Post Title: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
SBU/Department: School of Physics Engineering and Computer Science / Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics / Centre for Astrophysics Research (CAR)
FTE: 1.0 (37 hours per week)
Duration of Contract: Fixed term (36 months)
Salary: UH7 £37,099 to £44,263pa by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience
Annual Leave: 35 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year
Location: College Lane campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
Main duties and responsibilities
Applications are invited for a 36-month postdoctoral research fellow position working alongside Dr. William Alston on X-ray timing studies of accreting black holes. The post will be based at the Centre for Astrophysics Research (CAR), and the associated Centre of Data Innovation Research (CoDIR) group.
The Research Fellow will execute a research program focussing on the inner regions of accreting black holes across the mass range, with a focus on timing studies using X-ray reverberation and quasi-periodic oscillations. This includes analysing data with traditional signal processing methods, as well as developing machine learning based methods to use on the observed data. The program will involve the development and extension of current theoretical models to describe the X-ray reverberation and quasi-periodic oscillations signals and subsequently model these to the available data. Recent, large observing programmes awarded to the PI and their collaboration network on facilities such as XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, NICER and Swift will be utilised.
You will be expected to lead, prepare and submit articles for publication in refereed journals, utilizing both new and archival data, as well as to regularly compete for telescope time.
You will also be expected to contribute to a positive and productive working atmosphere within the Centre for Astrophysics Research, by contributing to the execution and organisation of various meetings, seminars, journals club, organised outreach activities, etc. that make CAR (and UH in general) a vibrant and dynamic place to work.
The post – one of 8 new STFC-funded postdoctoral positions awarded to CAR as a result of the STFC Astronomy Grants scheme (2023), two of which are focused on high-energy/X-ray astronomy – is available from 01 April 2024 and the successful candidate will ideally be in post as soon as possible, and no later than 01 October 2024.
Skill and experience required
You will have an track record of research in a relevant area of expertise, including observational astrophysics, quantitative research methods and analysis. You will also have a record of submitting/publishing scientific research in leading astronomical journals, experience with scientific computing, and a record of presenting your work (e.g. at scientific conferences, workshops, seminars etc.).
You will ideally have experience of working with X-ray data, and of working in the time domain. Prior experience of working on data analysis or modelling of X-ray reverberation and/or quasi-periodic oscillations would be particularly valuable.
Qualifications required
A minimum of a degree, or equivalent, and a PhD (or completed the requirements), or equivalent experience, in Astrophysics or a closely-related discipline.
Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria. Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.
An appointment to this role may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.
Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: For more information or to discuss the post, please contact Dr. William Alston (w.alston@herts.ac.uk)
Closing Date: 28 January 2024
Interview Date: w/c 19 February 2024 (TBC)
Reference Number: 055995
Date advert placed: 19 December 2023
Applications should be submitted online via the recruitment website and should be accompanied by PDF versions of a CV, a list of publications, and a personal statement/cover letter (maximum two sides of A4 paper) explaining your motivation for applying, summarizing your research interests/experience and what you would bring to the position (in reference to the Person Specification). Finally, you must also include the contact details of two referees willing to write on your behalf.
The Astrophysics group is part of the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics, and is a thriving research group of 60 academic staff, research fellows and postgraduate students. The department takes pride in the diversity of its staff, and holds both an IoP Juno Champion and an Athena-Swan Silver award. We encourage applications from all individuals meeting our essential criteria, irrespective of gender or membership of underrepresented groups. The UH vision is to transform lives and UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. UH offers a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave and discounted Sports Village memberships, personal and professional development, a flexible location policy, and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts
A standard package of benefits will be provided, including funding for travel and equipment expenses.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
Disability Confident.