Department: School of Physics and Astronomy
Salary: £30,500 to £33,944 (grade 4)
Reference: 12004/NL
Date posted: 17-01-2012
Closing date: 09-03-2012
Job description:
http://webapps.qmul.ac.uk/hr/vacancies/spec.php?id=2799
Please ensure you read this document before applying.
Overview: The Astronomy Unit (AU) at Queen Mary University of London has a vacancy for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to work on the Leverhulme Trust Research Grant entitled “Advanced model of solar radio bursts via plasma kinetic simulation”. The AU’s Space and Solar Plasma Physics group carries out research into the naturally occurring plasmas which pervade the solar system, and beyond. We use state of the art numerical simulation and analysis of data from scientific spacecraft. The group has a broad range of interests, including the Sun, solar corona, solar wind, collisionless shocks, plasma waves and instabilities, reconnection, turbulence and particle acceleration.
The successful applicant will be expected to make significant personal contributions to the development of the advanced, multi-dimensional model of solar radio bursts via plasma kinetic simulation, using the existing code EPOCH — a multi-dimensional, fully electromagnetic, relativistic particle-in-cell code, and analysis of the observational data from The Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR).
Applicants should have, or be about to gain, a PhD in solar/space physics with experience in the use/development of particle-in-cell numerical codes. The post will be located at Queen Mary in London but may require some limited travel to Oxford for LOFAR observational data analysis. Queen Mary is a member of the SEPnet, a consortium of six partner universities, www.sepnet.ac.uk. QMUL’s Astronomy Unit is also LOFAR-UK’s member institution, as well as member of SEPnet-Astro, astro.kent.ac.uk/SEPNET/.
The post is full time and fixed term, available from 1 March 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter until 28 February 2015 (36 months). It is funded by the Leverhulme Trust Research Grant. Starting salary will be in the range £30,500 (year 1), £32,173 (year 2), £33,944 (year 3) per annum inclusive of London Allowance. Benefits include 30 days paid annual leave, defined benefit pension scheme and interest-free season ticket loan.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme.
Informal enquiries should be addressed to the Leverhulme Grant Principal Investigator, Dr David Tsiklauri by email to d.tsiklauri@qmul.ac.uk or on +44 (0)20 7882 5898. Further details about the AU can be found at astro.qmul.ac.uk
Further details/application form can be found at: www.hr.qmul.ac.uk/vacancies or directly
http://webapps.qmul.ac.uk/hr/vacancies/jobs.php?id=2799
Completed application forms, covering letter, CV (which should include the list of publications) and 3 academic references, quoting 12004/NL, should be returned to the Recruitment Administrator, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, or by e-mail to ph-recruit@qmul.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is 9 March 2012 by which ALL materials, including references, should be received. It is anticipated that interviews will be held during the week of 19 – 23 March 2012.
Valuing Diversity & Committed to Equality