Post-Doc Research Associate

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities and is among is the top ten research universities in the nation for federal research expenditures as well as for federally funded social and behavioral sciences research and development.

Here at Carolina, our highly skilled postdocs play a vital role in our research enterprise and towards our overall commitment to research excellence. Across many disciplines, postdocs contribute to the intellectual vitality of the University. They provide innovative ideas and perspectives, foster a stimulating research environment and advance knowledge within their fields. Postdocs are crucial members of our scientific research workforce, contributors to our research outputs and an important reason why Carolina is one of the leading public research institutions in the country.

UNC-Chapel Hill offers postdocs comprehensive medical and vision coverage, paid leave, and benefits and services that support professional development and a healthy work/life balance. Chapel Hill regularly ranks as one of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, a reputation guided by the diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

Our primary mission is providing instruction of the highest quality in physics and astronomy to undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-CH. Training in physics is fundamental among the natural sciences because it provides understanding of the forces governing the structure of matter, from subatomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe. Our departmental instructional mission spans all segments of the student community. Over 60% of all college graduates from UNC-CH have taken a course in our department. Among them: undergraduate liberal arts majors who should master the power of quantitative reasoning; undergraduates seeking a degree in another of the natural sciences, who need physics as a foundation for their advanced scientific training; the small number of undergraduates who major in physics, to whom we provide broad and rigorous training. Our graduate education and research advances frontiers of knowledge at the two extremes of space and time, from the very small) the realm of particle physics) to the very large (the realm of astronomy, while expanding the boundaries of knowledge in the many subfields spanning length scales between. Forefront physics and astronomy research requires access to well-equipped laboratories and extensive computing capabilities; it also must be supported by comprehensive and accessible library collections. Again, in research at this advanced level, the bridging aspect of physics provides basic interdisciplinary insight for many other sciences.
A strong managerial, administrative, and technical staff supports this instructional mission. Duties of these employees range from budget planning and management for the numerous research grants held by faculty in the department to maintaining course and student records. These activities are usually accomplished in a standard 40- hour week schedule.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill invites applications for postdoctoral associates to conduct research in theoretical and computational astrophysics with Prof. Carl Rodriguez. The successful candidate will work in any of the following areas:
gravitational-wave/compact-object astrophysics
stellar and galactic dynamics
binary stellar evolution
near-field cosmology/stellar streams.
Candidates with experience in theoretical or computational astrophysics and an interest (though not necessarily experience) in any of the aforementioned areas are encouraged to apply. The position is expected to last three years, with an initial appointment for one year followed by renewal for two years upon satisfactory progress. The position comes with a competitive salary, health benefits, and relocation expenses. Additional funds are available for computational equipment and travel.

PhD in Physics, Astronomy, or related field

Experience in any of the above areas (gravitational-wave or compact-object astrophysics, stellar and galactic dynamics, binary stellar evolution, or near-field cosmology/stellar streams), or interest in the above areas coupled with experience in a related area.

Experience with mentoring students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels considered a plus. Experience with high-performance computing, C/C++, and pre-existing codes for stellar dynamics (e.g. NBODY6, PeTar), stellar evolution (e.g. MESA), or population synthesis (e.g. COSMIC, COMPASS) are also considered a plus.

For information on UNC Postdoctoral Benefits and Services click here

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at (919) 962-9982 or send an email to opahr@unc.edu.

Please note: The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.