The “Stellar Ages and Galactic Evolution” (SAGE www.mps.mpg.de/sage) independent research group based at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS www.ps.mpg.de) in Göttingen invites experts in gyrochronology and asteroseismology to apply for a postdoctoral position funded by an ERC starting grant. The position is for 2 years starting October 1, 2016 or earlier. Payment and benefits are according to German TVÖD.

The Position

The SAGE research group is a vibrant and young group consisting of experts in asteroseismology, stellar evolution, Milky Way structure and computer science. The group now seeks an expert in gyrochronology and asteroseismology to derive (differential) rotational profiles and ages of main-sequence stars, subgiants and red-giant stars in the framework of the ERC starting grant “Stellar Ages”. For further information and inquiries about this project please contact Saskia Hekker (Hekker_at_mps.mpg.de).

Your profile

We seek a motivated candidate with a PhD in astronomy and knowledge and skills in gyrochronology and asteroseismology. Applicants should have published research results in high-impact journals, demonstrated creativity, independence, high motivation, good communication skills, and has the ability to work independently as well as with other members of our research group.

Your application

Please send your application including
• a cover letter summarizing your qualifications and your motivation to work on the project,
• a CV with a full publication list, and
• names and contacts of two to three references.
The application should be submitted electronically as one file to Saskia Hekker (Hekker_at_mps.mpg.de) with “Job application ERC-Gyro” in the subject line. Applications received by July 1, 2016 will receive full consideration. Review of the applications will continue until a suitable candidate is found.
The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more handicapped individuals and especially encourages them to apply. The Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are under-represented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.

Closing Date: 01.07.2016

Contact:  Saskia Hekker, hekker_at_mps.mpg.de

Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3
37077 Göttingen
Germany

SAGE group, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Goettingen, Germany

The Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) opened a call for Post-Doctoral fellowships. The positions are for up  6 years for Post-Doctoral applications. The selection is done by FCT.  The Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) welcomes pre-applications until April 28th, 2015.

Specific applications from candidates  with expertise relevant for the thematic line on “Towards a Comprehensive Study of Stars“, including Helio and Asteroseismology are very much welcome and solicited.

This is a very competitive annual call by FCT for postdoc fellowship. Candidates with a highly competitive CV are welcome to submit a pre-application. If you need further details regarding the topics on stars,   please contact the thematic line leader Mario Monteiro                         (mario.monteiro@astro.up.pt).

Details can also be found at official announcement by IA.

The Centro de Astrofisica da Universidade do Porto (CAUP) opens a call for one Research Fellowship (young researcher, for 9 months) to work in solar and stellar physics including the exploitation of seismic space data. The position is offered with financial support provided by the project ‘Exploitation of Space Data for Innovative Helio- and Asteroseismology (SPACEINN)’ with financial support provided by European Commission. The researcher will be integrated in the team “Origin and Evolution of Stars and Planets” of the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA).

Deadline: 30th of April 2015.

Job opening for one post-doctoral and one PhD positions in MHD of stellar interiors, tidal interactions in stellar systems, and dynamical stellar evolution in Service d’Astrophysique at CEA Saclay (France) in support of the ERC project SPIRE

We invite applications for one 4-year post-doctoral position and one 3-year PhD position in stellar magnetohydrodynamics, dynamical stellar evolution and ab-initio modelling of tidal interactions in star-planet and multiple star systems in support of the European ERC-CoG project SPIRE (Stars: dynamical Processes driving tidal Interactions, Rotation and Evolution).

The objective of the project is to contribute to interpret new ground breaking high-resolution observations provided by asteroseismology on stellar interiors and their dynamics and planetary system discoveries and characterization (e.g. CoRoT and Kepler and in a near future CHEOPS, TESS, SPIRou, PLATO). To reach this ambitious objective, it is necessary to develop now new frontier theoretical and numerical long-term evolution models of rotating magnetic stars and of their systems. In this framework, the members of the SPIRE project will develop new state-of-the-art equations, prescriptions, and scaling laws that describe coherently dynamical mechanisms that transport angular momentum and drive tidal dissipation in stars using advanced ab-initio semi-analytical modelling and numerical simulations. They will be implemented in the new generation dynamical stellar evolution code STAREVOL and N-body code ESPER to provide realistic integrated and coupled models for the long-term evolution of stars and of their systems, which cannot be directly simulated in 3D yet.

The positions will be held in Service d’Astrophysique (SAp) at CEA-Saclay (France). SAp is a world class astrophysical and space science department with more than 180 faculty and staff members, studying stellar and planetary physics, astrophysical fluid and plasma dynamics, planets and stars formation, high energy astrophysics, galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, cosmology. The PI of the SPIRE project, Dr. S. Mathis, is permanent researcher in the Laboratory of Dynamics of Stars and their Environment. The team hosts recognized experts in stellar systems who carry research at the forefront of their theoretical and numerical modelling and characterization thanks to asteroseismology. CEA possesses large computer facilities and expertise that represent a strong asset for the development of (MHD) numerical simulations and advanced stellar modelling.

The growing SPIRE team focuses mostly on ab-initio semi-analytical and numerical modelling of the exchanges of angular momentum within stars and their planetary systems and of their impact on their evolution. The successful candidates will benefit from our existing and productive scientific national and international collaborations in stellar and planetary physics, in the study of Star-Planet Interactions, and in fluid dynamics.

The positions:

Position A 3-year PhD position in stellar magnetohydrodynamics: the successful candidate will collaborate with the PI, Dr. A.-S. Brun and members of the SPIRE project to establish new semi-analytical and numerical models of the excitation, propagation, and damping/resonances/instabilities of internal gravity waves in differentially rotating magnetic stars along their evolution. Obtained equations, prescriptions and scaling laws will be implemented in complete 2D secular transport equations for angular momentum, heat and chemicals in stars, which will be implemented in the dynamical stellar evolution code STAREVOL used by SPIRE members. Applicants should have a Master in astrophysics, geophysics, fluid dynamics or plasma physics.

Position B 4-year post-doc position in modelling tidal flows and their dissipation in stars: the successful candidate will collaborate with the PI and the members of the team to establish new ab-initio semi-analytical and numerical models of tidal torques/dissipation in rotating magnetic stars. She/he will study tidally excited magneto-gravito-inertial waves and their interactions with mean flows, turbulence and magnetic fields in stellar interiors. She/he will contribute to provide prescriptions and scaling laws that will be implemented in STAREVOL and ESPER. The required profile is a candidate with a strong background in theoretical and numerical astrophysical/geophysical fluid dynamics or/and stellar/planetary physics.

For the post-doc position, applicants should have a PhD in astrophysical/geophysical fluid dynamics, theoretical stellar or planetary physics, fluid mechanics or plasma physics. They should have a very good record of research and publications and real interest in theoretical and numerical astrophysics, fluid dynamics and applied mathematics.

These positions funded for at least 3 years (and up to 4 years) by the European Commission via the grant ERC-CoG SPIRE will be reniewed on a yearly basis depending on scientific progress and achievement. The salary will be commensurate to the competitive standard scale for PhD and post-doctoral researchers at CEA. A minimum of 5,000 Euros per year of travel money for each position will also be provided, in addition to the usual funding support of any French institution.

The preferred starting date is 1 September 2015, but can be discussed depending on the availability of selected candidates. Candidates are thus requested to indicate their preferred starting date in their application.

The application for the PhD position must include
– A Curriculum Vitae
– A letter detailing your motivation and qualifications for the position (maximum 1 page)
– Two letters of references. The letters are to be submitted separately to Dr. Stéphane Mathis.

The application for the post-doctoral position must include
– A Curriculum Vitae including publication list
– A statement of research experience, interests and future plans (maximum 3 pages)
– A letter detailing your motivation and qualifications for the position and your career objectives (maximum 1 page)
– Three letters of references. The letters are to be submitted separately to Dr. Stéphane Mathis.

Applications sent before 15 May 2015 for the post-doctoral positions and before 20 April 2015 for the PhD position will be given top priority but applications will be considered until positions are filled.

Laboratory Dynamics of Stars and their Environment CEA/DSM/IRFU/SAp & UMR AIM Paris-Saclay
CEA, Saclay, France
Please contact: stephane.mathis@cea.fr