Job Description

Ref Number

B04-06076

Professional Expertise

Research and Research Support

Department

UCL BEAMS (B04)

Location

Dorking

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

43,374 51,860

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

Hybrid

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

08-Jun-2025

About us

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The Department is located on its own campus in the beautiful Surrey Hills, surrounded by woodland, and is the UK's largest university space research group. With approximately 70 academic staff, fellows and postdocs, and a total staff of ~150, MSSL is the UK's largest university space research group. We aim to unravel the mysteries of the Universe through research in fields ranging from the Earth's climate to astrophysics, and cosmology.



Space science is a discipline that demands highly innovative technologies and the Department has an international reputation for excellence in this area. UCL was one of the first universities in the world to become involved in making scientific observations in space. Since the Department was established in 1966, we have participated in over 40 satellite missions with the European Space Agency, NASA (US), Japan, Russia, China and India, and flown over 230 rocket experiments. MSSL currently has contributed to 14 instruments operating on 9 satellites and the Astrophysics Group alone has 6 on 5 satellites, namely XMM-Newton, INTEGRAL, Swift, Gaia and Euclid. We have the unique capability of designing, building and testing instruments and other spacecraft systems on site. Our research scientists and development engineers work together to ensure the scientific capability of the instruments we produce.

About the role

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The Department of Space and Climate Physics at University College London (UCL http://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/ ) seeks to appoint a motivated Research Fellow within the Astrophysics Group ( https://ucl.ac.uk/mssl/research/astrophysics-0 ). The appointment will be for three years to work in the research group led by Prof. Silvia Zane, Professor of Astrophysics. The starting date is expected to be 1 July 2025, negotiable. The Department is part of the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at University College London http://www.ucl.ac.uk



This post is an important element in our plan to grow MSSL-UCL's theoretical research in compact object astrophysics, specifically in neutron stars atmospheric modelling and X-ray spectro-polarimetry. The successful applicant will be expected to pursue a vigorous research programme and lead the development of state of the art radiative transfer codes to self-consistently model the spectral, timing, and polarimetric properties for atmospheric emission of strongly magnetized neutron stars.

About you

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The successful post holder must possess:


An excellent working knowledge of a high-level programming language, in a linux/unix environment. Examples may include Fortran F90-95/C/C++/Python/JAX A solid background in numerical analysis, with a marked ability to translate physical concepts into numerical algorithms for their efficient modelisation; A command of the field of neutron star X-ray emission, and astrophysical radiative transfer.

Applicants must have (or are about to receive) a PhD degree in astronomy, physics, astrophysics.



Candidates should submit: 1) an application form, 2) a research statement (max. 3 pages), 3) a CV including three contact names for references (max. 2 pages), and 4) a list of publications. The research statement should summarise your main expertise and achievements to date, and describe how you met the criteria required to carry the project.



Informal inquiries can be directed to Prof. Silvia Zane (s.zane@ucl.ac.uk).



For additional information, please see the attached Job description

What we offer

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As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer great benefits some of which are below:


41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)

Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)

Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan

On-site outdoor swimming pool

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay

Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

Discounted medical insurance Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/



The Department has been awarded the Institute of Physics Juno Practitioner. The aim of Project Juno is to recognise and reward physics departments, schools, institutes and organisations that can demonstrate they have taken action to address gender equality in physics and to encourage better practice for all staff.