Research Fellow – Extreme Radio Flares from Young Stellar Objects in Hatfield

Post Title: Research Fellow – Extreme Radio Flares from Young Stellar Objects

SBU/Department: School of Physics Engineering and Computer Science/Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics/Centre for Astrophysics Research (CAR)

FTE: 1.0FTE (working 37 hours per week)

Duration of Contract: Fixed term (36 months)

Salary: UH7 £38,784pa to £46,049pa by annual increments on achieving designated skills and experience

Annual Leave: 35 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location: College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Applications are invited for a 36-month position to lead and publish original scientific investigations in the area of star formation.
• The successful applicant will use recently obtained data from an ALMA high-priority project featuring the first simultaneous ALMA and VLA observations of the Orion Nebula Cluster, led by Jan Forbrich.
• Extensive previous observations using VLA, Chandra, VLBA and ALMA as part of the Orion Radio All-Stars project will be used to characterise individual sources.
• With radio light curves and spectral index time series extracted, you will work with solar physicist Mykola Gordovskyy on initial physical modelling to better understand these extreme flares and to compare them with solar flares.
• You will also be expected to prepare and submit articles for publication in refereed journals and to assist with or lead initial physical modelling or observational follow up of sources of interest.
• This may require you to visit and use astronomical telescopes overseas.
• You will work with Jan Forbrich, Mike Kuhn and Mykola Gordovskyy at the Centre for Astrophysics Research as well as the wider Orion Radio All-Stars collaboration.
• You will also be expected to contribute to a positive and productive working atmosphere within the Centre for Astrophysics Research, by contributing to the execution and organisation of various meetings, seminars, journal clubs that make CAR a vibrant place to work.

The post is available from 01 October 2026 and the successful candidate will ideally be in post as soon as possible thereafter.

Skills and experience required:

• You will have an impressive track record of research in a relevant area of expertise, including observational astrophysics.
• You will also have a record of submitting/publishing scientific research in leading astronomical journals, experience with scientific computing/scripting tasks and experience of presenting research findings such as contributions to conferences and symposia at a local and national level.

Qualifications required:

• You will be educated with a Degree or equivalent level 6 qualification, or higher qualification in a relevant discipline and must either hold, or by the start date have submitted their thesis for, a PhD (or equivalent level 8 qualification) in Astrophysics or a closely related discipline.

Application Process:

• Applications should be submitted online via the recruitment website and should be accompanied by PDF versions of a CV, a list of publications and a personal statement/cover letter (maximum two sides of A4 paper) explaining your motivation for applying, summarising your research interests and what you would bring to the position.
• You must also include the contact details of two referees willing to write on your behalf.
• Internal applicants – please ensure you apply via your employee self-service portal.
• An appointment to this role may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.
• Please note, this post cannot be visa sponsored unless you can evidence a PhD / Doctorate.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries:

For more information or to discuss the post, please contact Jan Forbrich at j.forbrich@herts.ac.uk

Closing Date: 16 April 2026

Interview Date: 27 and 28 April 2026

Reference Number: REQ000589

Date advert placed: 16 March 2026

The Astrophysics group is part of the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics, and is a thriving research group of 60 academic staff, research fellows and postgraduate students.

The department takes pride in the diversity of its staff, and holds both an IoP Juno Champion and an Athena-Swan Silver award.

We encourage applications from all individuals meeting our essential criteria, irrespective of gender or other underrepresented groups.

The UH vision is to transform lives and UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community.

UH offers a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave and discounted Sports Village memberships, personal and professional development, a flexible location policy, and family-friendly policies.