Contact: hpais[AT]uc.ptLocation: Coimbra, Portugal
One-year Post-doctoral Fellowship in the field of Compact objects – building a new framework for the equation of state
Location: Center of Physics of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Starting date: flexible, between April 15 2026 and August 1 2026
Duration of the grant: 1 year, non-renewable
Requirements: The candidate must have a PhD in Physics or related areas at the beginning of the fellowship.
Additional skills: Experience in the field of the micro- and macrophysics of neutron stars will be appreciated. Experience with HPC computing and Bayesian techniques will be highly valuable.
Monthly allowance: 1901 EUR, tax-free.
Work summary: The discovery of gravitational waves (GW) from the collision of two neutron stars GW170817, followed by a gamma-ray burst and a glowing kilonova, marked the dawn of a new era in astrophysics. This groundbreaking event revealed that by combining observations from GW detectors and telescopes, we could unlock the secrets of one of the densest objects in the Universe: neutron stars (NS).
In this project, we want to develop a NS model based on a relativistic description of baryonic matter. Using computational Bayesian techniques, a flexible model based on microphysical principles, that covers a wide range of densities, proton fractions, and temperatures, bridging the gap between astrophysical observations, ab-initio calculations, and experimental data, will be developed. In a second step, we will generate versatile, realistic and open-source equations of state at zero and finite temperatures. The identification of possible signatures of new degrees of freedom is also of interest.
The call will open in February 2026. Interested candidates should contact Prof. Helena Pais (hpais [AT] uc . pt) as soon as possible for further information. They should send a short CV, with a list of publications, and a short statement (1 page max) with their research interests.