Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the Role

The Astronomy Unit at Queen Mary is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with Dr Edward Gillen on the early evolution of planetary systems as part of the European Research Council (now UKRI Frontier) grant “Age-Enabled Exoplanet Science”. The successful candidate will work on determining the timescales and relative roles of key evolutionary processes in sculpting planetary system architectures and bulk planet properties. They will play a leading role in one or more of: (i) characterizing young transiting planet systems detected by TESS and PLATO (Dr Gillen leads the Young Stars and Planets Working Group in PLATO and has multiple Guest Investigator programmes with TESS), (ii) determining planet occurrence rates as a function of time (from 1 Myr – 10 Gyr), and (iii) testing the predictions of specific evolutionary processes with well-characterised sub-samples of young planetary systems (e.g. migration mechanisms and atmospheric mass loss processes). The successful candidate will be expected to both lead and contribute to journal publications, and will be encouraged to develop and pursue independent research programs according to their interests.

About You

Applicants should have, or be close to completing, a PhD (or equivalent qualification) in Astronomy/Astrophysics or a closely-related discipline, and have a history of publications and oral/poster presentations commensurate with their career stage. Experience in exoplanet (including host star) research and in data and statistical analyses (all broadly defined), is desirable but not essential, and applicants with a wide range of skills will be considered. Applications from members of groups traditionally underrepresented in astronomy are very much welcomed.

How to apply

Applications must include a CV, publication list, and research statement (up to 3 pages). These should all be joined into a single PDF document that you upload as your “CV” in our on-line application system. The research statement should include relevant past and current research, highlight how your skills and experience match the role and its scientific requirements, and (briefly) include proposed independent research to be undertaken alongside the main goals of the position. Letters of recommendation will be sought from referees later in the application process.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and campus facilities.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

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