Post-Doctoral Associate in Protoplanetary Disks and Planet Formation

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); Sur place; USD 62 000 - 65 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The University of Minnesota invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Associate to join the research group led by Prof. Charles Law, focusing on the physical and chemical structure of protoplanetary disks and their link to planet formation. The role includes mentoring graduate and undergraduate students and leveraging MSI HPC resources.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or related fields, and may contribute to disk chemistry, radiative transfer modeling,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required by the start date of appointment.
• Post-Doctoral Associate positions require a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or a related field at appointment start.

Responsabilités

• Conduct research on protoplanetary disks (60%).
• Supervise and mentor graduate and undergraduate students (15%).
• Read relevant literature, attend group meetings, seminars, and conferences (10%).
• Publish results and present at conferences (15%).

Connaissances

Protoplanetary disks research

Planet formation

Hydrodynamic simulations

Formation

PhD in Astronomy/Astrophysics/Physics

Outils

ALMA data analysis

Description du poste

About the Job

Research Statement

The successful candidate will join the group of Prof. Charles Law, who study the physical and chemical structure of protoplanetary disks and how that structure shapes the planets that form in them. The group uses multi-wavelength observations with facilities such as ALMA, JWST, VLA, and LBT. Current interests include disk chemistry and astrochemistry, disk winds and evolution, the inner disk as seen with JWST, disk-planet interactions, and the link between disk properties and exoplanet populations.

Candidates who bring modeling or simulation expertise are especially encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop independent research directions within this broader scientific program and to contribute to major collaborative efforts. They will also have opportunities to supervise and mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

The University of Minnesota is a partner in the LBT, and Minnesota researchers can propose for observing time. Post-Doctoral Associates also have access to the computing resources of the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI), including high-performance computing, large-scale storage, and user support. The Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics has an active research community in star and planet formation, exoplanets, galaxies, cosmology, and computational astrophysics.

Job duties or responsibilities of this position

• 60%: Research on protoplanetary disks.
• 15%: Supervision and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students participating in this research.
• 10%: Maintain familiarity with the latest results and methods in the field, reading relevant papers, participating in group meetings, seminars, and conferences.
• 15%: Communicating research to the group and broader astronomical community by writing papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals, giving presentations, and presenting results at domestic and international conferences. Other duties of a similar scope as assigned.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

Post-Doctoral Associate positions require a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or a related field by the beginning date of appointment.

Preferred qualifications:

• Research experience in protoplanetary disks, planet formation, or a closely related area.
• Expertise in one or more of the following: chemical modeling of protoplanetary disks, radiative transfer modeling, and hydrodynamic simulations of disk and/or planet-disk interactions.
• Experience analyzing data from observational facilities, such as ALMA, JWST, VLA, or LBT.
• Experience using high-performance computing resources.

About the Department

School of Physics and Astronomy: https://cse.umn.edu/physics

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $62,232 - $65,000 ; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Benefits for Postdoctoral Candidates website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC) is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.