Postdoctoral Employee - Department of Astronomy

1000scholars; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Berkeley’s Department of Astronomy invites applications for up to two postdoctoral researcher positions to study resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies using data from HST, JWST, Euclid, DESI, and Keck in collaboration with Prof. Daniel Weisz.

The group pursues high impact imaging and spectroscopic projects and offers opportunities for independent research. The successful candidates will contribute to analyses of observations, prepare publications, plan observational campaigns, and

Qualifications

• PhD in Astronomy or related field required.
• Experience with imaging or spectroscopy of stellar populations.
• Strong publication record in peer‑reviewed journals.

Responsibilities

• Reduce and/or analyze observations of nearby galaxies from facilities like HST/JWST/Keck.
• Disseminate and co-author publications in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Help design, plan, and implement new observing programs.
• Present findings at conferences and seminars.

Skills

Observational data analysis

Python programming

Astronomical imaging/spectroscopy

Conference presentations

Education

PhD in Astronomy or related field

Tools

HST

JWST

Keck

Euclid

DESI

Job description

The Department of Astronomy at UC Berkeley is seeking up to two individuals to carry out postdoctoral research on imaging and/or spectroscopy of resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies using data from a variety of facilities such as the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Euclid, Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), and/or Keck in collaboration with Prof. Daniel Weisz and members of his research group. The successful applicant(s) will have the opportunity to work on high impact projects and papers in major programs such as JWST and HST surveys of Local Group galaxies (including M31 and dwarf galaxies), a JWST treasury program targeting the Virgo Cluster, a large JWST program obtaining spectroscopy and imaging of Centaurus A, and a Euclid survey of Local Volume targets. A portion of each position also provides the ability to pursue independent research.

Weisz’s research group is located in the Astronomy Department at UC Berkeley. The group consists of a research staff, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students broadly studying the stellar populations of nearby galaxies with a variety of cutting-edge facilities (e.g., HST, JWST, Keck). The group interfaces with various research programs at Berkeley (e.g., DESI, UVEX) and works closely with simulators and theorists to interpret results.

The successful applicant will:

• Be responsible for the reduction and/or analysis of observations of nearby galaxies acquired with facilities such as HST, JWST, Keck.
• Disseminate first and co-author publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Help to design, plan, and implement new observing programs.
• Attend professional topical conferences and give presentations (e.g., talks, posters).

Union: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/postdoctoral-scholars/contract/

Lab: https://dweisz.github.io/