Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job title:

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Company

University of Edinburgh

Job description

Job DescriptionGrade UE08: £40,247-£47,874 per annum, pro-rata for part-timeCSE/School of Physics and AstronomyFull-time: 35 hours per weekFixed-term: for 3 yearsApplicants are invited for a postdoctoral research associate on modelling the evolution of massive black holes in the context of their host galaxy, to work with Dr Ricarda Beckmann at the Institute for Astronomy, which is part of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. Applicants with a strong background in galaxy evolution, particularly with cosmological galaxy formation simulations, would be at a particular advantage.The Opportunity:The goal of this position is to advance our understanding of black hole and galaxy coevolution. The candidate will join a growing research group that uses cosmological simulations to understand the evolution of black holes in and around galaxies, particularly in low-mass galaxies and the early Universe, and to unveil the spin evolution of black holes across cosmic time. The successful candidate will work with Dr Beckmann on a variety of projects in these areas, depending on their research experience and interest. Additionally, the applicant would also be encouraged to develop a robust science program of their own. The position is generously funded by Dr Beckmann’s UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship grant and the successful candidate will be encouraged to collaborate closely with other group members as well as travelling widely to promote their research.This post is full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering part-time or flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.This post is fixed term for 3 years.The salary for this post is £40,247-£47,874 per annum.Your skills and attributes for success:

• PhD (or near completion) in a galax evolution related area.
• Excellent programming skills, particularly in Python but helpfully also in C/Fortran or similar.
• Record of high-quality lead-author and co-authored refereed journal publications (relative to career stage).
• Capable of working independently, exercising a high degree of initiative, and with the ability to think creatively.
• Good timekeeping and time-management, with effective prioritisation of tasks.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly, both orally and in writing.
• [Desirable:] Experience of working with galaxy scale or cosmological simulations.

Click to view a copy of the full job description (opens new browser tab)Application InformationPlease ensure you include the following documents in your application:– CV– A research proposal (2 pages)As a valued member of our team you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page(opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits.

Championing equality, diversity and inclusionThe School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce, and eliminating discrimination.
The School strives to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace for all and we are looking to actively diversify our staff. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and in particular encourage applications from people of colour, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people and other minority and under-represented groups. We aim to ensure that our culture and systems support flexible and family-friendly working, as evidenced by our Juno Champion and Athena SWAN Silver awards.The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages(opens new browser tab).The University is able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. If successful, an international applicant requiring sponsorship to work in the UK will need to satisfy the UK Home Office’s English Language requirements and apply for and secure a Skilled Worker Visa. Please note if the role is offered on a part-time basis, it may result in sponsorship being dependant on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant or the role no longer meeting the Home Office’s criteria for sponsorship.Key dates to noteThe closing date for applications is 9th January 2025.Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.Interviews will be held week commencing 27th January 2025.About UsAs a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.About the TeamThe School of Physics and Astronomy is in the College of Science and Engineering and comprises the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics (IPNP), the Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems (ICMCS) and the Institute for Astronomy (IfA). We have around 100 academic staff, over 120 research staff and around 65 professional services staff.The School of Physics and Astronomy was ranked 4th in the UK and 1st in Scotland in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 listing for the quality, scale and breadth of its research by Times Higher Education. Consistently ranked within the top 20 physics departments worldwide, these results confirm the exceptional performance of our staff, our excellent facilities, and our world-leading research.The School runs undergraduate programmes at BSc and MPhys level in Physics, Mathematical Physics, Theoretical Physics, Computational Physics, Astrophysics and (jointly with the School of Chemistry) Chemical Physics. The undergraduate programme has flexible entry and exit points, creating courses of variable duration and level. The School accepts around 230 new undergraduates into its programmes each year and has current student populations of over 800 undergraduates, 50 taught postgraduates and 220 research postgraduates.We aim to ensure that our culture and systems support flexible and family-friendly working and recognise and value diversity across all our staff and students. The School has an active programme offering support and professional development for all staff; providing mentoring, training, and networking opportunities.The School of Physics and Astronomy holds Athena SWAN Silver and IoP Juno Champion awards, in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality.

Expected salary

£40247 – 47874 per year

Location

Edinburgh

Job date

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 23:56:54 GMT

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