Contact: Tania.jansen[AT]uct.ac.zaLocation: UCT Cape Town, South Africa
A postdoctoral fellowship is available for a suitably qualified individual to work in the Cosmology and Gravity Group (mainly with Cruz-Dombriz and Dunsby, although collaborations with he whole group are encouraged) in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
The group forms part of the Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravity Centre at the University of Cape Town, www.acgc.uct.ac.za. Strong links have been developed with the Department of Astronomy at UCT, the Laboratory for Quantum Gravity & Strings at UCT (Jeff Murugan, Jonathan Shock), the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), the Cosmology group of the University of Western Cape (UWC, Roy Marteens and Mario Santos among others), AIMS (Bruce Basset) and facilities of control and development for the SKA all of them located in the surroundings of Cape Town.
We have research expertise ranging from radio astronomy and cosmology to string theory, extended theories of gravity, dark matter and quantum gravity. We are involved in a broad array of experiments and observational probes of the universe including the SKA project and its pathfinder MeerKAT, the HIRAX experiment HIRAX (Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment) and the MultiDARK collaboration and other local probes of dark energy and dark matter. The group a very active programme of seminars, workshops and international collaborations, attracting several postdocs and PhD students from various backgrounds (China, US, Italy, France, UK, Germany, Austria, South Africa, etc.) and top leading researchers as staff members. Staff members of the group include (in alphabetical order) Chris Clarkson, Alvaro de la Cruz-Dombriz, Peter Dunsby, George Ellis, Charles Hellaby, Bishop Mongwane, Bob Osano and Amanda Weltman.
This postdoctoral fellowship will be funded by an NRF grant for a period of two years, starting in September 2016.
The successful applicant will be based at The University of Cape Town, hosted by the Department of Mathematics & Applied Mathematics.
Conditions of award:
– Applicants must have obtained a doctoral degree in the relevant areas of mathematics, physics or astronomy within the past 5 years, and may not have held any prior permanent academic or professional posts.
– The successful incumbent may, as part of his/her professional development, be required to participate in departmental activities, such as limited teaching and supervision.
– The successful incumbent will be required to comply with the university’s approved policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector.
SALARY: The value of the fellowship is R220 000 per annum and is tax exempt. A generous allowance will be provided for international travel and research expenses on application as well as attendance to international conferences during the fellowship period.
TENURE: The tenure of the fellowship is two years at the outset, with the possibility of extension subject to progress and the availability of funding and compliance with all NRF rules.
ABOUT CAPE TOWN: Cape Town is a quite Mediterranean (equivalent to San Francisco or Vancouver in Africa) and a spectacular place to live, with a range of indoor and outdoor activities. The nature, with two oceans coming together and Table Mountain, is also outstanding. We have excellent hiking, surfing, rock climbing and other ocean sports all within a short distance of the university. The cultural offer includes a vibrant theatre, opera performances and classical and contemporary music agenda throughout the year. The city is quite cosmopolitan with plenty of young professionals from all over the world settling here. Moreover, Cape Town lies in the winelands region, the source of many legendary Cape wines plenty of mountainous surrounds, grand heritage and sumptuous restaurants which have earned the Cape Winelands the right to call itself South Africa’s culinary capital.
Email address for inquiries – alvaro.delacruzdombriz[AT]uct.ac.za . Please do not send applications or references to this address, they will not be considered.
Email address for applications – Tania.jansen[AT]uct.ac.za
Applications should include a curriculum vitae, a brief statement of research interests and a list of publications. Please arrange to have three letters of reference e-mailed to the application address by 31 May 2016 for full consideration. Applications will still be considered after this date until a suitable candidate is appointed, however considerations will begin on 1 June 2016.
The University of Cape Town:
reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, and
reserves the right to change the conditions of award, and/or to make no awards at all.