Research Fellow in Strong Gravitational Lensing

at  University of Portsmouth

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We announce one or more postdoctoral research position at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth. The position is aimed at promising early-career researchers in any aspect of strong gravitational lensing.
Successful candidates will join the group of Prof Thomas Collett, working on the ERC funded project ‘The Statistical Era of Strong Gravitational Lensing’. Available projects include: strong lens discovery in wide field surveys with citizen science and/or machine learning; and, combining strong lens modelling with stellar kinematics. These projects will use data from the Vera Rubin Observatory LSST, Euclid, and 4MOST. The successful candidates will work closely with the science collaborations of these international projects.
Candidates will be motivated and excited by observational cosmology. Candidates with pre-existing skills in any of strong lens modelling, kinematic modelling, citizen science and computer vision are desirable, but candidates bringing complementary skills and ideas from other fields will be highly valued as well.
The preferred start date is as soon as possible, but candidates wishing to start anytime before October 2025 should still apply.
Funding is in place for an initial 12 month contract, with further funding sort to extend the position up to 3 years.
The University of Portsmouth is a dynamic and ambitious institution with a track record of success. One of only four universities in the south east of England to achieve a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and ranked in the top 150 in the Times Higher Young University World Rankings.
The ICG consists of 17 academic staff, 17 postdoctoral researchers and around 30 PhD students, and has an active international visitors programme. Portsmouth is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the Dark Energy Survey (DES), the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), ESA’s Euclid satellite mission, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), the Gravitational Wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO), and other international collaborations. The University of Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics Network (SEPnet) and hosts the 3704-core SCIAMA supercomputer. More information is available at http://www.icg.port.ac.uk/
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but applications are particularly encouraged from traditionally under-represented groups in science. The University of Portsmouth and the ICG hold Athena SWAN Bronze awards which show a commitment to introduce organisational and cultural practices that promote diversity and equality and create a better working environment for women and men.
Applications (application form, CV, publication list and research proposal for the fellowship) should be submitted by the closing date via the online application system at https://port.engageats.co.uk.
Applicants should also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent by email to icg-recruitment@port.ac.uk to arrive by the same date.
Informal enquires are welcomed by Prof. Thomas Collett. Please email Thomas.collett@port.ac.uk.
All applications for this position will be processed and conducted in compliance with UK legislation relevant at that time.
Applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.
As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons and all appointments will be made on merit. As we are committed to the principles of the Race Equality Charter Mark, we would particularly welcome applications from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community who are currently under-represented at this level in this area.
This appointment is a fixed term contract to 16 May 2026.
For internal candidates it may be possible to apply for this role under the Secondment Policy . If you wish to apply as a secondee, you must have approval of your line manager in advance of submitting your application form. Please confirm in your application that your line manager has approved this.
Interviews are anticipated to be held 9 December 2024.