Doctoral Researcher / Project Researcher position at FINCA

 

The Finnish Centre for Astronomy with ESO (FINCA) is seeking a Doctoral Researcher / Project Researcher to join a project on the topic of (super)luminous interacting supernovae in the University of Turku. The position is fixed-term for three years; the start date can be mutually agreed on between April and July 2025.

FINCA is a national, inter-university research institute that takes care of Finnish co-operation with the European Southern Observatory (ESO), practices and co-ordinates high quality astronomical research and technological development work related to ESO; participates in researcher training; and promotes co-operation of Finnish universities in astronomy.

Job description

FINCA is seeking a Doctoral Researcher / Project Researcher in astronomy, more specifically in the field of time-domain astrophysics. This work is part of the project Ambiguous Progenitors of Powerful Hydrogen-rich Supernovae (APoPHiS) funded by the Research Council of Finland and led by Dr. Tuomas Kangas. The selected person will conduct observational studies of newly discovered luminous and superluminous hydrogen-rich supernovae. This includes performing astronomical observations, light-curve and spectroscopic analysis, statistical sample studies, and comparing the observations to state-of-the-art numerical simulations and theoretical models. The research is mainly performed in the ultraviolet-optical-infrared regime, and will make use of, e.g., the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT), the 2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) co-owned by the University of Turku, and new facilities such as the Son of X-Shooter (SOXS) at ESO.

The successful applicant will join the APoPHiS project, which will be conducted at the University of Turku as part of the Turku transient group. The group is now one of the major nodes of time-domain astrophysics in Europe, with a number of senior and junior researchers and PhD students working on the topic of supernovae and other astrophysical transient phenomena. In the course of the project, they will work with members of this group and its collaborators, and will have the opportunity to participate in international collaborations in the field, such as the SOXS Consortium and the NOT Unbiased Transient Survey (NUTS), which the Turku group co-leads. Funding will be provided for traveling to conferences and for research visits to foreign collaborators, providing an opportunity for networking.

The position is fixed-term as the main purpose is to conduct a PhD thesis during the course of the project. The doctoral dissertation will be conducted within the PhD program at the University of Turku. The student will also have the opportunity (recommended!) to spend one year working at the NOT on La Palma as a Student Support Astronomer and obtain hands-on experience with telescope operations.

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Who we are looking for

The position requires a Master’s degree that must be completed in astronomy, theoretical physics, physics or another relevant field. Previous experience in observational astronomy in general, or time-domain astrophysics in particular, is not mandatory but will be considered an advantage. An excellent study record will also be an advantage for an applicant.

The qualification requirements of the positions are stated in the University of Turku rules of Procedure. A person selected for the post of Doctoral Researcher / Project Researcher is required to have a higher university degree. In addition, a Doctoral Researcher is required to have demonstrated an ability and motivation to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan.

For the position of Doctoral Researcher, the degree must be completed before the end of the application period. In this position, you will apply the study right for doctoral studies (in the autumn of 2025) in University of Turku. Thus, please check the student information and application criteria https://www.utu.fi/en/research/utugs/exactus. In particular, please pay attention to mandatory skill level in English.

The position requires working in Finland; the place of work is Turku.

Our workplace values equality and diversity, and therefore, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Benefits

We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a versatile operating environment. You get a professional and inspiring team to support your work. We take care of your well-being at work and the functionality of your everyday life, e.g. with the help of flexible working hours and our well-being services.

Please read more about University of Turku as an employee from our Come work with us! pages.

The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo. The logo is a token of the University's commitment to continuous development of the position and working conditions of researchers according to the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers. 

The university offers good support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and relocation to Finland:

Salary and trial period

The salaries are determined in accordance with the University salary system for teaching and research personnel. For a Doctoral Researcher / Project Researcher, the salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and will be approximately 2450–2600 €/month, depending on competence and experience and/or the progress of the doctoral project.

The position has a trial period of six (6) months.

How to apply

Please submit your application through our electronic recruitment system by 14 February 2025 16:00 (Europe/Helsinki). The application link can be found on the university's website at the beginning of the advertisement ("Apply for this position").

Applicants must include in their application:

  • a motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
  • a curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages)
  • copy of your degree diploma (a master's degree, if you have graduated)
  • transcript of studies, or other equivalent document showing your study record
  • any other documents relevant to fulfilling the requirements of the position, such as a list of publications

Please remember to include all the above-mentioned annexes with your application, as they are important for the evaluation of your application. Applicants selected for interviews based on their applications.

Further information

For more information on the position, please contact Dr. Tuomas Kangas.

For questions related to the application process, please contact HR Specialist Saija Marjasto.

(You can contact us by email. Personal addresses as firstname.lastname@utu.fi.)

Finnish Center for Astronomy with ESO

FINCA - Finnish Centre for Astronomy with ESO practises and co-ordinates Finnish high quality research in fields of astronomy with European Southern Observatory (ESO) and promotes technological development work related to ESO.

The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.

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Information for the applicant

The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, after submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.

You have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout.

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Doctoral Researcher / Project Researcher position at FINCA

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