Research Fellow - Eruptive Variability in Young Stellar Objects (YSOs)

FTE: 1.0 (working 37 hours per week) (Part-time working will be considered)

Duration of Contract: Fixed term (24 months)

Salary: UH7 £38,784 to £46,049 pa by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience

Annual Leave: 35 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location: College Lane campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield 

Main duties and responsibilities 

Applications are invited for a 24-month postdoctoral position to lead and publish original scientific investigations in the area of star formation. The successful applicant will use data from the recently completed VVV/VVVX surveys and follow up spectroscopic data sets. VVV/VVVX used the 4-m VISTA telescope at Cerro Paranal to provide up to 10 years of time series infrared photometry and images for 1700 deg² of the southern Milky Way. 

You will also be expected to prepare and submit articles for publication in refereed journals regularly and to assist with or lead telescope time applications to follow up sources detected by VVV and other time domain surveys. This may require you to visit and use astronomical telescopes overseas. You will work with Prof Philip Lucas at the Centre for Astrophysics Research, and as an associate member of the international VVVX consortium. 

You will also be expected to contribute to a positive and productive working atmosphere within the Centre for Astrophysics Research, by contributing to the execution and organisation of various meetings, seminars, journal clubs, etc. that make CAR (and UH in general) a vibrant and dynamic place to work. 

The post – one of 8 STFC-funded postdoctoral positions awarded to CAR as a result of the STFC Astronomy Grants scheme – is available immediately and the successful candidate will ideally be in post as soon as possible.

Skill and experience required

You will have an impressive track record of research in a relevant area of expertise, including observational astrophysics. You will also have a record of submitting/publishing scientific research in leading astronomical journals, some experience with scientific computing/scripting tasks and a record of presenting your work at scientific conferences/workshops/seminars/etc.

Qualifications required

You will be educated with a Degree or equivalent level 6 qualification or Masters qualification in a relevant discipline Applicants must have submitted their PhD thesis (or equivalent level 8 qualification) in Astrophysics or a closely-related discipline by the start date.

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification. 

Internal applicants – please ensure you apply via your employee self-service portal. 

An appointment to this role may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

Please note, this post cannot be visa sponsored unless you can evidence a PhD / Doctorate

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: For more information or to discuss the post, please contact Professor Philip Lucas (p.w.lucas@herts.ac.uk).

Closing Date: 20 November 2025

Interview Date: Weeks commencing November 24^th & December 1st 2025

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