Postdoc/Researchers in Astrophysics Instrumentation/Data/Theory

[Eric Linder]

Postdoctoral as well as more experienced researcher positions are available at
the Energetic Cosmos Laboratory (ECL http://ecl.nu.edu.kz), headed by Nobel Laureate
George Smoot at Nazarbayev University (NU) in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan.
We seek candidates experienced in 1) cutting edge instrumentation, observing, and
data analysis, or 2) theory/data science to join ECL's exciting frontier astrophysics and cosmology
programs.

In Instrumentation, research areas include MKIDs, gamma ray bursts, and ultrafast
optical transients. ECL has built and operates a cryogenic sensor research facility,
with particular emphasis on MKIDs detectors in both mm-wave and optical/IR regimes.
The goal of this program is to improve MKIDs devices for instrumentation in both CMB
and optical/IR surveys. Instrumentation and high-speed electronics experience are
particularly valuable. ECL has also built a rapid response telescope for optical
transients, able to point within 8 seconds, used to search for prompt optical emission
from gamma ray bursts (GRBs). We seek postdocs with experience in astrophysics
observing and data reduction, instrumentation, and DAQ hardware. ECL is building
instrumentation to open the Ultrafast Astrophysics frontier, with cameras capable of
scanning the sky for optical phenomena on microsecond to nanosecond timescales. This
interacts with our research in fast radio bursts (FRBs), GRBs, possibly optical SETI,
and may yield wholly new discoveries.

In Theory/Data, the postdoc will work approximately half time on theoretical cosmology
and data science for cosmic surveys (e.g. of the cosmic microwave background and
large scale structure) and half time on theory/data issues related to the
experimental programs. The postdoc will work primarily with Prof. Eric Linder,
and interact with Prof. George Smoot on the Ultra Fast Astrophysics and
Bruce Grossan on the energetic universe programs.

Researchers at ECL have the opportunity for working visits to partner labs
at UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, APC Paris, Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology, or other labs in Asia. The starting
date can be anytime January-September 2020. NU is a modern research
university, with English as the working language, located next to the site
of World Expo 2017, with strong ties to Berkeley and Paris universities.
Exceptionally qualified candidates can be appointed at a research scientist
or project scientist level. University housing is generally provided at no cost.

Applicants should email a single PDF file containing curriculum vitae, list
of publications, short statement of research interests and plans related to
the ECL programs, and at least three names and contact information for
references to elinder@berkeley.edu .

Applications will reviewed as they come in.