Position Details

School of Physics and Astronomy

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £35,880 to £45,163 with potential progression once in post to £47,874

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to March 2028

Closing date: 5th January 2025

This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.

Travel and international travel may be required for this role

Background

The Astrophysics and Space Research group at the University of Birmingham (UK) invites applications for a 3-year postdoc position in theoretical high-energy astrophysics. This position will focus on the modelling of tidal disruption events and their potential to study supermassive black holes, as part of the ERC Starting Grant project “Unleash-TDEs” led by Clément Bonnerot.

Located at the heart of the beautiful campus of the University of Birmingham, the Astrophysics and Space Research group provides a vibrant and diverse research environment with expertise in areas such as theoretical and observational extragalactic astrophysics and gravitational-wave astronomy (for a full list of group members, see: https://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/whoswho.php).

The School of Physics and Astronomy is a world-leading physics department, recently ranked top in the UK for 4-star-category research by the Research Excellence Framework 2021. It has over 130 academic and research staff together with 120 PhD students, and a wide-ranging research portfolio covering three principal themes: Quantum Matter, Particle and Nuclear Physics, and Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The University of Birmingham is an equal opportunity employer. The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Athena SWAN Silver Award holder and JUNO Champion, welcomes people from all backgrounds and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who we are. We encourage applications from all qualified applicants; those from minority groups who are under-represented in this discipline are particularly welcome.

Role Summary

We are especially looking for candidates with interest and experience in the theoretical study of high-energy astrophysical systems, particularly making use of simulations. The hired postdoc will primarily focus on the modelling of tidal disruption events, but will also be encouraged to gain independence and pursue their own ideas on related topics. The research work will primarily be in collaboration with Clément Bonnerot, and benefit from the support of a team of local and international partners involved in the project.

The position comes with a generous allowance to cover travels to conferences and research visits, and guaranteed access to the university’s high-performance supercomputer BlueBEAR. Additionally, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to supervise students, acquire teaching experience, participate in outreach activities, organize international meetings, and get any support or training needed for their personal and career development.

The application deadline is on 5th January 2025. The successful applicant would nominally start in April 2025, but the date can be negotiated if needed.

Applications must include a CV, a full list of publications, and a statement of research interests and plans (2 pages maximum). Please also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent by email to Nicola Holloway (n.holloway@bham.ac.uk) by the application deadline.

The research work may include:

• Studying the hydrodynamics of tidal disruption events using simulations
• Predicting the emission from tidal disruption events using radiative transfer calculations
• Working within specified research grants and projects
• Operating within the area of theoretical high-energy astrophysics
• Analysing and interpreting research findings and results
• Contributing to generating funding

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• PhD (or one near to completion) in physics, astrophysics, mathematics, computer science or related subjects
• Expertise in the theoretical study of high-energy astrophysical systems (preferably tidal disruption events) by means of hydrodynamics simulations, including effects such as radiation transport, magnetic fields, and general relativity
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquiries to Clément Bonnerot c.a.bonnerot@bham.ac.uk

We believe there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.