Research Associate in Astronomy
- Employer
- University of Virginia
- Location
- Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
View more categoriesView less categories
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
The University of Virginia (UVA) invites applications for multiple Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRA) positions as part of the new, interdisciplinary Interconnected Cosmos Initiative (ICI). ICI brings together Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Engineering (including Computer Science, Data Science, and Materials Science), and partners such as the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) to tackle major questions in modern astrophysics, astrochemistry, planetary science, and cosmology.
ICI Postdoctoral Research Associates are expected to lead ambitious research programs that address cutting-edge problems in astronomy. A core expectation of these positions is the development of an interdisciplinary research plan: successful applications must clearly articulate how the proposed work will be grounded in, and jointly supervised across, at least two departments at UVA. A distinctive feature of the ICI postdoctoral positions is a dual-mentor model. Each Postdoctoral Research Associate will have two mentors whose primary appointments cross departments or institutions (for example, Astronomy and Physics, Astronomy and Computer Science, or UVA departments and NRAO). In their cover letter, applicants must either identify:
- Specific faculty/scientists they wish to work with as potential primary and/or secondary mentors, or
- Preferred departments, research areas, and/or partner institutions (e.g., NRAO), in which case an interdisciplinary mentoring team will be assembled to best match the proposed research program.
Projects may be theoretical, observational, computational, or experimental in nature, provided they leverage UVA's and NRAO’s cross-departmental strengths.
The Postdoctoral Research Associates will participate actively in departmental and Initiative-wide activities, including interdisciplinary workshops, seminars, and collaborations with national and international partners. PRAs will have access to UVA’s high-performance research computing resources and telescope/instrumentation collaborations. and will have opportunities to mentor graduate and undergraduate students as part of ICI’s broader training mission. UVA is home to a vibrant postdoctoral community, with additional opportunities for networking and professional development through the PhDPlus Program and UVA Postdoctoral Association.
All positions will be based at UVA in Charlottesville and will begin with an initial one-year appointment, with the expectation of annual renewal up to three years, contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. in astrophysics or related discipline by the appointment start date.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Apply online at https://jobs.virginia.edu/us and search for R0088492. Attach as a single compiled PDF document that includes a cover letter, CV, list of publications, summary of previous and current research (limited to 3 pages, including references), research proposal (limited to 3 pages of text plus up to 2 pages of references/figures). Applicants should also arrange for 3 letters of recommendation to be submitted to https://virginia.app.box.com/f/4cf369b6ae3a4ecfa8c678f044bdadfe with the file name format “CandidateLastName_ReferenceLastName_ICI.pdf” by the due date.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026, however, the positions will remain open until filled. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
The salary is $70,000, and the annual research budget is $8,000/year with $2,500 for relocation
Please direct questions regarding this position to Ilse Cleeves (lic3f@virginia.edu). Questions regarding Workday can be directed to X (email). Applicants are also welcome to connect with members of the steering committee for help in developing appropriate interdisciplinary/interdepartmental contacts: Catherine A Dukes (cdukes@virginia.edu), David A Nichols (dn2ep@virginia.edu), Kent Yagi (ky5t@virginia.edu), Ryan Loomis (rloomis@nrao.edu), Kevin Skadron (skadron@virginia.edu), Nitya Kallivayalil (njk3r@virginia.edu), Ajay Limaye (ajay@virginia.edu), Paul Torrey (ygn5rz@virginia.edu), Rob Garrod (rg5qp@virginia.edu), Jonathan Kropko (jkropko@virginia.edu).
This position is eligible for health insurance through the UVA Health Plan. For more information on the benefits, see the websites for the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (postdoc.virginia.edu) and University Human Resources (hr.virginia.edu/benefits).
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.
Organization
In 1819, the University of Virginia established a new model for intellectual exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration in higher education. Two hundred years later, as a major research institution, we continue to challenge conventions, lead with ingenuity and advance knowledge for the common good.
What began as an innovative idea has become one of the nation’s leading public research universities, with over 21,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UVA also has over 3,000 full-time faculty offering more than 400 degrees.
Each of the University’s eleven schools has its own distinctive mission, working together to garner consistently high rankings—including #2 Best Value Public College (Princeton Review, 2016), #3 Public University in the Nation (U.S. News & World Report, 2016), and #3 Best Value Among Public Colleges (Kiplinger’s, 2016).
As we invest in and strengthen our research capabilities, UVA seeks new faculty ready to uncover new insights, rewrite old rules and collaborate on intellectual discoveries.
RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS THAT CROSS DISCIPLINES
As an R1 institution, the University’s research centers, consortia and laboratories are on the leading edge of discovery and technology, offering collaborative spaces for students and faculty to solve global problems.
Our professors are recognized members of major national scholarly and professional organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Our faculty’s engagement in interdisciplinary research is being facilitated by new research institutes specializing in everything from big data to brain functioning, and by cluster hires across schools.
NATIONALLY RANKED HEALTH SYSTEM
UVA is also home to a nationally renowned academic medical center and the UVA Health System, which serves a three-part mission to treat patients, conduct translational research and train medical practitioners in a wide variety of disciplines.
Established as the nation’s 10th medical school in 1825, the institution has since grown to include a 612-bed hospital and a Level I trauma center, nationally recognized cancer and heart centers, a Children’s Hospital, and primary and specialty clinics throughout Central Virginia.
The UVA Medical Center is consistently ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report magazine and has been named among the top 25 percent in seven specialties.
INSPIRING STUDENTS, INSPIRED TEACHING
The vast majority of UVA students come from the top 10% of their high school class, as well as from all 50 states, over 142 countries and a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite their diversity, all UVA students share a love of learning and a drive to achieve.
One of the reasons students choose Virginia is our unique residential culture. At UVA, the community of students, faculty and staff personifies the Jeffersonian idea that living and learning are connected. The Academical Village was constructed to support a unique residential experience, with faculty living in the Pavilions, students occupying Lawn rooms and the world-famous Rotunda at its heart. The University’s residential culture continues to support this experience today—strengthened by students, faculty and staff rich in backgrounds, ideas and perspectives. Our unique culture is also paying dividends in innovation: UVA’s faculty have generated more than 130 patents since 2010.
Perhaps most importantly, faculty come to UVA knowing that instruction is as important as research, and they pride themselves on their many teaching awards. Our best professors look for ways to encourage, mentor and develop tomorrow’s leaders inside and outside the classroom.
LIFE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
Living in Charlottesville you’ll find sophisticated restaurants, world-renowned wineries and breweries, cosmopolitan arts and music, friendly urban and suburban neighborhoods and a Piedmont landscape that has lured adventurous souls for centuries. No wonder the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research named Charlottesville the “happiest city in America” in 2014.
In addition to UVA and its health system, several major employers have facilities in Charlottesville, including State Farm, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Department of Defense, GE and others. Charlottesville is also becoming a center for innovative start-up businesses. The University also actively helps spouses and partners of faculty members build their networks and pursue employment opportunities with a wide variety of area employers.
The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
- Telephone
- 434-985-4532
- Location
-
2420 Old Ivy
Charlottesvle
Virginia
22911-7433
United States
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