Post-doctoral position in astrophysics at LPENS M/F

Euraxess; Paris; Remote; EUR 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure (LPENS) in Paris seeks a postdoctoral researcher to join the Astrophysics team. You will work on the ANR-funded VIEWS project, combining emission models and RAMSES simulations to study AGN feedback and star formation in massive galaxies, using JWST data.

The appointment is for 2 years with salary including French social security benefits and travel funding; candidates with PhD in physics/astronomy and strong modeling skills are encouraged to

Qualifications

• PhD in physics, astronomy or related subject by appointment time.
• Strong modeling or numerical-simulation expertise preferred.
• Experience with multi-wavelength data will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply state-of-the-art emission models for photoionized, photodissociated, and shocked gas to interpret JWST spectra.
• Perform high-resolution 3D MHD simulations of shocks interacting with dense interstellar clouds using RAMSES.
• Infer excitation conditions and assess the impact of fast shocks on ionized line emission; collaborate within LPENS Astrophysics team.

Skills

Python

Fortran

C++

Research experience

Education

PhD in physics/astronomy or related subject

Tools

CLOUDY

Meudon-PDR

Paris-Durham

RAMSES

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Laboratoire de physique de l'ENS Research Field Astronomy Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 24 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 10 Jan 2027 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

The agent will take part to the ANR-funded VIEWS project (Voyega Into the Engine with the Webb Space telescope). This project aims to explore the interplay between black-hole feeding and AGN-feedback (star formation regulation by Active Galactic Nuclei) mechanisms in the core of massive galaxies. VIEWS leverages the capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope cycle 3 project GO5018 to provide high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy of six selected Brightest Cluster Galaxies. Two categories of scientific objectives will be addressed. The first one is related to AGN feedback at intermediate scales, to the cooling of the gas and the regulation of star formation around the galaxies: do the cooling filaments fuel star formation ? How is the AGN-feedback energy dissipated and how does it affect star formation and galaxy growth via kpc-scale filaments ? The second category of studied questions relates to the feeding of the black hole and the feedback loop at small scales, focusing on the formation and physical state of circum-nuclear disks: how much gas is accreted in the central disk and available to eventually feed the supermassive black hole compared to the total mass budget of the large scale cooling filaments ? What are the processes of feedback at play in the circum-nuclear region ?

To address these questions, the applicant will combine state-of-the-art emission models for photoionized, photodissociated, and shocked gas (CLOUDY, Meudon PDR, and Paris-Durham codes) to disentangle the relative contributions of radiative and mechanical energy to JWST spectra. Using existing and newly computed model grids, the postdoc will develop an integrated framework to infer excitation conditions and quantify the impact of fast, tenuous shocks on ionized line emission. In parallel, high-resolution 3D MHD simulations of fast shocks interacting with dense interstellar clouds will be carried out with an advanced RAMSES code that includes time-dependent chemistry and radiative cooling. These simulations will self-consistently follow the transfer of mechanical energy, molecular excitation, and resulting emission—providing the first fully coupled view of how shocks shape the multiphase ISM and guiding the interpretation of JWST observations.

The successful candidate will work within the "Astrophysics" team at Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure (LPENS), an institute that maintains a lively visitor program and hosts regular workshops and conferences throughout the year. The successful candidate will be immersed in an internationally visible research environment in the Paris Campus, with rich intellectual and computational resources.
The appointment is for 2 years with a salary including French social security benefits. Funding will also be allocated for travel.

Applicants should have at least a PhD in physics, astronomy or related subject by the time of the appointment. We encourage applications from candidates with strong expertise in modeling or numerical simulations. The manipulation of state-of-the-art models of photo-ionisation and shock (e.g. Meudon-PDR, CLOUDY, MAPPINGs) would be an asset. Experience with manipulating multi- wavelength data will also be considered. Knowledge of extragalactic astrophysics is preferred. Skills in one or several programming languages (e.g. Python, Fortran, C++) are necessary.