Postdoctoral Research Associate I, Steward Observatory (High-Contrast Imaging & Interferometry)

The University of Arizona (UA) Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory (SO) are excited to invite applications for Postdoctoral Research Associates interested in research related to high-contrast-imaging, high-angular-resolution, and interferometric observations with the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT).

As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, you will be encouraged to integrate into the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) group and support a collaborative scholarly environment in research, mentoring, and service. Your work will focus on the support of observations with the LBTI, SHARK-NIR, and SHARK-VIS instruments and the scientific exploitation of their uniquely complementary capabilities.

Throughout your postdoctoral journey with us, you will be encouraged to conduct your own independent research, as time permits, and will be able to apply for time on any Steward facility directly as a PI. Uniquely, you will become a remote member of the SHARK-NIR and SHARK-VIS teams as well and receive a secondary affiliation with the Italian National Astrophysics Institute (INAF) and be able to apply for LBT time through the Italian time allocation process as PI as well. You will be expected to lead high-profile, independent research that optimally uses the capabilities of the LBTI, SHARK-NIR, and SHARK-VIS, such as (but not limited to) the high-contrast-imaging of exoplanets and circumstellar disks, as well as collaborate with SO faculty and scholars in the Department of Astronomy.

UA/SO offers a world-class research environment in space science and astrophysics with strong interdisciplinary programs across the Departments of Astronomy, Physics, Optical Sciences, and Planetary Sciences. We provide direct access to various world-class observational and computational facilities for ground-based radio and optical observing.

Start dates range from March 2026 to August 2026.

Additional information about the Astronomy Department and Steward Observatory, can be found here: https://astro.arizona.edu

Information about being a postdoc at the University of Arizona is available at https://postdoc.arizona.edu

The Astronomy Department and Steward Observatory postdoc webpage is at   https://astro.arizona.edu/academics/postdoctoral-program