Research Fellow

Location: Highfield Campus

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of researchers in the Astronomy Group at the University of Southampton, working towards delivering new science with the state-of-the-art Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space Time (LSST) and the Time Domain Extragalactic Survey (TiDES) running on the 4MOST spectroscopic experiment. LSST will be the largest and most comprehensive ground-based optical survey ever undertaken, delivering millions of astrophysics transients, while TiDES provides 250,000 fibre hours of dedicated transient and host galaxy spectroscopy. Together, these projects open up a vast new discovery space in the study of supernovae and transients, and their application in cosmological settings.

You will work within large research teams led by Prof. Mark Sullivan and Dr Phil Wiseman but interact widely with the rest of the Astronomy Group and the LSST (DESC, TVS) and 4MOST/TiDES international collaborations. As part of this work, you will have the opportunity to collaborate in exciting cutting-edge science designing the massive spectroscopic follow-up of optical transients, exploiting supernova cosmology experiments, and working on the detection and characterisation of unusual supernova explosions and other astrophysics transients.

We welcome applications from both junior and more senior researchers from a range of backgrounds consistent with the science goals of TiDES. To be successful you will have a PhD* in Astronomy, Astrophysics or a closely related field. Experience with supernova surveys/observations/models and their interpretation, or a knowledge of supernova astrophysics or cosmology, will be considered an asset.

In return we offer you a welcoming and inclusive research environment and encourage those from under-represented groups in Physics and Astronomy to apply.  We are strongly  committed to diversity in both the academic and student population, and in recognition we renewed our Athena SWAN Silver award in 2023 and were awarded the Institute of Physics Project Juno Champion status in 2019. Physics and Astronomy gives full consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly, including part-time, and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy**, and onsite childcare facilities. For further information please visit https://www.phys.soton.ac.uk/EqualityandDiversity

Please supply a CV and details of two referees by the application deadline, and optionally a brief research statement outlining your previous research experience.

This position is initially available from 1st October 2024 until 31st March 2027, with funding in place for renewal to 31st March 2028.

Informal enquiries about the position are very welcome and can be directed to Prof. Mark Sullivan (E-mail: m.sullivan@soton.ac.uk).

Applications will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon completion of PhD.  Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given. 

Further details:

• Job Description and Person Specification

Advert information