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff.  The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples (e.g., First Nations, Metis, Inuit/Inuk), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office (https://uwaterloo.ca/human-rights-equity-inclusion/indigenousinitiatives).

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, eligibility, or a request for accommodation during the hiring process, please contact Dr. Brian McNamara, Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Telephone: (519) 888-4567; extension 36831; E-mail: physics@uwaterloo.ca.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Three reasons to apply: https://uwaterloo.ca/faculty-association/why-waterloo.

McGill Space Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships

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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