PostDoctoral Associate in the Center of Astrophysics and Space Astronomy

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation funds

CU Advantage program

Job summary

The University of Colorado Boulder invites applications for a PostDoctoral Associate to work with Professor Sarah Blunt in CASA. This full-time role focuses on software development for Orbitize! and Gaia DR4 pipelines, and on developing algorithms and statistical inferences about exoplanet and stellar demographics.

Fall 2026 start; remote work is possible; salary $80,000 per year; relocation funds may be available per department guidelines.

Qualifications

• PhD in astronomy or closely related field at start of position.
• Experience with orbit fitting and exoplanet demographics is beneficial.
• Familiarity with astronomical software and data pipelines is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Work on software development for Orbitize! toolkit and Gaia DR4 pipeline.
• Develop algorithms, perform orbit-fits, and make statistical inferences about exoplanet, brown dwarf, and binary star demographics.

Skills

Software development

Orbitize! toolkit

Gaia DR4 pipeline

Algorithms

Statistical inference

Education

PhD in astronomy or closely related field

Job description

Job Summary

Applications are invited for a PostDoctoral Associate research position to work at the University of Colorado withprofessor Sarah Blunt in the Center of Astrophysics and SpaceAstronomy.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

The Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy (CASA) is dedicatedto advancing our understanding of the Universe in which we livethrough observations and theory. Founded in 1985, CASA is anaffiliated unit within the structure of the Astrophysical andPlanetary Sciences (APS) Department at the University of Colorado,Boulder.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Work on software development for both the Orbitize!orbit-fitting software toolkit and a dedicated Gaia Data Release 4pipeline.
• Develop algorithms, perform orbit-fits, and make statisticalinferences about exoplanet, brown dwarf, and binary stardemographics.

What You Should Know

• The expected start date is Fall 2026.
• Remote work is possible.

What We Can Offer

• The annual starting salary for this full-time position is$80,000.
• Relocation funds or onboarding research-related funds may beavailable per department guidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be inspired. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Applicants must have a PhD in astronomy or a closely relatedfield at the start of this position.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, inany materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifyinginformation such as age, date of birth, or dates of schoolattendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redactingor removing this information.