Contact: hwitek[AT]illinois.eduLocation: Urbana-Champaign, USA
The Illinois Relativity Group in the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a postdoctoral research position with focus on strong-field tests of gravity.
The successful candidate will join Asst. Prof. Helvi Witek and her team to work on gravitational wave signatures in extensions of General Relativity, including quadratic gravity, or signatures of extra degrees of freedom to probe for beyond-standard model particles and dark matter candidates. The candidate should have strengths in one or more of the following topics: numerical relativity in and beyond General Relativity, Post-Newtonian theory, inspiral-merger-ringdown waveform modelling or gravitational wave data analysis.
In addition to Asst. Prof. Helvi Witek, the Illinois Relativity Group is composed of Prof. N. Yunes, Prof. S. Shapiro and Research Professor A. Tsokaros, and their research postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students. The Illinois Relativity Group maintains close interactions with UIUC colleagues in the Department of Physics, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA; in particular Dr. R. Haas), and in the Department of Astronomy. Furthermore, the successful candidate will become part of a vibrant research community in the Illinois Center for Advanced Study of the University (ICASU; https://icasu.illinois.edu/) that bridges the Departments of Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, Mathematics and NCSA. ICASU faculty working in closely related areas include Profs. Peter Adshead, Charles Gammie, Gil Holder, Yoni Kahn, Jaki Noronha-Hostler, Jorge Noronha, and Jessie Shelton. The successful candidate will also have opportunities to join the LISA Consortium (https://lisamission.org) and the Einstein Toolkit Consortium (https://einsteintoolkit.org).
Interested candidates must have completed a Ph.D. in astronomy, physics or a related field before the start date. They must submit their application package online here:
https://my.physics.illinois.edu/join/
under “Postdoctoral Fellowships in Strong-field Tests of Gravity 2023.”
Applicants are requested to submit
(1) a curriculum vitae, including a list of publications
(2) a research statement (limited to 3 pages, 1 inch margin, 11pt) containing a summary of previous and current research, and future plans
(3) contact information for three referees who will be asked to write letters of recommendation
The deadline for applications and all letters of recommendation is December 1, 2022 for full consideration. The expected starting date of the position is 15 August 2022.
Please contact Helvi Witek (hwitek[AT]illinois.edu) if you have any questions about the position itself, or Brandy Koebbe (bkoebbe[AT]illinois.edu) if you have any questions about the application form.
Candidates from underrepresented groups in STEM are particularly encouraged to apply.
Any offer for this position is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check process in accordance with the University of Illinois Background Check Policy.
The University of Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability, or criminal conviction history. Illinois welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.
(www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).