Lecturer/Senior Lecturer Position in Astrophysics

The Department is seeking an energetic expert (one position) in astrophysics who can conduct research in astronomy and astrophysics and teach in all areas of physics. Our astrophysics group focuses on connecting fundamental physics with astronomical observations and aims at understanding the fundamental laws of the Universe and unravelling the nature of dark matter and dark energy. In particular, the research areas of the epoch of reionisation, extragalactic astronomy, the early Universe, dark matter indirect detection, neutron stars and black holes are actively investigated. The research group is also heavily involved in South Africa's MeerKAT, SKA, HERA telescopes, and several international projects such as LSST (Vera C. Rubin Observatory), FAST and CMB Stage-4.

The Department of Physics is responsible for both teaching and research in physics at Stellenbosch University (SU) and offers an undergraduate physics degree as well as postgraduate degrees. It also has strong links with other faculties and schools and offers many service modules. The Department has established research programmes in photonics and laser physics, nuclear physics, theoretical physics and astrophysics. Details of the research programmes are available at https://www.sun.ac.za/physics and https://physics.sun.ac.za/astro/

For appointment as lecturer, we require:

 (1) Some Teaching experience in physics (as lecturer, or teaching assistant/tutor at tertiary level);

(2) An active research interest in astrophysics and cosmology, preferably (but not limited to) the epoch of reionisation, and Pulsar Timing Array.

For appointment as senior lecturer, we require

(1) Proven ability and commitment to teaching physics at both undergraduate and postgraduate level;

(2) Evidence of recent research in astrophysics and cosmology, preferably (but not limited to) the epoch of reionisation, and Pulsar Timing Array;

(3) Evidence of a sustained publication output as first author in high quality international journals;

(4) Proof of successful postgraduate supervision as main supervisor, at least at master's level;

(5) Proven ability to seek external funding.