Postdoctoral Scholar - High Contrast Imaging - Department of Astronomy

Salary range:
The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for this position: Postdoc Salary scale t23 A reasonable estimate for this position is $71,491-$85,736

Percent time:
100%

Anticipated start:
Spring 2027

Position duration:
Two years with possibility of renewal based on performance and availability of funding.

The Bottom group in the UC Berkeley Department of Astronomy develops instrumentation and techniques for imaging and characterizing exoplanets and circumstellar environments. Our work spans adaptive optics, high-contrast imaging and coronagraphy, wavefront sensing and control, and infrared detector development. We build, test, and deploy instruments, components, and algorithms at major ground-based observatories including W. M. Keck Observatory, and work with collaborators at JPL, Caltech, the University of Hawaii, and industry partners on technology for future space missions, including the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). The group combines laboratory development with on-sky observing.

The postdoctoral scholar will carry out research in high-contrast imaging of exoplanets and circumstellar environments, working at the interface between instrumentation and observation. Duties and responsibilities will include some combination of:

• Developing, testing, and deploying adaptive optics, wavefront sensing and control, and coronagraphic techniques on ground-based telescopes and instruments (e.g., at Keck and Subaru Observatory).
• Proposing, planning, and carrying out high-contrast observing programs, and reducing and analyzing the resulting data.
• Contributing to technology development for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), including laboratory testbed work and modeling and simulation of coronagraph and wavefront control performance.
• Publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at scientific conferences.
• Collaborating with team members at Berkeley and partner institutions, and helping mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the group.
• Occasional travel to observatories and collaborating institutions.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• PhD or equivalent international degree, or enrolled in a PhD or equivalent international degree granting program.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• PhD (or equivalent international degree).
• No more than three years of post-degree research experience.

Preferred qualifications

• PhD in Astronomy, Physics, Optics, Engineering or related field.
• Research experience in adaptive optics, high-contrast imaging, coronagraphy, and/or wavefront sensing and control.
• Ideally, a combination of observational experience (e.g., proposing for, carrying out, and/or analyzing high-contrast observations at large ground-based telescopes) and instrumentation experience (e.g., laboratory optics, AO or coronagraph testbeds, instrument integration and commissioning).
  
  
• Familiarity with space-based high-contrast imaging concepts and missions such as HWO or the Roman Coronagraph Instrument.
  
  
• Proficiency in scientific programming (e.g., Python) for data reduction, modeling, and instrument control.
  
  
• A record of peer-reviewed publications in a relevant area.
  
  
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team, and strong written and oral communication skills.
  
  
• Experience with detectors is welcome but not required.

• 3 required (contact information only)

Apply link:
https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05608

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• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
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