Postdoctoral Fellow in Experimental Particle Astrophysics

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits

Annual research allowance

Relocation assistance

Additional research funds

Job summary

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto invites applications for a postdoctoral fellow to work on the GAPS Antarctic balloon program. The appointee will lead a scintillating fiber sensor upgrade and mentor students, with opportunities to analyze flight data and contribute to related projects.

The start date is January 2027 with a one-year initial term and potential extensions.

Qualifications

• Excellence in developing, calibrating, and/or commissioning scientific instrumentation, especially nuclear radiation sensors or space instrumentation.
• Ability to work in an instrumentation team and foster collaboration and respect.
• Excellent scientific communication skills shown in publications and proposals.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of a scintillating fiber sensor system upgrade for the second GAPS flight.
• Mentor research students and collaborate with Prof. Field Rogers’ group.
• Contribute to data analysis and pipeline development for related experiments and opportunities.

Skills

Instrumentation development

Calibration and commissioning

Space instrumentation

Nuclear radiation sensors

Team collaboration

Scientific communication

Tools

Scintillating fiber technology

SiPMs

Charge-sensitive readout electronics

ASIC systems

Space qualification

Vacuum systems

Cryogenic systems

Astronomical data analysis

Particle physics data analysis

Particle physics simulation

Job description

Position Description

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto (UofT) invites applications for a postdoctoral fellow to work on the General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) Antarctic balloon program. GAPS is the first experiment optimized for detection of low-energy cosmic-ray antiprotons, antideuterons, and antihelium nuclei for dark matter. The first of several planned flights was successfully completed in January 2026.

The appointee will work as a member of Prof. Field Rogers’ research group. They will play a leading role in the development of a new scintillating fiber sensor system as an upgrade for the second GAPS flight, including mentoring of research students. Additional responsibilities will be negotiated to support the candidate’s career development as well as the needs of the group. Opportunities within Prof. Rogers’ lab could include analysis of GAPS flight-1 data, analysis and/or pipeline development associated with data from the upcoming Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) telescope, or related science with low-energy cosmic rays. Projects outside the lab’s existing scope, including but not limited to collaboration with other research groups at UofT, may be possible pending agreement among all parties and the availability of research funds.

The Dunlap Institute pursues groundbreaking astronomical research through innovative approaches to instrumentation, data-driven science and observations, alongside a substantive commitment to outreach and training. The Dunlap Institute is co-located with and has strong ties to the University of Toronto’s David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (DADDAA) and to the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA). These three units together host more than 150 faculty, postdocs, staff and students, who conduct a diverse research program across instrumentation, observations, computation and theory. The Dunlap Institute is located on a beautiful 19th century campus in the heart of one of the world’s great cities. Rated as having one of the highest standards of living in the world, Toronto offers a huge range of indoor and outdoor pursuits, and a vibrant and diverse cultural community.

The Dunlap Institute is committed to an inclusive and flexible workplace. We encourage applications from qualified applicants of all sexual orientations and gender expressions, racialized people, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. Subject to immigration regulations, the successful candidate will be given the option to take up the position as a part-time appointment (such a request need not be made as part of a candidate's initial application).

Start Date: The anticipated start date is January 2027, but later start dates are possible.

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin on October 16, 2026 and continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Term: The initial appointment will be for one year with the possibility of further extensions up to three years.

Salary: The position has a starting annual salary of CAD 75,516.

• generous benefits
• an annual research allowance
• relocation assistance
• the opportunity to request additional research funds

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated excellence in developing, calibrating, and/or commissioning scientific instrumentation, particularly nuclear radiation sensors and/or high-altitude or space instrumentation,
• Demonstrated ability to work as a part of an instrumentation team, including commitment to an atmosphere of collaboration and respect in which the contributions of every member are valued,
• Excellent scientific communication skills, as demonstrated through publications, application materials, and other professional communications.

Experience with scintillating fiber technology, SiPMs, charge-sensitive readout electronics systems, ASIC systems, space qualification, vacuum systems, cryogenic systems, astronomical or particle physics data analysis, particle physics simulation, and/or supervision of research students will be welcome but not required.

The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week for a full-time postdoctoral fellow (pro-rated for those holding a partial appointment) recognizing that the needs of the employee’s research and professional development and the needs of the supervisor’s research program may require flexibility in the performance of the employee’s duties and hours of work.

Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is covered by the terms of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement. This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.