Research Fellow in Cosmology

Starting Salary is £41,374 per annum (including London Allowance)*

*This is the expected starting salary for this post however appointment at a higher point may be made for candidates who demonstrate exceptional skills and experience relevant to the role.

Applications are invited for a Research Fellowship in the Astronomy Group within the Department of Physics at Royal Holloway, University of London. The successful candidate will join ECLIPSE (Environment for Computational Learning, Interdisciplinary Physics and Scientific Excellence), a newly established interdisciplinary research centre for AI-driven scientific discovery, funded by a Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Award held by Dr Alessio Spurio Mancini. ECLIPSE’s goal is to develop next-generation inference frameworks that combine machine learning with rigorous statistical methods to address fundamental questions in cosmology and beyond.

The research aims are to develop novel inference frameworks for cosmology and apply them to cutting-edge data from the Euclid mission to derive constraints, in particular, on dark energy and modified gravity models. The work will involve techniques such as differentiable programming and emulation. The successful applicant will be expected to become an active member of the Euclid Consortium. The European Space Agency Euclid mission was launched in July 2023, and the Euclid Consortium is currently preparing its cosmology analyses for upcoming data releases, aligning well with the timeline of this position.

The successful candidate will have a PhD (or be near completion) in Physics, Astronomy, or a related field, with expertise in cosmology and strong programming skills. The postholder will join a dynamic research environment spanning stellar astrophysics, supernovae, radio pulsars, gravitational waves and cosmology, with opportunities for career development including co-supervision of BSc/MSci/PhD students and engagement with Royal Holloway’s Centre for AI, where Dr Spurio Mancini leads its AI for Science theme.

Royal Holloway is located on a campus in Egham, Surrey, with excellent transport links to central London. The University offers an extensive rewards and benefits package and supports flexible working arrangements, alongside a strong commitment to a positive and inclusive environment. The Department of Physics holds both the Institute of Physics Juno Champion award and an Athena SWAN Silver Award.

This is a full-time position, available for a fixed-term period of 3 years. The expected start date is April 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. This role is eligible for sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa route, subject to individual circumstances and compliance with visa requirements.

Applicants must respond to application questions addressing the selection criteria (provided in the online application form), upload a CV, a list of publications (these may be attached to the CV), and provide contacts of three referees. For queries on the application process contact Human Resources at recruitment@rhul.ac.uk.

For informal discussions about the post, please contact Dr Alessio Spurio Mancini at alessio.spuriomancini@rhul.ac.uk.

Please quote the reference: 0126-016

Closing Date: 23:59, 29 January 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

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