Postdoctoral Fellowship(s) in theoretical astrophysics at the University of Alberta

Stellar and High Energy Astrophysics


Attention: please, if you intend to apply for Banting fellowship, contact me ASAP, even before you have a complete application package, and preferably before the September 1st! Keep in mind - this is NOT for a PhD student at the moment of application. This is not an usual postdoctoral salary in Canada, it is about junior professor salary, so you have to be both brilliant and be able to show great experience.


Applications are invited for various postdoctoral fellowships to be held at the at the University of Alberta with starting dates in the Fall of 2012:

I will be happy to collaborate with and act as a host for holders of any other external fellowships which require (similar to Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship) or do not require (similar to NSERC postdoctoral fellowship) the university sponsorship at the time of the application.

Applicants with experience and interests in theoretical studies of stellar and high-energy astrophysics (stellar evolution, X-ray binaries, population studies, stellar hydrodynamics) are encouraged to apply. The University of Alberta is a top ranked university in Canada and internationally. The Astrophysics group at the UofA includes 13 active faculty (including 4 in stellar high energy astrophysics), 14 postdocs and more than twenty graduate students, and has research interests in binary stars, compact objects, high energy astrophysics, gravity, cosmology, the CMB, fluid dynamics and space plasma physics. The successful applicant(s) will have access to WestGrid supercomputing facilities. The appointment(s) would be for two years with competitive salary and travel support. When necessary, fellowships are likely to be supplemented by a hosting professor for research and travel.

Applicants are required to send a CV, publication list, a statement of research interests - proposed research (limited to one page) and research experience (limited to two pages), and arrange for 3 letters of recommendation.

Please read the specific requirements for each of the fellowship for the eligibility window after you have completed your PhD; more recent PhDs have more opportunities. No applications with a doctoral degree completed before 5 years from the position stating date (Fall 2012) will be considered.

The deadline for applications and all letters of recommendation is September 1, 2011 for Banting fellowship (please contact me ASAP despite the deadline) and November 1, 2011 for all the others. For initial consideration, applications and letters of recommendation can be send electronically (PDF) to Prof. Natalia Ivanova nata.ivanova@ualberta.ca. Note that letters must be signed. Selected nominees should be then prepared to have original letters of recommendations (on paper) be sent to arrive about a month after of the deadline.

Informal inquiries are welcome and early applications are strongly encouraged.

Note that other professors in the stellar and high energy astrophysics group also accept applications to be nominated for Banting and Killam fellowships, both for theoretical and observational positions (but not for CITA National fellowship). Please contact them directly: Craig Heinke (heinke@ualberta.ca), Gregory Sivakoff (grs8g@virginia.edu) or Sharon Morsink (morsink@ualberta.ca). If you want to work with one of them, please send your application to a professor you intend to work with. Cheick their web-pages for their research interests! If you want to work in theoretical studies of stellar evolution, X-ray binaries, population studies or stellar hydrodynamics, please contact me.

Important information for foreign applicants: in Canada, your accompanying family members automaticaly get an open work permit to work with any employer for as long as you hold a valid status as a postdoctoral fellow. Certain jobs may require medical checks or licensing from professional organizations.

The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons.