Postdoc Position in Galactic Archaeology

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research position in Galactic Archaeology with Dr. Andreas Koch at the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut (ARI) at Heidelberg University. We seek candidates with a Ph.D. degree in astronomy in combination with experience in studies of resolved stellar populations with an emphasis on chemical abundance analyses and/or the use of variable stars as population tracers.

The successful applicant will join an active research team that is exploring the evolutionary history of the Milky Way making use of data from ground-based spectroscopic, photometric, and time-domain surveys to investigate the nature of the Galactic bulge. This includes the planning and exploitation of data from the SDSS-V spectroscopic survey as well as using results from the Gaia satellite. Evidence of prior expertise in data analysis and involvement with large surveys is therefore desirable.
ARI researchers have access to all ESO facilities, including the VLT, to the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), as well as to ESA missions such as Gaia. The ARI has a lead role in the data processing of the Gaia mission and participates in various sky surveys such as SDSS-V and 4MOST. 

The ARI leads the Collaborative Research Center "The Milky Way System" (SFB 881) at Heidelberg University, which aims at improving our understanding of the formation and evolution of disk galaxies, using the Milky Way as laboratory for the detailed exploration of the physical processes involved. Five institutions in Heidelberg contribute to this effort: The Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg (ZAH), consisting of the three institutes ARI, Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (ITA), and Landessternwarte (LSW), the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA). SFB 881 and the advertised postdoctoral position are funded by the German Research Foundation. Postdocs in SFB 881 have access to a variety of resources, including a travel budget, guest funds, and funds for organizing conferences.

The position will be available as early as May 2020 and can run until December 2022. The salary will be according to the German public service scale TV-L E13. Interested candidates should send a brief statement of research interests and achievements (max. 3 pages), curriculum vitae, and publication list in a single pdf file to andreas.koch@uni-heidelberg.de by Jan. 31, 2020. Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference separately sent to the above email address, by the same deadline.

The University of Heidelberg is an equal opportunity employer. Women and members of under-represented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.