New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is currently inviting applications for a Post-doctoral Associate or Research Associate in Astrophysics, in the Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS). The position is offered for a period of 3 years (2 years with an additional 1 year depending on performance). Competitive salary and benefits, including relocation, housing, home visits and educational subsidies for children, are offered.

The current position is with Principal Investigator (PI) Associate Professor Dave Russell in the area of accretion onto compact objects. Stellar-mass black holes residing in X-ray binaries (XBs) produce the most powerful jets in our galaxy via accretion from an orbiting companion star. Studies of XBs are now revealing how jets evolve with mass accretion rate and the mode of accretion, providing insights into the conditions required to launch jets. The main objective of the research program of the PI is to uncover the nature of relativistic jets and understand the connections between accretion and ejection. The processes involved in triggering outbursts, using optical monitoring and the real-time pipeline X-ray Binary New Early Warning System (XB-NEWS) developed at NYUAD, and comparisons to AGN and other compact objects, are also studied. A host of techniques and approaches will be employed, in particular using a wealth of multi-wavelength data of transient XBs (photometry, spectra and polarimetry), interactions between jets and the interstellar medium and data from other accreting objects such as AGN, CVs and gamma-ray bursts. Funds are available for travel to conferences, collaborations or observing trips.

Candidates with interest and experience in the study of accreting black holes or neutron stars, and candidates with experience in multi-wavelength data analysis, coding pipelines for optical imaging/photometric data analysis, and spectral modelling, are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be encouraged to develop independent projects in addition to supporting the research of the PI. Candidates must hold, or be in the process of completing, a Ph.D. degree in Astronomy, Physics, Astrophysics or a related subject and have demonstrated a strong research background. The Physics group at NYUAD currently has 15 faculty members and 20 postdocs and research associates; most are members of the Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS). The group shares links with staff at NYU in New York.

Applicants must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of publications, a research statement, a transcript, and the names and contact information for three references in PDF format to be considered. Applications submitted by 31st January 2025 will be given full consideration.

If you have any questions, please contact dave.russell@nyu.edu

About NYUAD:

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.

EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Employer

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply.