Postdoctoral Research Associate (Dusty Inner Regions of AGN Interferometric Imaging Fellowship)

Please Note: This posting has been updated to reflect two vacancies.

Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship to explore the structure of active galactic nuclei (AGN) as captured in infrared interferometric imaging from the Large Binocular Telescope. We seek a creative researcher to work with Drs. Steve Ertel, Xiaohui Fan, and Richard Green to interpret a unique set of recently acquired and ongoing observations.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with, and receive mentoring from, faculty members, including experts on theory and observations, to advance modeling interpretation and/or reduction techniques of mid-IR interferometric imaging resolving the dusty regions heretofore interpreted as a torus, along with outflows and shocks. We are particularly interested in applicants with relevant modeling experience and/or observation and reduction of interferometric data, but outstanding candidates with strong records of research in related areas of astrophysics will be considered.

The postdoctoral fellow will be encouraged to pursue their own research ideas and collaborations, including grant funding, while contributing to the broader scientific program of the group. Group members will have access to computational resources, including the University of Arizona GPU cluster.

Steward Observatory is an international center for fundamental research in observational and theoretical astrophysics with access to major computational and observing facilities, including the Large Binocular Telescope. The successful candidate will join a cadre of over fifty postdoctoral fellows pursuing a broad range of forefront research topics.

Start dates range from February 2027 to July 2027.

Review of applications will begin on December 15, 2026.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Develop and lead an independent research agenda centered on Fizeau interferometric imaging of dusty inner regions of active galactic nuclei; disseminate work through publications and presentations; contribute to public-engagement opportunities.
• Develop and implement research initiatives, collaborations, publications, and/or events (e.g., talks, workshops, visitor programs, etc.) as needed and relevant to research agendas.
• Collaborate with faculty and scholars in support of a collegial academic environment (including organizing collaborative meetings, supervising/mentoring graduate and undergraduate students).
• Additional duties as assigned.

• Must have completed all the requirements for a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Physics, Astrophysics, or a related science at the time of hire.

• Ph.D. in Astronomy.
• Research experience relevant to one or more of the following scientific areas: interferometric imaging; modeling of dust, shocks, and outflows in AGN.

Please submit the following application materials:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (two-page limit).
2. Cover Letter, including contact information for three references.
3. Research Statement (three-page limit).
4. List of Publications.

Please upload your CV and Cover Letter in their designated sections and submit the Research Statement and List of Publications as separate additional documents.