Margaret Burbidge Visiting Professorship

Job Description
The UC San Diego Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics invites nominations, including self-nominations, of astrophysicists from underrepresented groups and/or astrophysicists who identify as women or gender minorities for the Margaret Burbidge Visiting Professorship Award. We are currently accepting nominations for Academic Year 2025 – 2026. The nomination period runs Oct 15, 2024 to January 15, 2025. 

The purpose of the visiting professorship is to bring eminent astrophysicists to UC San Diego on a short-term basis for collaborative research interactions within the department. The appointee is not required to do formal teaching, however a department colloquium and public talks to students are encouraged.

Full academic quarter (12-week) appointments are encouraged, though shorter appointments will be considered. The visit must run for consecutive weeks, and the awardee must be in residence at San Diego for the duration of their appointment. Exact starting dates are negotiable but must take place during the UC San Diego academic year.

This professorship is made possible by the generous support of the Heising-Simons Foundation.

Eligibility

Faculty members or research scientists in any area of astronomy and astrophysics are eligible for nomination. Non-US citizens must be eligible for J-1 Scholar visa status. A UC San Diego Faculty Host must be identified prior to submission of the nomination.

Appointees are expected to be on the UC San Diego campus for the duration of the Burbidge Visiting Professorship term. A faculty host at UC San Diego needs to be identified before the nomination and provide a letter of support. The appointees have no teaching duties, though they are strongly encouraged to present a department colloquium, and to interact with students and faculty as role models for early career scientists in physics and astronomy. Appointees will be asked to provide an end of term report after the conclusion of their appointment.

Term of Appointment

Full academic quarter (12-week) appointments are encouraged, though shorter appointments will be considered. The visit must run for consecutive weeks, and the awardee must be in residence at San Diego for the duration of their appointment. Exact starting dates are negotiable but must take place during the UC San Diego academic year.