Research Fellow in Astrophysics
Join a major STFC collaboration using Vera Rubin/LSST and TiDES data to study transients, black holes, and dark energy.
Best for:Best for postdoctoral researchers in astrophysics with a strong background in analyzing large astronomical datasets and transient phenomena.
Overview
The Astrophysics Research Centre at Queen's University Belfast invites applications for a Research Fellow position as part of the five-year STFC Large Award known as TRANSCEND. Working alongside partner institutions including Oxford, Lancaster, and Southampton, the appointee will leverage massive datasets from Vera Rubin/LSST and the 4MOST Time-Domain Extragalactic Survey. The research will focus on investigating tidal disruption events, transient physical properties, and supermassive black hole mass functions. The successful candidate is expected to conduct high-impact independent research, collaborate across the multi-institution network, and contribute actively to the consortium's scientific goals.
What you'll do
- Lead research focused on transient physical properties and the black hole mass function of tidal disruption events
- Analyze large volumes of photometric and spectroscopic data from TiDES and follow-up surveys
- Derive scaling relations and occupation fractions for supermassive black holes using live tidal disruption events and host galaxies
- Collaborate closely with researchers across the partner institutions within the TRANSCEND consortium
- Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at international conferences
Requirements
Degree required: PhD in astrophysics or a closely related discipline
Language: English
Instruction: English
Publications: Track record of research output commensurate with career stage, demonstrated via a full publication list.
- Research experience in live transient classification and follow-up
- Proven track record in analyzing light curves and spectra of transients
- Experience working with very large astronomical datasets
- Expertise in tidal disruption events and/or related transient classes
- Proficiency in programming and utilizing standard astronomy software packages
- Must hold a PhD or have submitted their thesis by the time of taking up the post
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-05
Applicants must submit a full CV including a publication list, along with a two-page research statement evidencing how their experience meets the criteria. All documents must be collated into a single file for upload through the external application portal.
- CV
- Publication list
- Research statement
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