Overview
Research Associate in 21-cm cosmology (Fixed Term)
The funds for this post are available for 24 months in the first instance. The role is in the Cavendish Astrophysics Group, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, funded by the Radio Experiment for the Analysis of Cosmic Hydrogen (REACH) programme. REACH aims to detect the global 21-cm signal from the early Universe, requiring precise instrument calibration and advanced data analysis to separate cosmological signals from foregrounds and systematics. The successful candidate will work at the interface of hardware and analysis, focusing on calibration and data analysis for the REACH instrument.
Responsibilities
* Develop, test, and implement advanced radiometer calibration techniques.
* Apply state-of-the-art statistical methods to extract cosmological information from REACH data.
* Calibrate the instrument and contribute to instrument characterisation alongside engineers, observers, and theorists within the REACH consortium.
* Collaborate across hardware design and data analysis to ensure calibration and analysis advance hand in hand.
Qualifications
* PhD in astrophysics, radio astronomy, physics, or a related field (or near completion).
* Strong expertise in:
* Data analysis, including RFI mitigation and foreground modelling;
* Radio astronomy instrumentation and radiometry;
* Calibration pipelines and handling instrumental systematics;
* Programming skills in Python, C/C++ or equivalent, with ability to handle complex datasets.
* Experience in electromagnetic simulations, radiometer design, or low-frequency calibration techniques is advantageous.
* Strong communication and collaboration skills.
Salary and Conditions
Salary ranges: Research Associate: £37,694 - £46,049 (Grade 7); Research Assistant (if PhD not yet awarded): £34,610 (Grade 5). Appointment at Research Associate level requires a PhD; those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD may be appointed as a Research Assistant initially and moved to Research Associate upon confirmation of the PhD award.
Location and supervision
Based at the Cavendish Laboratory, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0US, UK, supervised by Professor Eloy de Lera Acedo.
How to apply
Click the Apply button to register an account with our recruitment system and apply online. Upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter in the online application. Do not upload additional documents not requested, as they will not be considered. Submit your application by midnight on the closing date.
Please quote reference KA47583 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
Contacts
For questions about the vacancy: Prof. Eloy de Lera Acedo (ed330@cam.ac.uk). For questions about the application process: hr@phy.cam.ac.uk.
Equal opportunity
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
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