Post Doctoral Research Assistant

Salary Range:

£39,906.00 - £46,049.00

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, creating a community where colleagues feel respected and valued. We aim to reflect the diversity of our students and communities, and to strengthen our university through collaboration and diverse perspectives, across all roles at the University.

An exciting opportunity has emerged at the E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics, within the University of Hull, for a dedicated Postdoctoral Research Assistant. This position requires a candidate with expertise in computational astrophysics or theoretical chemistry, demonstrating strong proficiency in electronic structure calculations, high-performance computing (HPC), and code development for molecular spectroscopy. This full-time, 3-year position supports the STFC-funded project UKRI4116: “Biosignatures of molecular halogens”, led by Dr. David M. Benoit in collaboration with Bard College (USA) and the University of New South Wales (Australia). The role focuses on developing computational methodologies to build a theoretical spectroscopic database of halogenated molecules, enhancing our ability to detect potential signs of life beyond Earth in existing and future astronomical observations.

The role demands a candidate with a strong background in computational astrophysics, electronic structure theory, and molecular spectroscopy, capable of contributing significantly to the development of automated computational pipelines for halogenated biosignatures. Furthermore, it requires a professional with exceptional skills in scientific communication, including the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely, and to produce high-quality written scientific materials. The ideal candidate will also possess robust critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills, essential for navigating the complexities of high-throughput astrophysical spectroscopic data generation on supercomputing infrastructure.

An exciting opportunity has emerged at the E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics, within the University of Hull, for a dedicated Postdoctoral Research Assistant. This position requires a candidate with expertise in computational astrophysics or theoretical chemistry, demonstrating strong proficiency in electronic structure calculations, high-performance computing (HPC), and code development for molecular spectroscopy. This full-time, 3-year position supports the STFC-funded project UKRI4116: “Biosignatures of molecular halogens”, led by Dr. David M. Benoit in collaboration with Bard College (USA) and the University of New South Wales (Australia). The role focuses on developing computational methodologies to build a theoretical spectroscopic database of halogenated molecules, enhancing our ability to detect potential signs of life beyond Earth in existing and future astronomical observations.

The role demands a candidate with a strong background in computational astrophysics, electronic structure theory, and molecular spectroscopy, capable of contributing significantly to the development of automated computational pipelines for halogenated biosignatures. Furthermore, it requires a professional with exceptional skills in scientific communication, including the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely, and to produce high-quality written scientific materials. The ideal candidate will also possess robust critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills, essential for navigating the complexities of high-throughput astrophysical spectroscopic data generation on supercomputing infrastructure.

The full job description can be viewed here.

For any informal queries, please contact David Benoit: D.Benoit@hull.ac.uk

Applications close at 00:01am of the closing date listed. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. If you are interested in this role, please submit your application as early as possible.