Research Fellow

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to March 2026

Background 

Applications are invited to join the Sun, Stars and Exoplanets Research Group in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, as part of a growing and dynamic team working in stellar astrophysics, using asteroseismology and helioseismology, and exoplanets. 

Environment

The School of Physics and Astronomy is a world-leading physics department, excelling in both research and teaching. Our physics research was recently ranked top in the UK for 4-star-category research, and 4th by GPA, by the Research Excellence Framework 2021. The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Professor Mike Kosterlitz and Professor David Thouless jointly for their work into the discoveries of the properties of matter, work which started when they were at Birmingham together. The 2017 Nobel Prize was awarded for the detection of gravitational waves, in which Birmingham staff played a key role. The School is an excellent environment for an upcoming academic. 

The School’s research portfolio is wide-ranging, and covers three principal themes: Quantum Matter; Particle and Nuclear Physics; and Astronomy and Experimental Gravity. It has over 120 academic and research staff together with 120 graduate students with around 50 technical and clerical support staff. 

The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Institute of Physics Juno Champion since 2014 and holder of the Athena SWAN Silver Award. Both initiatives recognise the School’s commitment to promote diversity and equality, and to encourage better practice for all members of the community, whilst also working towards developing an equitable working culture in which all students and staff can achieve their full potential. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but applications from traditionally under-represented groups in physics and astronomy are particularly encouraged. We are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working. 

Role Summary

• Coordinating grids of stellar models using varying codes of stellar evolution and oscillations.
• Contributing to the development and training of neural network emulators of the codes of stellar evolution and oscillations.
• Building probabilistic hierarchical models using the wealth of available data and emulators to answer interesting science questions in the areas of stellar astrophysics, exoplanet demographics, and Milky Way structure and evolution.
• Adding science-based constraints to hierarchical models including some of: stellar Helium enrichment; stellar binary information; cluster information; galactic constraints; gyrochronology constraints.
• Publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and presenting results at national and international conferences.

The successful applicant will work primarily with Dr Guy Davies.

Person Specification 

• PhD in astrophysics/astronomy (or near to completion)
• Expertise in the use of astronomical data and inference
• Track record in stellar astrophysics, with experience of stellar modelling 
• Experience in probabilistic models would be beneficial 

Informal enquires can be made to  Dr Guy Davies, email: G.R.Davies@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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