Research Opportunities
Postgraduate courses in astrophysics
Visit our postgraduate study pages to find out more about opportunities for studying towards an MSc, MPhil, or PhD in astrophysics.
STFC advanced and postdoctoral fellowships
The School of Physics and Astronomy invites applications from candidates wishing to be considered for an STFC Advanced or Postdoctoral Fellowship to be based in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester.
STFC expects to award a number of 3 and 5-years fellowships, to be held at UK institutions. The 3-year positions are at postdoctoral level; the 5-year fellowships are expected to lead to a permanent position.
Candidates can only apply on behalf of one UK institution, and need to first apply to the proposed host to obtain support, before applying to STFC. Each prospective host may only support a limited a number of applicants.
The JBCA is one of the largest astronomy groups in the UK, with 26 permanent academic staff. It operates the Jodrell Bank Observatory and MERLIN, and hosts the international headquarters for the SKA project. e-MERLIN will become operational during 2009. The UK ALMA regional centre is expected to be hosted in Manchester. Active research areas in Manchester range from cosmology to planets, with particular strengths in pulsars, gravitational lensing, CMB (Planck, CLOVER), dust and astrochemistry, star formation, and solar astronomy. There is also an active instrumentation group spanning the wavelength range from sub-mm to centimeter. Observational interests further include the JCMT, the VLT and the VLTI. In the near future, exciting opportunities include e-Merlin, ALMA and SCUBA-2.
Applications are welcomed within any of the research activities of the JBCA.
Deadlines for Royal Society Fellowship Applications
- 17 August 2009: Receipt of application
- 1 September 2009: Decisions on endorsement by the School
- 17 September 2009: Receipt of full application at the RS
Deadlines for STFC Fellowship Applications
- 21 August 2009: Receipt of application
- 4 September 2009: Decisions on endorsement by the School
- 15 October 2009: Receipt of full application at the STFC
Informal enquiries for astronomy and astrophysics may be made to Prof. Ralph Spencer, email: ralph.spencer@manchester.ac.uk, Tel: 0161-2754086.
Applications should include a full curriculum vitae, a brief description of your proposed research project (max 2 sides A4), and names of three referees, and may be sent before 17th August 2009 for Royal Society applications and 21st August for STFC applications to thomas.wise@manchester.ac.uk
or by post to the address below:
Thomas Wise (for Prof Ralph Spencer)
Jodrell Bank Center for Astrophysics
Alan Turing Building
School of Physics & Astronomy
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
You will be contacted by 4th September 2009 as to whether your application will be endorsed by the School. If you are successful, we will work with you on the proposed research plan.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in the School of Physics & Astronomy.
Further information on the STFC 2009 Fellowship scheme is available on the STFC website.
STFC Postdoctoral Fellowships
They enable less experienced researchers (i.e. those with no more than seven years' research experience between the start of the postgraduate programme leading to the award of a PhD and 1 September 2010) to devote themselves to independent and original research for a period of up to three years. Applicants must have or expect to have a PhD. STFC expects to make twelve awards each year. For more information see the STFC Fellowships page.
STFC Advanced Fellowships
They enable outstanding researchers the opportunity to pursue full-time research for a period of up to five years. Applicants must have a PhD and a minimum of five years' research experience from the start of the postgraduate programme leading to the award of a PhD and 1 September 2010, with a minimum of two years' postdoctoral experience. Applicants should have proved their ability as an individual and independent researcher. STFC expects to make twelve awards each year. For more information see the STFC Fellowships page.
Advanced fellowships held at the JBCA may lead to a permanent position at the end of the 5-year period.
