The Energetic Cosmos Laboratory (ECL) has positions open for scientists and engineers at all levels for our growing program of exciting, cutting-edge research. We welcome applications from astrophysics academics (theory, data analysis, observation, instrumentation), instrumentation scientists (not necessarily with experience in astrophysics) engineers, or anyone with exceptional skills in electronics and instrumentation, and undergraduates interested in learning about astrophysics research.
Our lab is headed by Nobel Laureate George Smoot here at Nazarbayev University (NU) in Nur-Sultan, the vibrant, modern capital of Kazakhstan. Our laboratory has first-class office, lab, observatory, and fabrication facilities (see our pages under the “research” and “publications” tabs of this site), and generous resources for professional travel. ECL conducts research in cosmology (e.g. dark energy, inflation, gravitational lensing) and the transient sky (gamma ray bursts, fast radio bursts, ultrafast astronomy) through developing theoretical models and probes, advanced statistical and computational techniques of data analysis, and new instrumentation. The current hardware efforts focus on a rapid response telescope with a multichannel camera for gamma-ray burst science, instrumentation and observations for optical flux variations down to ~ nanoseconds, and new cryogenic detectors including MKIDs for both CMB and optical surveys; data analysis efforts focus on preparation for analyzing and interpreting CMB, GRB (gamma ray bursts), FRB (fast radio bursts), DESI, and LSST data.
Are you skilled in engineering, computers or machining ?
We want you to join ECL.
Please contact us: ecl @ nu.edu.kz
NU is a modern research university, located a few minutes drive from downtown, next to the site of World Expo 2017. The working language of ECL and NU is English. ECL has many international connections, including a regular program of international academic visitors, and collaborations with UC Berkeley, Paris-APC and other universities and labs outside of Kazakhstan. Scientists and engineers at ECL have the opportunity for working visits to partner labs at UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, APC Paris, or other labs in Asia.
Scientists seeking postdoctoral positions in the following fields will be given highest priority:
- Cosmology theory or data science connected to surveys or other data available in the near-term.
- Scientists with experience relating to optical observations/data analysis, or gamma-ray burst, fast radio-burst, or other transient, distant-universe, or high-energy astrophysics.
- Scientists with instrumentation experience including all astrophysics instrumentation, instrumentation (not necessarily for astrophysics) including high-speed electronics, FPGA, cryogenic sensors including MKIDs or TES.
Engineers with experience in FPGA programming, vhdl or related coding, high-speed electronics, and/or low-noise electronics design, or anyone with linux or unix experience, are strongly encouraged to apply.
We recommend that candidates who do not work on the topics above (e.g. in String Theory) contact the Physics Department. We welcome all other qualified applicants.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Applicants should email a single PDF file to ecl @ nu.edu.kz containing all of the following:
Regarding positions for professional engineers, We anticipate vacancies for late 2020 but depending on your skills and talents, start dates are negotiable.
Applicants should email a single PDF file containing curriculum vitae, list of publications, short statement of research interests and plans related to the ECL program, and at least three names and contact information for references to: ecl @ nu.edu.kz Applications will reviewed as they come in.