Postdoc position in Astronomy and Astrophysics (PRE205_30092026_32)

Universitat de Barcelona; España; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Universitat de Barcelona invites applications for a postdoctoral position to contribute to the GCform project in astronomy. The candidate will perform detailed N-body simulations and stellar evolution studies, and analyze simulation data to benchmark the cluster formation models.

The role emphasizes critical thinking, scientific writing, and collaboration within the Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics, Institute of Cosmos Sciences. Start date in Dec 2026, Barcelona, Spain.

Qualifications

• Numerical simulations, in particular N-body and stellar evolution.
• Simulation data analysis and code development.
• Critical thinking and scientific writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Numerical simulations, in particular N-body and stellar evolution
• Simulation data analysis and code development
• Critical thinking and scientific writing skills

Skills

Numerical simulations

Simulation data analysis

Code development

Critical thinking

Tools

clusterBHBdynamics (cBHBd)

Job description

Organisation/Company Universitat de Barcelona Department Organisation profile Research Field Astronomy Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 15 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37,5 Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number PID2024-155720NB-I00 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The candidate will make a substantial contribution to the research
project "Globular cluster formation (GCform)" of Prof Mark Gieles.
Globular clusters are invaluable for early Universe cosmology, galaxy
formation and stellar astrophysics. Stellar-mass black holes (BHs) and
intermediate-mass BHs) have been discovered in several globular
clusters, and it has been suggested that globular clusters are
efficient factories of dynamically assembled binary black hole (BBH)
mergers observable through their gravitational wave (GW) emission.
This postdoctoral research project aims to understand star cluster
formation through detailed N-body models and a comparison with
observations from the Gaia space telescope. The simulations cover a
range of cluster masses, densities and metallicities and will be used
to achieve several science goals:
(1) Understand the efficiency of the formation of binaries containing a
stellar mass BH, with a particular focus on Gaia BHs in preparation of Gaia DR4.
(2) Establish whether low-mass open clusters in the Milky Way contain
stellar-mass black holes.
(3) Benchmark the fast cluster evolution code clusterBHBdynamics (cBHBd).
(4) Understand the nature of runaway massive stars

• Numerical simulations, in particular N-body and stellar evolution
• Simulation data analysis and code development
• Critical thinking and scientific writing skills

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Languages SPANISH

Languages CATALAN

Research Field Astronomy

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

• Suitability of the CV for the job (maximum 40)
• Match to the specific research field (maximum 20)
• Motivation letter (maximum 20)
• Experience in the research field (maximum 20).

Selection process

The specific committee will agree upon an award proposal and draw up a prioritized shortlist of candidates who have achieved a minimum of 60 points or declare the call for applications null and void if none of the applicants reach the minimum score. The award proposal will be published in the UB's electronic office and must include the total scores of the candidates that have received a total of at least 60 points.

The candidate proposed for hiring must accept the job offer within 3 working days from the date of notification of the selection. Be aware that the starting date sets in this offer is an estimate date. The official starting date will depend on the time necessary for administration to prepare the labour contract and present the necessary documents for the selected candidate to be hired. Priority will be given to people with disabilities (Law 89/2015 of June 2, reserve of quota 2% in favour of people with disabilities in companies of 50 or more people).

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics. Institute of Cosmos Sciences, Faculty of Physics. Country Spain State/Province Barcelona City Barcelona Postal Code 08028 Street Carrer Martí i Franqués, 1-11 Geofield