PKU-THU Planet Formation Fellowship

The Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (KIAA) at Peking University, together with the Institute of Advanced Study (IASTU) & Department of Astronomy (DoA) at Tsinghua University in Beijing invite applications for the new PKU–THU Planet Formation Fellowship. Fellows will be based at either PKU or THU and encouraged to collaborate with researchers at both universities. Faculty members working in planet formation and related fields include Ruobing Dong, Gregory Herczeg, Feng Long, and Lile Wang at PKU and Xuening Bai, Zhuo Chen, and Chris Ormel at Tsinghua.

Position Description:  The fellowship is open to applicants with expertise in protoplanetary disks, planet formation, and related areas, including theory, simulations, machine learning, and observations. Successful candidates are expected to carry out independent and original research, while also engaging in collaborations with one or more faculty members listed above. The fellowship is awarded for two years, with the possibility of renewal for up to two additional years, subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.

Research Environment:  Both KIAA and IASTU/DoA host a vibrant, inclusive, and international academic community, with English as a working language. The two campuses are adjacent to each other, enabling close collaboration between researchers. Both institutions regularly host seminars, workshops, and conferences that bring together leading scientists from around the world.

For more information, see: KIAA: https://kiaa.pku.edu.cn/ IASTU: https://www.ias.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/ Tsinghua DoA: https://astro.tsinghua.edu.cn/

Start Date: Flexible in 2026

Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, planetary sciences, or a related field, completed or expected by the start date, and demonstrated record of research excellence. Preference will be given to applicants within three years of their Ph.D. at the time of application. Candidates of any nationality are encouraged to apply.

Applications will automatically be considered for KIAA Fellowships, unless requested otherwise.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for fellowships at Tsinghua University with a separate application.