Postdoc position – High contrast imaging of disk structures in exoplanetary systems

Postdoc DDISK @ LESIA – Disk structures in exoplanetary systems

The high contrast imaging team at LESIA (Observatoire de Paris-PSL) is inviting applications for a postdoctoral position to work on the topic of disk morphology as potential signposts of planets. The candidate will be based at the Meudon Observatory (20 minutes outside of Paris), as part of an active team carrying out observation, modelling, and instrumentation work related to the detection and the characterisation of exoplanetary systems.

LESIA (Laboratoire d’Études Spatiales et d’Instrumentation en Astrophysique) is one of Paris Observatory’s laboratories. It is one of a leading astronomy center in Europe and includes research in stellar physics, heliosphere and plasma in astrophysics, planetology, and high angular resolution in astrophysics. Exoplanetology is well identified as a transverse activity at LESIA. Our “high-contrast imaging” team has been part of the design and development of several high-contrast space- and ground-based instruments, like VLT/SPHERE in particular, or JWST/MIRI, on which we are now leading several major observing programs. Our team include professionals at all career levels, coming from four different countries.

The candidate is expected to contribute in the characterization of disk structures that are seen in a variety of disk images at different ages (spirals, rings, gaps, …). The work will be based on existing data (mostly scattered light images), and covers observational and data analysis aspect, and/or interpretation using disk modelling tools. The candidate will be encouraged to contribute actively to and to lead future telescope time proposals.

The position is funded by the ANR (Agence Nationale pour la Recheche) project DDISK (PI: Maud Langlois, CRAL) for about 2 years. The DDISK project involves several laboratories in France (CRAL in Lyon, LESIA in Paris, IPAG in Grenoble) as well as other collaborators (LAB in Bordeaux), working collectively to benefit from various expertises in image processing, disk theory and modelization, and optical and millimetric observations.

Applicants must have a PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Applications should contain: a resume, a list of publications, a 2-pages description of scientific achievements and interests during previous positions, and two letters of recommendation. We accept applications until the position is filled. The contract can start immediately. The selection criteria will rely on scientific quality and motivation.

The net salary is approximately 2600 euros/month (corresponding to 2 years of experience after PhD). Postdocs in France enjoy 47 days of holidays. As employee of the Paris Observatory, they enjoy unemployment benefits, health care benefits, and parental leaves. Public transports in Paris region is half reimbursed by the employer. Finally, funding for traveling to conferences and team meetings is also available.

Please, send applications to: [email protected] and [email protected]