Post-Doctoral Associate in Time-Domain and Multi-Messenger Astronomy

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); Presencial; USD 62.000 - 70.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Paid holidays

Professional training

Medical plans

Dental plan

Pharmacy plan

FSA

HSA contributions

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Wellbeing program

Financial counseling

EAP counseling

Descripción de la vacante

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in time-domain and multi-messenger astronomy to work with Prof. Michael Coughlin. The start date is negotiable, with some flexibility.

The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of annual renewal for up to three years. The role focuses on real-time software infrastructure for the Schmidt Observatory System and machine-learning classification of astronomical transients using data from major

Formación

• PhD in Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or another relevant discipline by the start date of the appointment.
• Demonstrated skills (or ability to learn quickly) in Python and Rust, data science, real-time data pipelines, machine learning, and Bayesian inference.
• Prior experience contributing to open-source scientific software.

Responsabilidades

• 50%: Research and development on time-domain and multi-messenger software and releases.
• 20%: Supervision of graduate students, technicians, and undergraduates in the research.
• 20%: Coordinate with collaborators across disciplines and external partners.
• 10%: Pursue related research in a connected discipline.

Conocimientos

Python

Rust

Machine learning

Real-time data pipelines

Written communication

Collaboration

Learning new computing platforms

Educación

PhD in Physics/ Astronomy/ CS/ Statistics/ Mathematics

Herramientas

Python

Rust

Open-source software development

Descripción del empleo

About the Job

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities invites applications for aPostdoctoral Fellow in time-domain and multi-messenger astronomy towork with Prof. Michael Coughlin. The start date is negotiable,with some flexibility. The initial appointment is for one year,with the possibility of annual renewal for up to three years.

Job Duties

• 50%: Research and development on time-domain andmulti-messenger software. Writing, testing, and release of codethrough the project’s open-source repositories.
• 20%: Supervision of graduate students, technicians, andundergraduates participating in this research.
• 20%: Communicate and coordinate with other personnel involvedin the research, including those from non-computing disciplines andwith external collaborators.
• 10%: Research in a related discipline of interest to thepost-doctoral fellow.

Research Description

The research will focus on real-time software infrastructure forthe Schmidt Observatory System (Argus, DSA, Lazuli, and LFAST) andmachine-learning classification of astronomical transients usingdata from the Zwicky Transient Facility and the Vera C. RubinObservatory. This includes identifying variable stars and AGN whosevariability can mimic transient events. The research will alsoencompass Bayesian light-curve inference for multi-messengerevents, including kilonovae, gamma-ray-burst afterglows, and tidaldisruption events. We seek candidates interested in developingmachine-learning classifiers, astronomical alert-broker software inRust, and downstream marshal integrations in Python whilecontributing to the open-source BOOM and SkyPortal codebases.

Successful participation in these projects will involvecollaboration with science teams working in gravitational-wave,optical, and radio time-domain astrophysics, as well as withresearchers in computer science and applied machine learning.Postdoctoral Fellows will build strong portfolios demonstratingexpertise in real-time AI and large-scale data science for physicsand astronomy.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, Statistics,Mathematics, or another relevant discipline by the start date ofthe appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• 0-3+ years’ relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated skills (or ability to learn quickly) in any of thefollowing: programming (especially Python and Rust), data science,real-time data pipelines, machine learning and its implementationin data pipelines, and Bayesian inference.
• Prior experience contributing to open-source scientificsoftware.
• Familiarity with alert brokers (BOOM, ANTARES, ALeRCE, Fink,Lasair), target-and-observation managers (SkyPortal, TOM Toolkit,YSE-PZ), or survey pipelines (ZTF, LSST DP0/DP1).
• Familiarity with astronomical time-series analysis, light-curvemodeling, or the classification and characterization of variablestars.
• Familiarity with the Open Science Grid or comparablehigh-throughput compute environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong collaboration skills.
• Strong desire to learn new computing platforms.

About the Department

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

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $62,232-$70,000 per year ; depending oneducation/qualifications/experience

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

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professionaltraining
• 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 counselingat no cost

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversityand inclusion in enriching the employment experience of itsemployees and in supporting the academic mission. The University iscommitted to attracting and retaining employees with varyingidentities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to andopportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment withoutregard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender,age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteranstatus, 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 successfulcompletion of a background check. Our presumption is thatprospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminalconvictions do not automatically disqualify finalists fromemployment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among thelargest public research universities in the country, offeringundergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude ofopportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of oneof the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities,students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit fromextensive 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 byForbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employerfor 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.