Postdoc position on exoplanet research with CHEOPS

The University of Padua invites applications for a post-doctoral research position to work with Professor Piotto Giampaolo and his exoplanet team to exploit CHEOPS data for the analysis of extrasolar planets and the characterization of the chemical and physical properties of their atmospheres. The candidate will use photometric data from CHEOPS (proprietary) and TESS, and spectroscopic data from Spitzer, HST and JWST, as well as ground-based facilities. The candidate will contribute to model transit and emission spectra in different approximations (abundances, chemical equilibrium, different temperature-pressure profiles) and analyze these spectra within a Bayesian model. The best resulting candidates will be further studied with observations with JWST and high-resolution spectrographs from the ground.

Padova offers a vibrant and scientifically stimulating environment, with more than 90 staff astronomers, whose work spans many modern astrophysics research sectors. The University attracts students worldwide and the postdoc will have opportunities to supervise master and PhD theses.

The University of Padova is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity.

The exoplanet group in Padova includes researchers at the Physics and Astronomy Department, the Astronomical Observatory, and the Center for Space Studies and Activities (CISAS) involved in exoplanet research from space (TESS, CHEOPS, PLATO, ARIEL) and ground-based (SPHERE, HARPS, HARPS-N, ESPRESSO).

Any questions about the position should be directed to [email protected].

The candidate should hold a Ph.D. degree with excellent research capabilities in the field relevant to the present selection gained with at least 18 months of documented post-doctoral experience by the selection announcement deadline.

Should the candidate’s Master degree have been awarded abroad, for the sole purposes of this selection procedure, it must be declared to be the equivalent of an Italian Master degree by the Selection Committee. 

If the PhD has been awarded abroad, the PhD must have lasted at least three years and, for the sole purposes of this selection procedure, it must be declared to be the equivalent of an Italian PhD by a Selection Committee.