Postdoctoral position in radio transient astronomy

LPC2E/CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institution in France seeks a postdoc in astrophysics to develop advanced signal processing algorithms for transient phenomena studies. The role demands strong programming skills and offers access to cutting-edge research facilities, including the Nançay Radio Telescope. The successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate internationally and present findings at conferences. This is a full-time position with a flexible start date, preferably by October 2026.

Prestations

Laptop provided

Access to necessary computing resources

Opportunity to travel for collaboration

Qualifications

• PhD in Astronomy (or closely related fields) required.
• Full-time commitment necessary.
• Experience in programming and signal processing is essential.

Responsabilités

• Lead development of signal processing algorithms.
• Optimize workflows for production on GPU/CPU clusters.
• Conduct follow-up studies using the Nançay Radio Telescope.

Connaissances

Programming experience

Signal processing

Collaboration in interdisciplinary framework

Good command of English

Formation

PhD in Astronomy or related fields

Description du poste

Organisation/Company LPC2E/CNRS Department ASTRO Research Field Astronomy » Astrophysics Computer science » Programming Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Country France Application Deadline 31 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Other Type of Contract Extra Information 3-year postdoctoral contract Job Status Full-time 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

Recent advancements in technology have enabled astronomers to digitize the radio sky down to a fraction of a second. This unprecedented time resolution provides sensitivity to transient phenomena to which we would have otherwise been blind. A great example is Long Period Transients (LPTs) — an emerging and novel class of coherent radio sources that challenge our understanding of neutron star emission physics. Unlike canonical pulsars, which exhibit rotational periods of milliseconds to a few seconds, LPTs show periodic emission on timescales of tens of seconds to minutes and even hours. The discovery of LPTs is entirely unexpected; it has long been thought that as neutron stars spin down and gradually lose rotational energy, pair production and coherent radio emission should cease beyond the so-called “pulsar death line”.

The existence of such long-period emitters raises fundamental questions about how coherent emission is generated in magnetospheres when the available potential drop would be insufficient to sustain pair cascades. To date, only about a dozen LPTs have been uncovered, although the extreme intermittent nature of many of them suggests that many more such objects are yet to be detected. Understanding LPTs is critical for advancing models of neutron star magnetospheres, testing the limits of particle acceleration and plasma generation, and potentially uncovering evolutionary links between pulsars, magnetars, and other transient radio phenomena such as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). In short, studying LPTs provides a unique opportunity to probe both the physics of coherent emission and the late-time evolution of neutron stars. It also provides the opportunity to study white dwarf binary systems, since at least some of the LPTs appear to be interacting ‘polar’ systems in which a magnetic bridge forms between a white dwarf and another, low-mass star.

In order to increase the LPT sample size to obtain a more complete picture, we will exploit the plethora of data from the upcoming CHORD radio telescope, a next-generation facility currently being constructed in Canada and is expected to come online in 2027. Thanks to recent advancements in technology, CHORD will have two unique capabilities: an unprecedented sky mapping speed as well as daily repeated sky coverage, the two key ingredients for a successful pulsar survey.This project is fully funded by the ANR French national grant.

The postdoc will be leading the development of signal processing algorithms, time series data processing and modeling.The task involves optimizing the workflow and deploying it on GPU/CPU clusters for production. At the end of the 3-year postdoctoral research, the candidate will be able to demonstrate leadership in a cutting-edge radio transient project, particularly in the area of pulsars and fast transients. The candidate will also take the lead on conducting a follow-up study of discoveries using the Nançay Radio Telescope (NRT) and the NenuFAR telescope at the Nançay Radio Astronomical Observatory in France.

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

Research Field Astronomy » Astrophysics Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Applicants should have a PhD in Astronomy (or closely related fields), full-time commitment, and a good command of the English language. The ability to work collaboratively and within an interdisciplinary framework will be a crucial element in the application assessment. Programming and signal processing experience is required.

Specific Requirements

The start date of this job is flexible, but preferably by October 1, 2026.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Astronomy » Astrophysics Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

The candidate will be hosted by the ASTRO team at the LPC2E in Orleans. The team boasts the largest pulsar research group in France and is closely affiliated with the Nançay Radio Astronomical Observatory in the Forest of Sologne. The candidate will also have the opportunity to travel to collaborate with other partnering institutes, as well as to present the research work at international conferences. A laptop will be provided, along with access to necessary computing resources.

Eligibility criteria

Required application materials:

• Personal statement outlining the applicant’s motivation to train as a researcher in astrophysics, and in particular at LPC2E/CNRS, research experience, research interests, career plans and goals.
• Curriculum Vitae (max 3 pages, including any publications)

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an online interview in February/March 2026.

Additional comments

The CHORD collaboration is a multi-institutional team with over 100 members. Partnering institutes including the University of Toronto, McGill, Perimeter Institute, University of British Columbia, MIT, INAF, and CNRS among others. The core array of the CHORD telescope is hosted at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) on the West Coast of Canada, with two outrigger stations to be built at the Green Bank and Hat Creek Observatories in the US.