Postdoctoral Research Associate, Physics Department

Organisation/Company DURHAM UNIVERSITY Research Field Physics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 3 Nov 2025 – 00:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Institute for Computational Cosmology and Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy, Physics Department

The Role

We are seeking a recent PhD astrophysics graduate to work on the analysis and interpretation of data from cosmological hydrodynamics simulations of galaxy formation, particularly from the COLIBRE project. The appointee will work both independently and in collaboration with interested members of the Institute for Computational Cosmology.

Responsibilities

• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.
• To communicate and collaborate with the industrial collaborators.

In addition, you will carry out one or more of the following:

• Analysis and interpretation of data from cosmological hydrodynamics simulations of galaxy formation, particularly from the COLIBRE project
• Develop software for the analysis of simulation data
• Contribute to further developments of the COLIBRE code

This post is fixed term for 12 months from the start date.

Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post before April 2026.