Research Assistant/associate in Astrophysics

Salary:
Research Assistant: £32,296 to £33,882 per annum

Research Associate: £34,866 to £37,999 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 31 January 2025

**The Role**

The positions are funded by the ERC Consolidator Grant project X-MAPS (X-ray Measurements of Accreting black holes with Polarimetric-Spectral-timing techniques) and will be supervised by Dr Adam Ingram at Newcastle University. The wider Newcastle group has expertise in compact objects, active galactic nuclei, stars, cosmology, and magneto-hydrodynamics.

There are 2 positions available, one is 2 year the other 3 years, both positions are fixed term in duration with possibility for extension pending future funding. Both are full time hours (37 per week) and an estimated start date of early-October 2025. Start dates and flexible working are negotiable.

For further details about School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, please click here

Full Information about Newcastle University can be found here.

**Key Accountabilities**
- Conduct original quantitative research within the programme of the X-MAPS project under the guidance of the PI, Dr Adam Ingram (MSP)
- Use your initiative and creativity to analyse and interpret astronomical data, write theoretical models, and draw conclusions on the outcomes
- Work successfully in a multidisciplinary team of researchers and with other investigators and colleagues to publish world-leading research in the field of astrophysics
- Work to deadlines and manage, with support, competing priorities
- Ensure that personal knowledge in relevant fields of study is kept up to date
- Maintain academic standards and freedom, and work in accordance with university policies (e.g. equal opportunities, health and safety policies)
- Possible supervision and demonstration duties within undergraduate laboratories and example classes, or in teaching small seminar classes
- May offer informal support to students within the research group
- Develop, with advice, an awareness of your own professional development needs and a personal development strategy

**The Person**
- Experience in analysis of X-ray data to study astrophysical sources
- Advanced programming skills in Fortran, Python or Julia
- Demonstrable interest in black hole astrophysics
- Excellent written and oral presentation skills

**Knowledge, Skills and Experience**
- Research background in astrophysics or a closely related discipline
- Expertise, or demonstrable interest, in modelling the spectral, timing or polarimetric properties of accreting black holes
- Experience, or demonstrable interest, in working with data from key X-ray observatories such as NICER, NuSTAR and IXPE
- Demonstrable knowledge of black hole astrophysics
- Demonstrable understanding of statistical methods
- Strong understanding of research integrity

**Attributes and Behaviour**
- Commitment to the values of equality and diversity in your work
- A positive attitude and ability to act as a role model to students and colleagues
- High level of problem-solving ability and attention to detail
- Excellent oral and written communicator; ability to communicate with a variety of individuals
- Proficient time management skills
- An ability to work independently under supervision and as part of a multi-disciplinary team

**Qualifications**

Research Assistant Position
- Studying for a PhD (or equivalent professional experience), in Astrophysics or a closely related discipline

Research Associate Position
- PhD in Astrophysics or a closely related discipline

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 27857

LI-SS1