PhD position in Observational Cosmology at IFAE

IFAE; Cerdanyola del Vallés; On-site; EUR 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

IFAE invites applications for a PhD position in Observational Cosmology. The selected candidate will work on large-scale structure analyses using DESI and LSST data, collaborating with the Observational Cosmology Group.

We seek a candidate with a strong background in cosmology, data analysis, and Python, and who is eligible for a Physics PhD program at UAB. The position starts in September 2027 and offers a four-year predoc contract.

Qualifications

• Work on large-scale structure analyses using the latest DESI and LSST data.
• Proficiency in cosmology data analysis and Python programming.
• Experience with HPC facilities and scientific computing.

Responsibilities

• Work on large-scale structure analyses with DESI and LSST data, including cross-dataset correlations.
• Contribute to analysis and interpretation of cosmological surveys.
• Collaborate with the IFAE Cosmology Group and publish results.

Skills

Cosmology data analysis

Python programming

HPC usage

Scientific computing

English proficiency

Education

Master in Physics

Tools

Python

HPC environments

Job description

Open Position

PhD position in Observational Cosmology at IFAE

Opening Date

November 2, 2026

Closing Date

January 31, 2027

Ref

IFAE2026/44_COSMOLOGY_PhDStudent

About IFAE

The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) is a public consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB, a public university) whose main objective is to carry out research and to contribute to the development of high energy physics from a theoretical, experimental and technological point of view. IFAE has the status of a “University Institute\" attached to the UAB and its premises are within the campus of the University.

About The Observational Cosmology Group

The IFAE Cosmology group is presently formed by 5 faculty, 8 post‑docs and 8 students and is a full member of some of the leading cosmological surveys of the time: the Dark Energy Survey (DES), the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), the Euclid Consortium, and the Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC) of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) at the Vera Rubin Observatory. The group plays leading roles in the analysis of all the surveys it participates.

Job profile and tasks

The candidate will work on large‑scale structure analyses with the latest data releases from DESI and LSST, including cross‑correlation analyses across datasets.

The Successful Candidate Will Be Expected To Have

• Good knowledge of the fundamentals of observational cosmology


• Experience with data analysis of cosmological datasets


• Experience with scientific programming, in particular with Python


• Experience with the use of HPC facilities


• Proficiency in English

Evaluation criteria and their weighting for the submitted applications will be the following

Evaluation criteria and their weighting for the submitted applications will be the following:

Evaluation criteria Points 1. Academic and/or scientific-technical track record (50 points) 50 1.1 Scientific and technical contributions 45 1.2 Mobility and internationalisation 5 2. Suitability for the research activities to be carried out (50 points) 50 Total: 100 points

Offered contract

• Predoctoral Contract (4 years),


• The position will correspond to “Predoctoral Researcher (R1)” within the professional categories of the IFAE.


• Full‑time contract (40h/week).


• Salary will be proportional to experience and qualifications within the corresponding category range.


• The selected candidates are expected to join IFAE in September 2027, with some flexibility.

Master in Physics satisfy the requirements to be admitted in the Physics PhD program of the UAB (https://www.uab.cat/en/phds/physics ) before the start of the grant.

IFAE is committed to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion. With the aim of promoting a real gender balance in the institution, women will be especially encouraged to submit their candidacy in the calls. Likewise, IFAE reaffirms its commitment to the integration of people with disabilities and underrepresented groups in the scientific field and in accordance with article 59 of the EBEP to reserve seven percent of places so that at least two percent of the total staff are people with disabilities.

Funding Statement

This publication is part of the grant PREX2024-000187, linked to the project CEX2024-001441-S, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.

La presente publicación forma parte de la ayuda PREX2024-000187, vinculada al proyecto CEX2024-001441-S, financiado por MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033