Postdoctoral Position: The University of Western Ontario (Deadline August 1st, 2012)

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. The successful candidate will pursue projects with Dr. Pauline Barmby involving the application of in astroinformatics techniques to the study of resolved stellar populations and star formation in nearby galaxies. Candidates should have a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics; a strong computational background is required and experience with observations of nearby galaxies is strongly preferred.

The astronomy group at Western includes members with interests in planetary science, star formation, hot stars, nearby galaxies, and AGN. The successful candidate will be encouraged to interact with other faculty and to take an active role in mentoring our growing group of graduate students. The SHARCNET facility and Faculty of Science program in Scientific Computing provide opportunities for cross-disciplinary interaction.

The initial appointment is for one year but may be extended for an additional year subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. The starting date is September 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter. To apply, please send electronically a cover letter, CV with publication list, and contact information for two references to Dr. Pauline Barmby (pbarmby@uwo.ca), by August 1, 2012. The University of Western Ontario is committed to employment equity and welcomes applications from all qualified women and men, including visible minorities, aboriginal people and persons with disabilities.

Pauline Barmby
Department of Physics & Astronomy, Western University
1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
Voice: (519) 661-2111 x81557 Fax: (519) 661-203

Postdoctoral Position: Dunlap Institute (Deadline July 1, 2012)

Postdoctoral Position in Integral Field Spectroscopy

Submission Address:

Shelley Wright, Assistant Professor
Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics
University of Toronto
50 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3H4 Canada

Email Submission Address: fellowships@di.utoronto.ca

Email Inquiries: wright@astro.utoronto.ca

Closing Date for Receipt of Applications: July 1, 2012

Related URLs

Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics [http://www.di.utoronto.ca]
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics [http://www.astro.utoronto.ca ]
Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics [http://www.cita.utoronto.ca ]
Sloan Digital Sky Survey [http://www.sdss.org]

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Toronto invites applicants with an expertise in integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy and data processing development to apply for a postdoctoral research position.

The successful applicant will work on the upcoming Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA: PI Kevin Bundy) project, which is one of 3 After SDSS-III (AS3) programs to be conducted on the Sloan 2.5m Telescope. MaNGA is an optical fiber-based multi-object IFU that will target 10,000 galaxies over a 6 year campaign, with a scheduled first light in Fall 2014. The successful candidate will participate in the development of MaNGA’s data processing and analysis pipeline with Prof Shelley Wright and other MaNGA team members at Toronto, Dr. David Law and Dr. Anne-Marie Weijmans. Independent research will also be encouraged and supported during the postdoctoral position.

The Dunlap Institute’s mission is to initiate and embrace innovative instrumentation and observational programs. The institute is complemented by vibrant interactions with both the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics (DAA) and the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA).

The appointment is for two years with an expectation of renewal for a third year on satisfactory performance. The expected start date is Fall 2012. The salary range will be from $46,000 – $53,000 CAD per year, and will be based on experience of the successful applicant. An annual research stipend will be given for research related expenditures. Relocation costs will be subsidized following Univ. of Toronto policies and based on the distance of the move.

A PhD in astronomy or physics is required. Experience with data processing and software development is preferable, although applicants whose studies have primarily focused on IFU observations and analysis will be considered. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, bibliography, statement of research interests, letter of application outlining prior data processing and software development experience, and arrange to have three letters of recommendation sent to fellowships@di.utoronto.ca by July 1, 2012.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.