Institute of Astronomy

Vacancies

The Institute of Astronomy offers a number of PhD and Masters opportunities each year. Details of these can be found on the admissions pages.

Current and previous employment opportunities at the Institute can be found below.

Open Vacancies

Research Assistant/Associate x 2 (Fixed Term)

Published on 24/07/2021 
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Reference: 
LG27504
Salary: 
£26,715-£40,322
Starting Date: 
From 1st October 2021
Tenure: 
3 years

Fixed-term: The funds for these posts are available for 3 years in the first instance.

Two postdoctoral positions are available at the Institute of Astronomy, funded by a Leverhulme Grant to Professors Vasily Belokurov and Wyn Evans.

Candidates should hold a PhD (or be near to completion) in astronomy, physics, maths or a related field and have research expertise in one or more of the following fields: galactic astronomy and dynamics, numerical simulations of galaxy formation, machine learning and computational statistics, astronomical spectroscopy, wide-field surveys, or any allied areas of theoretical/observational astrophysics. Expertise with handling large datasets is a distinct advantage. Prior experience with photometric, astrometric and spectroscopic surveys such as Gaia, SDSS, DES and APOGEE is also helpful.

Application Information: 

Click the 'Apply' to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please submit your application by midnight of the closing date of Wednesday, 25th August 2021. If you have any queries about your application please contact Ms Joy McSharry (hr(at)ast.cam.ac.uk).

Please quote reference LG27504 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

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.

Application Deadline Date: 
25 August 2021
Application Deadline Information: 
Applications to be received by midnight.

Royal Society University Research Fellowships

Published on 19/07/2019 
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Salary: 
Starting salary up to £41,340.00
Starting Date: 
01/10/2022
Tenure: 
Initially five years with a possible further extension of three years (see Royal Society for further details)

The Institute of Astronomy is pleased to invite pre-applications from suitably-qualified researchers who wish to apply for a Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF) to be held within the Institute.

In the first instance, applicants should make contact with a member of the Institute's Academic Staff who has related research interests to discuss the possibility of submitting a request for Institute support.

Applicants must have an appropriate level of experience (between three and eight years of post-Ph.D. research experience at the time of application), significant research recognition (via publications and citations) and be able to demonstrate evidence of independence/leadership potential.

Once applicants have engaged with a member of the Institute's Academic Staff, a pre-application may be made by submitting the following materials:

  •     cv

  •     publication list

  •     draft research proposal

  •     name and contact details of the proposed referee (personal reference)

  •     name of the IoA Staff member who has agreed to support the application.

Materials should be sent to fellowships@ast.cam.ac.uk with attachments as a single .pdf format file.

Applicants should also request that their endorsing IoA academic staff member send a statement in support of their application to the same e-mail address by the same deadline.

In order to be considered, applicants must send their pre-application materials to reach the Institute of Astronomy by 4th August at the latest.

Successful pre-application candidates will be provided with support and advice to improve their application before submission to Royal Society. If selected for interview, the Institute of Astronomy will arrange mock interviews to further support our candidates and maximise their chances of success.

Completed applications will have to be submitted on the Royal Society's Flexi-Grant system by 28th August to give time for checking, approval and ultimate submission by Cambridge University Research Services Division.

The final deadline for submission of applications to the Royal Society is 3pm 7th September.

The deadline for Head of Department/Nominated Referee references/statements to be submitted online using the Royal Society's Flexi-Grant system is also 3pm 7th September.

 

Application Deadline Date: 
4 August 2021

Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships

Published on 11/06/2015 
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Salary: 
See call documentation for details
Starting Date: 
01/10/2022
Tenure: 
Up to 24 Months

The Institute of Astronomy is pleased to invite expressions of interest from suitably qualified researchers who wish to apply for a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship to be held within the Institute.

Eligibility information;

  • You must have a PhD (or at least 4 years research experience)

  • You must not have resided or worked in the UK for more than 12 months during the three years up to the submission deadline

Additionally, applicants are expected to have significant research recognition (via publications and citations) and be able to demonstrate evidence of independence/leadership potential.

Full details of eligibility and call documentation can be found on the European Commission website

In the first instance applicants should make contact with a member of the Institute’s Academic Staff who has related research interests to discuss the possibility of hosting the fellowship within the Institute.

Completed applications will have to be submitted through the European Commission’s EPSS system by 4pm GMT 12th October, but we would expect interested applicants to contact a member of our academic staff as soon as possible, and at the very latest by 24th September.

 

Application Deadline Date: 
24 September 2021

STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships

Published on 09/06/2015 
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Salary: 
£41,526 to £52,559
Starting Date: 
01/10/2022
Tenure: 
Up to 5 years

The Institute of Astronomy will offer to support up to three applications (our quota) for the STFC Rutherford Fellowship scheme. Potential applicants should first contact a member of the Institute's Academic Staff to discuss the possibility of submitting a pre-application to the Institute's selection committee which will review requests.

The Rutherford Fellowships are highly competitive and suitable candidates will normally: i) currently hold a prize fellowship or, be employed on their second or third postdoctoral position following completion of their Ph.D., ii) be able to demonstrate a highly successful research record, including an impressive publication list and associated recognition - evident via a strong citation record and iii) have shown evidence of leadership within their research field and/or major research collaborations/projects. STFC also encourage application from those seeking to resume their research career, after career breaks of normally at least one year.

Once applicants have engaged with a member of the Institute's Academic Staff, a pre-application may be made by submitting:

  •     cv

  •     publication list

  •     draft research proposal

  •     name and contact details of the proposed referee (personal reference)

  •     name of the IoA Staff member who has agreed to support the application.

Materials should be sent to fellowships@ast.cam.ac.uk with attachments as a single .pdf format file. STFC specify that documents must be submitted as pdf attachments in 11 point Arial font and have a minimum 2 cm margin.

Applicants should also request that their endorsing IoA academic staff member send a statement in support of their application to the same e-mail address by the same deadline.

The Institute's selection committee will begin reviewing applications from early August and pre-applications must be received no later than 4th August. All applicants will be informed of the outcome during the week commencing 9 August.

Successful pre-application candidates will be provided with support and advice to improve their application before submission to STFC. If selected for interview, the Institute of Astronomy will arrange mock interviews to further support our candidates and maximise their chances of success.

As per STFC guidelines, candidates will not be put under any pressure to accept an offer to be hosted before the 19th August. This is to ensure candidates who submit pre-applications to multiple host organisations are given time to make an informed decision regarding which one to proceed with.

The STFC closing date for submission of applications is 4pm 16th September. All materials will need to be submitted to the STFC via the JES system by 5pm 7th September to give time for checking, approval and ultimate submission by Cambridge University Research Services Division.

 

Application Deadline Date: 
4 August 2021

Closed Vacancies

There are currently no listings of previously closed vacancies at the Institute of Astronomy.